ZODIAC ADMITTED 340 NOT A REAL CIPHER [PT3]

6/12/2018

THE 340 CIPHER WAS CRACKED ON DECEMBER 3RD 2020 BY DAVE ORANCHAK, SAM BLAKE AND JARL VAN EYCKE, SO THIS EARLIER ARTICLE SHOULD BE VIEWED IN RESPECT TO RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.

Click to enlarge

In 2013, Tahoe27 made an excellent discovery, almost certainly linking the Halloween card with a Tim Holt comic featuring the Wheel of Fortune or Rota Fortunae. The cover displayed the four methods of death used by the Zodiac Killer on his Halloween card configuration of Death By Gun, Death By Knife, Death By Fire and Death By Rope.

However, the discovery may be far greater than first considered, with the 1952 Tim Holt comic the source behind the design of the 340 cipher on November 8th 1969. The Halloween card was just the confirmation that the 340 was not a cipher at all, hence the crossed "sorry no cipher" addition on the inside of the envelope, linking the Paradice and Slaves configuration back to the November 8th 1969 offering. See 'Zodiac admitted 340 not a real cipher' [pt1].' The Zodiac Killer may have been pushing us in the right direction on October 27th 1970, but his attempt at revealing the workings of the 340 cipher may have begun as early as December 16th 1969 - when just 38 days after his 'so called' masterpiece, the Zodiac Killer was claiming a potential 38 more victims.

The December 16th 1969 Fairfield letter has been considered dubious Zodiac correspondence, however, it may have been Zodiac's first foray into revealing the mechanics of the 340 cipher, albeit using a rudimentary code as a tool. There are two key features of this correspondence which possibly links it to the Halloween card - and more importantly - to the Tim Holt comic. The second we will deal with later, but the first is the rather amateurish offering of a code consisting of only nine characters.

Clearly, the Zodiac must have known that offering just five different symbols in a code of nine is open to many different interpretations and therefore practically unsolvable. Therefore, one could suggest this wasn't his intention - he was simply teasing us with the mechanics of how the 340 cipher was designed by using a rudimentary diagram based on the Tim Holt comic - and something he would expand upon nearly a year later. One can see how he uses the four Zodiac crosshairs around the large crossed circle in the Fairfield letter codethereby implying a uniformity of message in these four quadrants, but aligns five symbols as an introduction to this design. This marries perfectly with Death By Gun, Death By Knife, Death By Fire and Death By Rope. Death is the introduction, followed by the methods of death around the large crossed circle. This is exactly what he offered us on October 27th 1970, when he placed the methods of death in the four quadrants of the bisecting Paradice and Slaves. Here is a representation.

The November 8th and 9th 1969 communications came as one package, and he certainly wasn't going to reveal the workings of the 340 cipher after just one day in the Bus Bomb letter, so the December 16th 1969 (or possibly December 7th 1969) Fairfield communication was effectively the Zodiac Killer's first communication after the 340 cipher. Can we again call it coincidence that, not only did the Fairfield offering give us a further code, but Death By Gun, Death By Knife, Death By Fire and Death By Rope would fall readily into its design, as would the Halloween card configuration of Paradice and Slaves so readily mirror the 340 cipher - possibly bringing these three communications in line with one another. The second interesting feature of the Fairfield letter is the wording the author uses: "This is the Zodiac speaking. I just want to tell you this state is in trouble. I will go for the Goverment life, so don't foreget me. I will kill more people than you cops can count, so look for more blood. You better print".

The Halloween card has become synonymous with either a threat of a fourteenth victim or the claim of a fourteenth victim. However, the number four may hold more significance within its design. The eyes are obviously of great importance to the Zodiac Killer - after all, he added twelve to the card inner, along with 4-TEEN and the unusual symbol. He deliberately chose to separate fourteen, creating the number 4. He added four larger eyes outside of the tree, as well as placing four dots around the symbol. He also highlighted four eyes on the skeletons in red, on both the card outer and inner.

