Why did this have to be purchased from Tom Voigt before it was shared freely?

-glurk

Thank you indeed Deb.

Why did this have to be purchased from Tom Voigt before it was shared freely?
-glurk

Well damn, there you go with the tough questions again mate. I’m going to have to spend a while figuring that one out…..

Thanks Deb!

Why did this have to be purchased from Tom Voigt before it was shared freely?
-glurk

Because he uses the items to generate income. Earlier this year, he auctioned off other documents, including an original Arthur Allen search warrant, to cover "unexpected medical expenses."

I am happy to share! So this doesn’t dissolve into a bunch of snide comments, I’d like to point out that there was a hi-res image of this letter posted at Tom’s main site quite some time ago.

http://www.zodiackiller.com/PLHR.html

The hi-res copy is actually a little better than the one I have. Doranchak and I discussed this in emails and the big difference is that the slits that are in the police photo I now possess are not shown in the hi-res copy shown. Comparing the two it is now apparent that the area where the slits are has been filled in, something that you wouldn’t even look for without seeing this new copy.

I suppose that the only thing to wonder about now is why the heck the slits are there. Was the letter sent like that or did LE do something to the letter after it arrived? If the letter arrived like that, was it actually in two pieces and is there some sort of meaning behind it? It does appear that the slits are in a spot where the letter was folded. The slits do look like they were done with scissors or maybe razor blade, exacto knife, etc.

I sincerely doubt that this revelation is anywhere near a case solver. It just gives us something new to consider.

Damnit, I was hoping this would dissolve into a bunch of snide comments.

I am happy to share! So this doesn’t dissolve into a bunch of snide comments, I’d like to point out that there was a hi-res image of this letter posted at Tom’s main site quite some time ago.

http://www.zodiackiller.com/PLHR.html

The hi-res copy is actually a little better than the one I have. Doranchak and I discussed this in emails and the big difference is that the slits that are in the police photo I now possess are not shown in the hi-res copy shown. Comparing the two it is now apparent that the area where the slits are has been filled in, something that you wouldn’t even look for without seeing this new copy.

I suppose that the only thing to wonder about now is why the heck the slits are there. Was the letter sent like that or did LE do something to the letter after it arrived? If the letter arrived like that, was it actually in two pieces and is there some sort of meaning behind it? It does appear that the slits are in a spot where the letter was folded. The slits do look like they were done with scissors or maybe razor blade, exacto knife, etc.

I sincerely doubt that this revelation is anywhere near a case solver. It just gives us something new to consider.

Yep…been looking at the one at zk.com for years!

The slits/cuts/tears appear to be there in both copies, it’s just that the one @ Tom’s is in front of a white background.

Looks like that letter has been opened and closed a hundred times! I wonder if the cuts could be from a letter opener skimming the corner when originally opened at the Chronicle?

Good buy Seagull, glad it found a good home.

Yep…been looking at the one at zk.com for years!

The slits/cuts/tears appear to be there in both copies, it’s just that the one @ Tom’s is in front of a white background.

Looks like that letter has been opened and closed a hundred times! I wonder if the cuts could be from a letter opener skimming the corner when originally opened at the Chronicle?

I concur on all points and speculations. I see it on both and always subconsciously put it down to paper fatigue. That it’s on a fold and moves from the outsides in would be entirely consistent with splitting down to integrity of the paper failing. Probably accelerated by LE processes and cheap paper, or other possible external factors such as how it was opened, as you suggest T, may be the cause directly.