ZODIAC CIPHERS
RICHARD GRINELL, COVENTRY, ENGLAND
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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD PART TWO

6/2/2015

 
The following article is an updated version of a previous post, expanded and covered in greater detail. It is not particularly a line of investigation that I subscribe to, but it attempts to compare the Zodiac Killer's Halloween Card mailed on October 27th 1970 with the Harper Lee novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird', published in 1960 and turned into a film in 1962 featuring Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Mary Badham and Phillip Alford. Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, the film explored the deep set racial undertones prevalent in American society, brought to the forefront, as lawyer Atticus Finch fought to defend a black man accused of rape in Alabama. The film won three Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor. 
PictureScout Finch played by Mary Badham
The most reclusive character in the film was Arthur "Boo" Radley, who went by the shortened version Boo Radley. The first thing to be noticed on the Halloween Card envelope is the misspelled name of the reporter Paul Avery to Paul Averly- which emphasizes the 'ley' section. On the inside of the card he places the word BOO in bold letters. Now we have two parts of our puzzle, "Boo" and "ley". To complete the name Boo Radley requires us to search for "Rad", which is not far away. It crosses the "LAV" of "SLAVES" on the Halloween Card paradice and slaves configuration - which rather fortunately was underlined on the envelope  containing the reporter's name. The Zodiac Killer may not have given us a cipher but had he given us "Boo Radley". 
 
Boo Radley was a much misunderstood character in the novel, feared and rumored upon by the local schoolchildren. He was described by Jem (brother of Scout Finch) as "6 1/2 feet tall... dined on all the raw squirrels and cats he could catch... you could never wash the blood off... there was a large scar that ran across his face... his eyes popped and he drooled most of the time".  In fact, Boo Radley's house and chicken yard backed onto Maycomb School. Funny that - I remember Arthur Leigh Allen slaughtered chickens and squirrels and was never far from schools - but coincidence aside - we shall move on.

PictureElmer Bernstein
The children feared the Radley House and garden, believing the trees were poisoned, however, in one such tree a knot-hole existed, that would ultimately bridge a friendship between Boo Radley, Scout and Jem. Periodically the reclusive Boo Radley would  place objects in the knot-hole for Scout and Jem to find. This was his outlet to the world. On various days the two children would find presents he had left - which included carved soap figures, a ball of twine, chewing gum, a broken pocket watch, an Indian medal, and an aluminium knife on a key chain - many deposited in pairs, one for each child. This was their 'Tree Treasure'. In fact, 'Tree Treasure' was one of the tracks created for the musical score accompanying the film, composed by Elmer Bernstein. Two other tracks on the musical score were titled  'Boo Who' and 'Peek-a-boo.'. What a coincidence. 

The Halloween Card had a knot-hole in the tree with the words "peek-a-boo" circled around it.. Peek-a-boo is the act of concealing ones face behind the hands or other object, before suddenly appearing back into view and uttering the words peek-a-boo. It can be seen in Wikipedia that many variations involve trees, similar to the depiction on the Halloween Card, where 'Hiding behind that tree' is added. See here. That eye was certainly hiding in the Halloween Card tree - was it not. Didn't the Zodiac Killer hide behind a tree at Lake Berryessa and hide his face behind a mask?. When he eventually came into view his identity was concealed. When the Halloween Card was removed from the envelope, it goaded us  with the introduction "I feel it in my bones, you ache to know my name, and so I'll clue you in" - and once opened it revealed the word "BOO". I know what your thinking "Boo Who."  Well, I had to squeeze it in.

The Eureka Card, mailed in the December of 1990 was the sister card to the Halloween Card, and was very similar in design. It too began with a message from our 'secret pal', yet this time it had a present from Zodiac - not an aluminium knife and pocket watch on a key chain - but a photocopy of a pair of keys on a key chain. 

Picture
In the novel Scout and Jem made a snowman, constructed with mud, then layered with snow - a theme many believe was suggestive to the racist overtones of the story. A snowman is depicted on the Eureka Card, with what appeas to be Groucho Marx imagery on the face. Jem and Scout built this snowman because of their dislike of a local resident down the street, but their father Atticus intervened and told the children to disguise it because it so resembled the local resident they were poking fun at. To placate their father, they placed Miss Maudie's hat on it. The resident they so disliked was called MR AVERY - now that is a coincidence, along with December 25th 1962 release date of the film in Los Angeles, California. The Eureka Card was mailed sometime in December and depicted a Christmas scene. Facing the snowman was a cute rabbit. I hope Arthur Leigh Allen didn't slaughter rabbits as well as chickens and squirrels. 

Incidentally, Scout and Jem went to a Halloween celebration. In the book on Chapter 28, the schoolchildren are encouraged to dress up in the local agricultural produce of Maycomb for the Halloween night pageant rather than go trick or treating. Scout is dressed as a piece of ham. While traveling home after the pageant, Jem and Scout are attacked by somebody and rescued by Boo Radley. As we all now know, Bob Ewell is later found dead under a tree with a knife stuck in him. It is curious that the skeleton on the Halloween Card is also wearing agricultural produce. Is that a pumpkin I see? And that tree keeps reappearing. 