The strange symbol (with the four dots) could be a joined Z, V and F - and being preceded by four eyes - could simply be interpreted as "look for Zodiac victim fourteen", or with respect to 4-TEEN, "look for number four-teen". Up to this point and beyond, none of Zodiac's confirmed or insinuated victims (Kathleen Johns, Cheri Jo Bates and Richard Radetich) lay undiscovered, so it is entirely possible that this card was referring to the disappearance of Donna Ann Lass 51 days earlier. The skeletons indicative of a body lain undiscovered for a measurable period of time. The coloring of the four skeleton eyes may be suggestive of blood or death - a formula used in the creation of the 13 Hole postcard on October 5th 1970, where the author added a pasted red crucifix to the card.

The Halloween card could be telling us to "look for Zodiac victim fourteen" or equally "look for blood," as did the Fairfield letter on December 16th 1969 when the author stated "I will kill more people than you cops can count, so look for more blood. You better print". This discovery by Tahoe27 on December 30th 2013 was certainly a great find, but it may just turn out to be the greatest find of them all. A discovery that may finally reveal the 340 offering to be masquerading as a fully fledged cipher, that has had us chasing our tails for nearly half a century. Albeit, undecipherable at the time, the answer was probably staring us in the face just 38 days after the November 8th 1969 communication - in a letter many thought was penned by a hoaxer.

ZODIAC ADMITTED 340 NOT A REAL CIPHER [PT1]
ZODIAC ADMITTED 340 NOT A REAL CIPHER [PT2]

Courtesy of Zodiac Killer Site forum. These envelopes have been cleaned up using editing tools.

30 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

6/12/2018 07:12:03 am

Your featured correspondences,are always worth examining,time and again,Richard.

With regard to the Fairfield letter,December 16th 1969 :

I note that the three April 1967 letters,in the Bates case,are the only other ''high profile'' correspondences,that employed lined paper.

Sherwood Morrill referred to these,as ''cheap writing paper''.

I do believe,on comparison to the Fairfield letter,it is ''close to'' self evident that the Fairfield scribe,employed the lined template sheet,of otherwise blank writing paper.One sheet of which,was employed for the ''Bleeding Knife'' etch,which accompanied that Fairfield letter.

I understand that the ''Goverment life'' reference has been debated,to no certain outcome.I take it to mean that ''Zodiac'' concedes that,if apprehended,he will plead guilty....thereby avoiding the death penalty.

I remain convinced that ''31683981'' is a telephone number,local to the Bay Area....and indeed exists to-day,as such.My feelings are that it belonged to a person of interest,for whom Zodiac wished to shift the blame,for his actions.

So,a request,perhaps,to any of your readers that live locally,and have easy access to archive phone directories from,for example,a local library....please check it out.

A finding could well add ''Zodiac credulity'' to that Fairfied letter.

Richard

6/12/2018 07:52:35 am

I believe now, as probably you do Rubislaw, these Fairfield letters were created on the fly (away from his normal base), hence their haphazard and less structured appearance. When we talk about socialism and government controlled services, we think about the health service (other than USA), police, public infrastructure and road building, along with the military. The reference to 'government life,' to me, is an extension of attacking the police, probably something the Zodiac feels he has no control over. He may have had issues with Vietnam, the military industrial complex, the news corporations (before they became subsidized heavily by
corporations), or the police, in any combination of the above. But, he may be equating police with government life in both the Fairfield communications. I'm sorry, I doubt I can help regarding the phone number.
The connection to Fairfield for an extended period of at least 10 days, or possibly longer, was certainly a viable avenue of investigation. I once thought the Fairfield letters extremely dubious material, but now I am at least 90% convinced they are real Zodiac material. One would expect that when Zodiac claimed his shirt piece, he stored it at home somewhere safe, He sent a swatch with the October 13th letter, the Bus Bomb letter and the Melvin Belli letter, but in neither of the Fairfield letters. Very likely because he didn't take the shirt piece with him to Fairfield. Had he planned to write either of the December 7th or 16th Fairfield letters, he could have taken portions of the shirt with him when he stayed in Fairfield to verify the letters, as he had done with the other correspondences. The fact he didn't, may suggest these letters were written more on the spur of the moment- an afterthought if you will. I am in the process of examining newspaper articles in the run up to the two Fairfield letters (particularly the December 16th offering) to determine if it it was something he read that triggered these two letters to be created.

