On the high resolution image of the Mt. Diablo map (http://zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=138) there appears to be some holes (tacks?) on the paper. Two on the upper left corner, one larger on the upper right corner and a couple on the bottom. Is it known whether the map was received like this or did the holes somehow come about during the investigation? It just piqued my interest, wondering if the map was pinned on Zodiac’s wall or another surface before he mailed it.
I already found an answer to my question. Upon looking at high quality pictures of some of Zodiac’s other mailings, they seem to bear these similar kind of holes. So, they must be the doing of investigators, perhaps the letters were pinned on the wall of the office of the detectives. I can’t believe they would "damage" actual evidence like this, but I guess that was the procedure of the times.
I would hope the investigators did not put the holes in these papers, but maybe they didn’t. Why do you believe they did. You seem to have come
to the conclusion the investigators did this. Can I please ask what made you come to this conclusion? Was it because there are holes in more than
one? And which ones have you noticed this in. If by chance the investigators did not put the holes in them, then we would assume the person making
them had to do it. Then our question would be ‘why’.
I would like to know in which letters, cards, etc., have you noticed these holes
As far as the photos posted on this forum, and the bigger versions of them floating around the net, these are the mailings that appear to have tiny holes in them (upper corners and bottom): "My Name Is" cipher letter, The Dripping Pen card & Mt. Diablo letter + map.
I’m not very familiar with the way that this sort of evidence was handled in the 60s and the 70s, but from what I’ve seen, it was not as careful as it is today, since the forensic technology was not as developed. There are pictures of investigators handling the letters and Stine’s shirt pieces with bare hands, thus it is not impossible that they would have pinned the mailings onto a surface for whatever reason, I think.
If the holes were not made by investigators, Zodiac could have done so in order to conceal his handwriting. If you write on a vertical surface it automatically alters your writing a little.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if LE (at the time) tacked it up on a board. The only other one I recall have tack-holes in it was the Mt. Diablo letter that accompanied the map, so maybe they tacked them up side-by-side for reference. ??
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
After looking at some of the ones with holes, yes, I can see they probably were tacked up by someone. My original thought before looking at them was maybe they were layed out and "registered" along with some other papers, etc; however, after looking at them, I can see the holes are too offset to be made from "registering".
In the Unmasked book Graysmith mentions that there was some kind of "clue" relating to "Santa Barbara" on the back side of the map. Is more known about this by now or is it just something he made up?
The backside of the map shows that area. Not sure what other clue might have been there other than that.
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
Tahoe…
For some reason I can’t read anything on that map. Out of curiosity, does that area show Yosemite and, a town called big pine?
Soze
Yes. Yosemite is the big area in green and Big Pine is just south of Bishop, which (Big Pines) does show on the map. Very bottom/middle.
I have a clearer picture somewhere…I’ll try and post it tomorrow.
EDIT: Here you go Soze
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
Thank you Tahoe. Curious, does big pine or the area of Yosemite fall within or touch anything on the other side of the map?
Thanks,
Soze
Big Pine would be behind Portola Valley (near Menlo Park) – bottom/middle just left of center.
Yosemite is behind Pleasonton/Livermore.
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
Thank you tahoe
No problem! Let me know if there is anything else you would like me to check for you…I’m happy to.
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
Thank you tahoe