Was this card based on the Lake Berryessa attack, or could the Zodiac have been peeking out, playing hide and seek in the Julius Khan playground in the Presidio. I feel something in my bones. Anyway, here ends the story. The only question left to ask is, have I now created a second piece of fiction?

Robi Smith
6/3/2015 01:18:12 am

BRAVO...I feel in my bones you've solved it:)...

This has Larry Kane written all over it. I just could never put it together and in writing as you have. Kane has background with all these people from show biz in 'the day'. Kane was thought to have sent all the clews pointing at Arthur Leigh Allen and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Alex Lewis has posted some of the newspaper articles that one of the posters found from the late 1940's and 1950's. They show how involved he was with these authors and entertainment people including Groucho Marx and Edward Wayne Edwards from Montana 3 fame!

Don Bujok fits in with this as he was familiar with this type of info and messages hidden therein....and I think Frank Valentine Dryman wrote the Halloween Card before he disappeared for 38 years...leaving a wife and children..

My exposure and literacy is N0t at a sufficient level to analyze this era but I recognize it when I see it.

john Doe
5/20/2016 02:55:14 pm

You only need the first 14 of the cipher

Rubislaw 32 link
1/13/2017 12:00:49 pm

Dear Richard

Superbly laid out site and unrivaled Graphics !

You may not be overly sold on the ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' inference to The Halloween Card - but hold your horses,for a moment,please [?].

The title alone - a possible threat on Paul Avery - ''Aviary !'' - for heaven's sake.

The Author,Harper Lee - Harper,as in the siege of ''Harper's Ferry'',and ''Lee'',as in Confederate General Robert.E,Lee.

Characters in the novel - Mr.Avery,Bob Ewel - whose full name was Robert E.Lee Ewel - named after both Confederate General Ewel and Confederate General Lee.Boo Radley - the family name for Robert E.Lee's oldest son was ''Boo'' - plus there was another Confederate General Bradley.

In addition,the Christian cross on the back of the card - a nod to Arlington Cemetery - a cemetery created,after the Union Government confiscated Robert E.Lee's home,in lieu of taxes owed,following Lee's joining of Confederate forces,at the outset of The American Civil War.

Perhaps,the theme is more about General Robert E.Lee,than ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' ? Could be.

But here's a ''clincher'',and perhaps,a main reason why I have posted here.

The [2 times] ''Sorry no Cipher'' cross,on the inside of the envelope [?].Well,that's an ''artistic pastiche'',made by Zodiac,to represent the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia - which was commanded by General Robert E.Lee.

The flag,in overall square design,constitutes the thirteen official Confederate States,represented by thirteen stars,laid on The Blue Saltire cross,with a red background.

I would humbly suggest that you,Richard,are the person to put the graphics together,in order to show that,once and for all,this cross is a representation of the Battle Flag of the Army of North Virginia - as intended by Zodiac.

Keep up the great work !

Best wishes

Rubislaw 32

Richard
1/13/2017 01:15:39 pm

Thanks for the compliment Rubislaw, I try my best. Good points you make, compliments the article nicely. I always believed the 'sorry no cipher' X was constructed to point us in a certain direction, as Zodiac could easily have just written it once. It was the design it formed that was indicative of something, and you have tied together some good observations. It would certainly be an argument welcomed by Graysmith, with Lee scattered everywhere. Thanks for your contribution. When I wrote the original article to this, I believed it a lot, but in recent times have sort of grown sceptical of the original and this, but I leave it here for old times sake. The Zodiac case is a learning curve and many of the things I once believed, I believe no more. All the best and hope to hear from you again, Richard.

Richard
1/13/2017 01:19:49 pm

Is the snow coming down thick and fast up north.

Rubislaw 32 link
1/13/2017 02:43:50 pm

Hi Richard

Yes,the snow is beginning to make an appearance.

You probably know where I live.The same place,that police are currently investing huge resources,trying to find out who murdered Brenda Page,in July 1978,just around the corner,from me.

Indeed,everyone has their own theories,on aspects to the case - not least,the case as a whole.

One further observation,as regard to the cross,is that Zodiac has ''deliberately'' left a ''no'',dead centre of the cross.One may note that one of the stars in the Confederate flag,is also,dead centre.

I have not checked up on Graysmiths ''persuading'' that Robert E.Lee plays a figurative role in Zodiac's thinking.

Independently,I am completely persuaded.The Halloween Card,The ''408'' hoax caller,The Paul Stine fares book entry,The ''A Citizen'' Letter,The ''Concerned Citizen'' card......it's all too apparent that Zodiac regarded Robert E.Lee as his ''sense of self'',when planning and preparing his major crimes.

In addition,a recent solution to The Celebrity Cypher,that I have offered,alludes to Frederick The Great - Robert E.Lee's hero.

Beyond this,there is more that has been passed on to Law Enforcement,including ''the'' solution to the ''My name is ---'' cipher,and a reference to ''Zodiac's'' Alma Mater.

And beyond this,''evidence'' that Zodiac's nemesis was William Grant,just as Lee's was Ulysees S Grant.

But Zodiac's real identity did not contain Lee,nor Robert.

How do I know this ?

For another time,perhaps.

Regards

Rubislaw 32


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