Shawn

6/13/2018 09:59:25 am

Zodiac had the tendency to put too much postage on his evelopes rather than not enough (Postage due) as shown on the December 16th, 1969 envelope.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/12/2018 09:17:30 am

Most interesting what you have to say,Richard,on aspects of the Fairfield letter.Particularly on a wider scope for an interpretation of ''Goverment life''.

If this letter is Zodiac [...which I believe it to be...],he followed up,just 4 days later,with his ''almost'' pleading letter to Melvin Belli [...and with a shirt swatch...].Interesting to attempt to absorb the full intentions of both letters,and assess any relationship.Even if to surmise that Zodiac's mood swings shifted,almost day to day [?].

We are aware that Zodiac used up two pieces of Paul Stine's shirt.From what I have read,there is a missing third piece,in the puzzle [?].

The San Jose correspondence,of November 21st 1969,might have accounted for this,since there appears to be no reason why it was not believed,in addition to knowledge that its contents were acted upon,quickly.

One feels,regardless of speculation,that Zodiac had allocated a shirt swatch for Mr.Belli [?].

Yes,I checked out the existence of a currently employed ''31683981'',but was not willing to go the extra dollars,to find that it belonged to a Mr.Smith of El Sobrante,for example It just seems that it,or a similar number,was being used then.

I think that,whether the Hearst Corporation care or not [....and probably don't...],they have done themselves no favours,in the long term,with that,on reflection,''dreadful'' and dishonest docu-drama series.Perhaps it will be re-categorised as ''Humour'',at some point in the future [?].

In some recent newspaper research,I was amazed at how many,across the U.S.,that they do own.I will certainly make efforts to avoid them,like the plague.

They could turn the case of The Zodiac Killer,into ''Romantic Fiction'',if they so wished...with their clout,and seeming inability of Law Enforcement,to be able to do anything about it.

Indeed,they could blow any chance of a legitimate resolution to the case,coming about,if not more careful [?].

Good to hear that you are examining articles,in the run up to those two Fairfield letters,and look forward to any findings.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/12/2018 12:30:49 pm

Excellent to see the ''cleaned up'' envelopes.

That close,to wondering why the CA DOJ didn't authenticate the letters,as ''confirmed'' [?].

''Mean spirited-ness'' is normal mode,these days.

Shelli

6/12/2018 02:33:40 pm

A note on the hallow card. I have questioned whether the 14 refers to a victim count. This 14 appears to be a Hebrew ref to the 14th letter nun. You can easily identify nun by its backwards N which is included in his text. Hello to all.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/12/2018 03:53:09 pm

I am sure that others would be happy to chip in here,Shelli....but I surmise that Zodiac is ''teasingly'' suggesting that Paul Avery could become Zodiac's 14th victim.

There are 13 eyes poised,perhaps looking in anticipation,for instance [?].

Naturally,the SF Chronicle passed the card off,as an actual death threat.But,I believe that was over simplification,to suit their needs.

Some of us are more inclined to see the Halloween card,as a celebration of Avery's willingness to engage with Zodiac.

A ''lampooned'' death threat,if you will,and indeed if there is such a thing.

Drew

6/12/2018 05:40:43 pm

I think the inspiration for Zodiac's library of symbols is probably quite varied but the runes on this page show how heavily his designs may have borrowed from ancient languages.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/zodiackillerfr/viewtopic.php?t=7982

It would seem naive to assume his use of such basic forms as circles squares and triangles and flipped letters definitely came from sources like this but there many striking similarities, namely the circled crosshairs, the slanted F, backwards K, and an "iota" that somewhat resembles a mirrored version of the Halloween card symbol. It also has all of the basic symbols used in this Dec16 Fairfield code. It's a bit of a stretch but something similar to the Bates letter symbols could be in there too.

I like the "DEATH" by this and that x4 solution but what bothers me is that I think if this was the intended meaning he would have made it easier to decrypt. A five symbol cipher is going to have many potential fits to begin with but a multiple substitution cipher this short would make it impossible to arrive at a definitive answer. Zodiac used multi-substitution in the 408 so it's certainly not unreasonable that he would employ the same method. "EIGHT" would have also been a good solution though equally unconformable. "CODED" is the only single substitution solve I can think of but it sounds a bit uninspired for a guy who included a drawing of a giant blood dripping knife. Ultimately I suppose if we believe that there is no coherent solution to the 340 then there isn't likely to be one here either.

