Actually the stretch of Cherry north of Jackson is flat, and then there are some downhill steps to the top of the Presidio wall.
In case anyone has questions about the Presidio Heights area as it pertains to the Stine murder, I created this page back in 2004 when I lived there: https://zodiackiller.com/PresidioHeights2004.html
And also this page covering Zodiac’s likely escape route: https://zodiackiller.com/ZEscapeRoute.html
For both pages, begin at the upper-left column and work your way down.
Nice photos.
And here’s what I’ve put together a few years back:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/unsolved
(you can click on the "Toggle slideshow" icon)
“Nobody called him Arthur.”
Actually the stretch of Cherry north of Jackson is flat, and then there are some downhill steps to the top of the Presidio wall.
Yes, but across West Pacific is a hill.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The kids were also on the third floor looking down across the street at night through some fog. Not ideal conditions for a detailed facial sketch IMO.]
I saw a fairly careful reconstruction of their viewpoint demonstrated with a very similar cab simulating the same light for time of day.(I do not recall exactly the source – but I will try to summon it up). With the cab dome light on, the cab interior and even around the open doors are very well lit. The eyewitnesses were looking unobstructed at the scene from about fifty-ish feet on the diagonal. Unless the fog was thick that night I think they got a very good look at the guy.
That was too much!
<Yes, but across West Pacific is a hill.>
Okay I see what you’re saying, you are referring to the raw Presidio terrain. Yes there is a hill but it essentially parallels West Pacific, meaning it runs uphill toward Arguello.
Also, Richard, Morf, Tom, anyone: how was the car engine still running when found if he took the keys from the ignition?
I was just thinking about this last week. I seem to recall that when I was a littke boy in the early 1970s, that one could remove a key from the ignition after atarting the vehicle while the vehicle was still running. I think that feature was changed around 1976 for most vehicles. I remember these things based on when my siblings were born and various things that occurred in our lives. Of course, I could be misremembering this completely. I did not research this. Anybody with firmer memory is encouraged to chime in.
All I know is this is what was reported on Oct 12. If the meter is running and connected to the transmission, then surely the engine is running. I’m not an expert on taxicabs, but I would hazard a guess that the meter doesn’t keep ticking over if the engine is off.
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/
“I simply cannot accept that there are, on every story, two equal and logical sides to an argument.” Edward R. Murrow.
All I know is this is what was reported on Oct 12. If the meter is running and connected to the transmission, then surely the engine is running. I’m not an expert on taxicabs, but I would hazard a guess that the meter doesn’t keep ticking over if the engine is off.
True, because even if you asked the cabbie to sit in front of an address waiting, they don’t do that for free- meter wise I mean, I am not sure if the cab motor turning off also turns off the meter
There is more than one way to lose your life to a killer
http://www.zodiackillersite.com/
http://zodiackillersite.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/Morf13ZKS
A taxi meter uses electric pulses to measure both distance and time. To get the distance traveled, the meter relies on a sensor attached to the cab’s transmission. The sensor sends an electric pulse to the meter every time the cab travels a given distance. Inside the meter itself is a timer that sends out a pulse when a set amount of time passes.
So, reading between the lines, the last element possibly doesn’t require the engine to be running. However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t. I am assuming that the engine was running, because this seems like a rather innocuous detail to mention by the Chronicle if not true.
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/
“I simply cannot accept that there are, on every story, two equal and logical sides to an argument.” Edward R. Murrow.
It all sounds plausible – but again, the problem is with the keys out of the ignition. Could he do that without turning the motor off?
“Nobody called him Arthur.”
It all sounds plausible – but again, the problem is with the keys out of the ignition. Could he do that without turning the motor off?
A car doesn’t necessarily need the key in the ignition for the engine to run.
Mah-na Mah-na
A car doesn’t necessarily need the key in the ignition for the engine to run.
True. To do that one would typically need to crack into the steering column, correct? I’m guessing that there was little time for that, and probably no need.
As an aside, when we were about 14 my delinquent cousin, myself supervising, figured out how to jack our uncle’s car with a flat-head screwdriver into the ignition column. This was a 70’s model Chevy of some sort.
So it is not difficult but can take some fussing to get it.
That was too much!
Yes, but we’re talking about two different things. My question is: was it possible that he could’ve taken the key out of the ignition and not stop the engine from running. It’s a technical question.
“Nobody called him Arthur.”
The cars manufactured in the 50s and 60s had simpler mechanisms. They did not have so many advanced technological features and the ignition switches had simple functions. You could take the car key out while driving without affecting the engine’s operation. Can you do the same with the modern cars? https://carfromjapan.com/article/drivin … e-driving/
I have read multiple articles, especially regarding older vehicles. where it is possible to remove the ignition keys with the engine still running. Therefore, my guess is, it was possible in this instance.
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/
“I simply cannot accept that there are, on every story, two equal and logical sides to an argument.” Edward R. Murrow.
Richard, mine too. But I would still want to know for certain, was it possible in this particular model (Ford Galaxie 500 from ’68 If I do recall correctly). Same with the taximeter (does it or doesn’t need the motor on to work – my guess is no, as Mike also pointed out – but again, that is how it is now).
I dwell on this topic not because I want to prove you or anybody else wrong – just there’s a lot of people in here, and maybe perhaps someone has this knowledge from first hand, or second.
“Nobody called him Arthur.”