The envelopes would be interesting to compare to those from the confirmed correspondences, but I am not familiar with them all. I've seen those from July 31 and the Belli letter, but the others I haven't seen in a while. Many elements of the handwriting match to my eyes, or at least the curly f is quite convincing. If he had circled all the dots on the eyes there would be no question for me.

The discrepancies I see are one stamp instead of two and no 'rush to the editor' note. Do we know if Zodiac only use double postage for correspondences that contained additional material such as ciphers, shirt pieces, song lyrics, bomb plans, and maps?

Rubislaw 32 link

6/12/2018 06:40:05 pm

These are very pertinent,and interesting points,Drew.

I am really going to examine the ''postage paid'',in more detail.The inference is often made,that Zodiac ''overpaid'' on postage,to guarantee he had paid enough,and avoid post offices.....but that may not be the whole story.

Shirt pieces,in particular....more consideration,perhaps [?].

Yes,the ''old'' symbols questions....which we would love to be more than rhetorical.It can be a personal ''thing''.My take,with the two Fairfield cryptograms is,that they are the only ones where Zodiac re-used his cipher keys,from another cryptogram.....and in this case,the ''famous'' 340.

One extra observation on the December 16th Fairfield letter,is the arrow employed with his list of projected kills.

Why would he desire ''Sacramento'' to be moved,and inserted between ''Napa'' and ''Fairfield'' ??

Not for alphabetical reasons...that's for sure.

Perhaps,instead of ''3168398'' being of significance.....he actually wants us to realise that ''3168938'' is the number of significance [?].

The arrow alone,highlights what appears to be a clue.

Marie

6/13/2018 02:30:16 am

I have investigated postage on what I generally consider "confirmed" Zodiac mailings and have to say it is odd that he underpaid for the postage on these letters as postage was raised to 6 cents for a letter almost 2 years earlier- January 7, 1968. Here he is using one 5 cent Washington stamps in November of 1969 when he had previously sent letters that year using 6 cents stamps (See my post @ http://zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=167&start=30 for details). The only other time Zodiac had not used correct or over postage was for the original CJB letters. In fact, he used no postage.

Also of note, he used only the standard 6 cents on his mailing with the MAP in it.

Postage stamps were easily available in vending machines in booklet form so he easily could have purchased stamps without dealing with a person. I would have to do more research if Washington's were available that way, or as a coil stamp if he did purchase at a counter. Either a high-res scan of the envelopes or a non cleaned up version could potentially show where the perforations were and aid in that information. I was able to find a booklet that contained 32 6 cent FDR stamps used on previous and later letters than the Fairfields, and 8 1 cent Jefferesons he could have used on the Belli Letter as it contains 6 such stamps. Why not use the extra single cents to mail the Fairfields?

While I have never found much credibility in the Fairfield letters, I think the stamps show further this is likely the case. He knew his postage and it makes little sense why he would change from that for these letters. Or why not just write one and use both stamps?

I am also sure full handwriting examinations have been done elsewhere, but at a quick glance the a's are wrong, the hook up at the end like a cursive a would, and the t's seem too evenly crossed.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/13/2018 05:36:29 am

Fascinating,what you have to say on the matter,Marie,and a great contribution to the general debate.

Probably none of us who contribute comments,here,are handwriting experts....but we have grown accustomed to perceived ways of Zodiac.

Granted ''perceived'' is the operative word here,but if there is something we have learned about Zodiac,it is that there was not a ''rule of thumb'',and displayed variances in his writing,almost all the time.

Your comment is worth reading a few times.....and I mean that as a compliment.I would have to say,as a personal opinion,and as an initial reaction gleaned from what you say,in general is,that Zodiac,like The Scarlet Pimpernel,was constantly ''coming and going'',and picking up from where he left off.

''We seek him here,we seek him there....we seek him everywhere.''.

Drew

6/12/2018 08:18:04 pm

I assumed the arrow indicated that the "cops" specification was to be attributed to the future Napa targeting. As far as the numbers chosen I'm sure we've both thought about more than Zodiac ever did but the total 38 may have become an important reference for him when he wrote the Exorcist letter.

Drew

6/12/2018 09:16:03 pm

I shouldn't have suggested that the numbers were without relevance. To me the list seems like it was written without much planning, but it would be an excellent place to leave a clue to the 340 if it is a cipher that can be cracked with a key. Could the number sequence be applied to the 340? I can see how it could apply to letter assignments but I'm not sure how it could interpret a > symbol. After only month or so it seems a bit early for him to be offering any meaningful hints to the solution to his elaborate puzzle, but there may be a revealing significance to the numbers. I think BTK put his address in one of his so Zodiac leaving his telephone number is certainly worth looking into.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/13/2018 12:26:10 am

Yes,a number of possibilities on the table,Drew.And I certainly don.t mean that flippantly.

With that arrow,we are also dealing with a ''times'',a ''cops'',and two ''dittos''.All of which,might be related to the arrow.

But,''3168938'' could still be a tantalising phone number.

Funny,when examining that part of that Fairfield letter,''we'' are forever having to put up with '' ha! ha! ha! ''.

Perhaps it was ''Zodiac's'' intention to annoy us [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

6/13/2018 12:13:55 pm

As a matter of interest to anyone,[email protected] illustrates,very persuasively,that the first of the two Fairfield letters [December 7th 1969] was written,with the employment of the lined template sheet,to guide straight line writing on blank paper.....which was later used,itself [...the template..],for the actual writing of the second Fairfield letter [December 16th 1969].

Rubislaw 32 link

6/13/2018 12:57:33 pm

Probable Zodiac correspondence,December 1969
------------------------------------------------------------------

1] December 7th - Fairfield postmark - to SF Chronicle.

Zodiac lifts sections of ''340'' to create Z38

''I just need help.....''

2] December 10th - Sacramento postmark - Sacramento Bee

Day-to-Day Forecast,Cancer.

Includes unique font of ''555'' State Express Cigarettes.

3] December 11th - SF postmark- SF Printing Company

Day-to-Day Forecast,Leo.

Includes unique font of Penthouse magazine.

4] December 16th - Fairfield postmark - to SF Examiner

Includes Z5 and ''Bleeding Knife'' etch.

5] December 20th - SF postmark - to Melvin Belli

''...I am drownding...''

6] December 20th - phone call to San Jose Highway Patrol Police

''Zodiac'' claims that he will kill five cops and a family of five,over the following weekend.Not recorded,but noted 10.10 p.m.

---------------------------------------------

Rubislaw 32 link

6/13/2018 02:04:29 pm

December 20th 1969 was a Saturday.

Perhaps ''Zodiac's'' phone call to the San Jose Highway Patrol Police,was Zodiac's ''passing shot'',as he departed from the Bay Area,taking Highway 101,on his way back to his primary home in Greater Los Angeles,for Christmas [?].

I believe this to be the case.

As far as we are officially aware,we would not hear from Zodiac,for another 4 months.

Suddenly,officially dated April 20th 1970,we hear from him,via the SF Chronicle.

A letter,and he opens up,after normal formalities with '' By the way have you cracked the last cipher I sent you ? My name is -----......''.

Well now...was Zodiac referring to his publicised ''340'' cipher....or,was he referring to Z38,which was made up of ''bits'' of the 340,that he must have been aware,that had ''fallen under the radar'' [?].

Whichever.....he was certainly ''fishing'' for an answer.

Judith

6/14/2018 12:19:57 pm

The cursive small d amongst the printed letters

Rubislaw 32 link

6/14/2018 05:06:25 pm

Hey Judith....I note that a handwritten letter,with Vancouver postmark,was sent to the Vancouver Province newspaper,between November 20th and December 2nd,1971.

The letter was claiming to be from D.B.Cooper,and he was informing the newspaper that he was leaving the area.

The Zodiac is suspected as having impersonated D,B,Cooper,for extra publicity...or just plain mischievousness.

With Peter's British Columbia link,that might be of interest to you [?].

Judith

6/14/2018 06:49:56 pm

Very interesting I research the DB Cooper case a little bit too. Peter had flown in small aircraft ,claimed he was in a small plane and the pilot flew under the Golden Gate Bridge. One thing I thought was weird was that when his parents died they had hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank. They had lived very simply with simple Blue Collar jobs, so I kind of wondered where all the money came from? Once again, Peter was an only child and he and his parents were bound. Peter had a friend in Vancouver named Ingo who had escaped the Vietnam draft and was living up there. As I said before he was there the night that the two kids were killed in their sleeping bags with a 22 rifle on the beach where they were all camping. My sister who is still alive told me that she drove him out the next morning and they were stopped by the Mounties.

Judith

6/15/2018 07:08:36 am

Any day now...they are claiming on the other websites, we should have a zodiac DNA profile. Someone mentioned that the hair they have in Evidence was cut blunt on one end. It reminded me of how someone left hunks of human hair around the property I was living in when I left Peter. I found hunks of human hair cut blunt on one end, first in my backyard. And then in my front yard placed carefully on rose shrubs. Then one morning I woke up, went into the kitchen, and there was a hunk of human hair cut blunt on one end carefully placed on the kitchen floor. Contra Costa County Sheriff's told me, "lady the kind of problems you're having, we cannot help you with."

Rubislaw 32 link

6/15/2018 11:41:29 am

The whole subject of advancement in DNA technology is fascinating.Not least how scientists have improved the chances of obtaining a full profile from parts of a hair shaft.

But,I believe the current talk to be highly speculative.Someone has dropped a rumour with credence....and the ''familial search'' aspect to having found the Golden State Killer,has kicked in on ''optimism''.

I wish I could be more transparent about what I do know...which is not actually,much less speculative than a perceived general knowledge.

But like you Judith,I am an ''accuser'' of a suspect who is personally known to me.

All that really means is,that you and I will hear everything ''second last''.

Everyone else will hear it ''last''.

egrablestock

6/15/2018 12:22:49 pm

Give me an email address and I may send the solution . The 340 is solved. I can send documents through my mail.
[email protected]

Sigmund

6/19/2018 04:16:51 am

The 340 has been solved about 182 times already, but somewhere around 160 I began to lose count.

Has anyone been tempted to email egrablestock for the solution?

Not meaning to sound too cynical, but perhaps we could start placing bets on how intelligible or unintelligible this "solution" will be, compared to all the rest. :-)

And most importantly, will the person who solved it react kindly to constructive criticism, even if the critique is mainly negative?

Judith

6/19/2018 08:11:44 pm

Just a thought I had and it's probably been put forward previously but what if zodiac had a code for the first third of The Cypher a different code for the second third of The Cypher and again a different code for the final third of The Cypher

Karen C

6/22/2018 12:13:36 am

People have tried just about everything. This cipher has literally been turned inside out. Still no solution.
Yes people have tried solving it in separate blocks. In recent times some people have been skipping every second or third symbol.
As I say, no matter what is tried the cipher remains mute.
I do wonder myself if this cipher does happen to be a real cipher, perhaps the Zodiac swapped rows and columns around. I tried this myself many times and it is 100% successful in completely baffling all attempts at a solution. So without the key (i.e. knowing which rows and columns have been switched and in which order) a solution will be impossible.
I have also wondered if this cipher may actually be an elaborate talisman. If this is what it is, the solution will be literal (i.e. a straight translation from the meaning implied in each of the symbols used).

John Corbin link

10/18/2018 09:54:23 pm

Everyone seems to keep forgetting the FIFTH 'Death By' element on the wheel: By Water, although it's not fully readable. How would you say this figures in, Richard?

Richard

10/19/2018 12:54:29 am

Of course, water would tie in with Berryessa, which was obviously "by water", although not as a direct murder tool. Then again, neither has "rope" or "fire" been the actual method of death. I believe that its lack of visibility on the wheel was only part of the reason it wasn't chosen, as a fifth method of death cannot fit into his quadrant style crosshairs possibly displayed on the Fairfield crosshairs or the design of the 340 cipher. However, trying to figure out this killer from the standpoint of a rational mind is fraught with danger- we may never get to the bottom of how his mind operated.

John Corbin link

10/19/2018 11:07:02 am

Thanks, Richard, for your thoughtful comments. Yours is certainly the best--and most intelligently executed--website on this subject, IMO.

Richard

10/20/2018 04:49:53 am

Cheers John, that is always nice to hear.

ZODIAC ADMITTED 340 NOT A REAL CIPHER [PT3]

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