The spacing of the word ‘Zodiac’ in the opening lines of both letters is of interest, and seesm to match. The stuff connected to the Belli letter interesting too. Let’s not forget, the FBI said that all 3 of these contained disguise and were not freely written, including the Belli letter.

But why distort it, say you’re Zodiac and yet write envelopes in a manner Zodiac never used before, at a time he was trying to prove his letters were from him?

Distortion for letters he wasn’t claiming were him…I get that.

While the FBI may have said the Belli letter was distorted, I think it was just "neater", but his real writing does shine through.

No idea, maybe to keep the Cops guessing, confused,and busy. Maybe he felt his true writing may be identified if he kept using it??

I’m sure the ’78 letter was copied from the Belli letter, but what makes you think that it was copied from the Fairfield letters? The Fairfield letters look more like the other sixty nine Zodiac letters to me than the ’78 or Belli ones. All the Zodiac’s "speaking"s have a pronounced "k". The "w"s is a good catch too and that’s pretty atypical, but he does have a least one sharp bottom "w" before the Fairfield letters. In particular his Capital "W" in "western". He also has an early unnecessary capital "K" for "kill".

Isn’t it funny how all the most Zodiac looking elements of the suspect letters are from the envelopes? I can believe that a hoaxer would copy Zodiac writing for the envelopes to try to get a quick look see and then use natural or at least reverted writing in the letter text.

I’m not really sure why someone would even bother trying to copy Zodiac writing for an early hoax letter.

Lastly, I can’t help but think of Fairfield and Andy Walker. Does anyone who’s read Lafferty’s book know if he talked about these letters?

Thanks to Seagull for finding this article,due to the timing, and mention of cops getting killed, I have little doubt that the caller in this case,was also the Author of ‘THIS STATE IS IN TROUBLE’ letter. Was it Zodiac? That remains to be seen

Fresno Bee
Dec 20 1969
Page 1

"Zodiac" 10 Are Marked For Murder

SAN JOSE (AP)- The Highway Patrol station here reports receiving a telephone call from a man identifying himself as "Zodiac" and threatening to kill five patrolmen and a family of five by Monday.

Sgt. Robert Rengstorif said he took the call at 10:10 p.m. Friday from a man who told dispatcher Shirley Searcy he was "the Zodiac" and wanted to speak to the man in charge.

Rengstorif quoted the man as saying:
"I am going to kill five of you officers and a family of five between now and Monday."

The patrolman said the call was not recorded and there is no way of knowing who it came from.

A killer who calls himself Zodiac first struck a year ago in Vallejo and has killed a total of five persons.

His last known communication was a month ago in two letters addressed to the San Francisco Chronicle

I heard back from this Retired officer that took the call, here’s what he said:

"Dear mr. Morford
I did receive a telephone call from (what I believed at that time was) the Zodiack Killer. It was busy night and I was helping in our dispatch faciliites. As the CHP is a traffic Law Enforcement agency, I forwarded the information to San Jose P.D..
I don’t recall the San Jose family that you mentioned nor do I have any additional information to provide you.
Good luck in your search.
Sincerely
R.P Rengstorff"

Here is a cleaned and sharpened version for you.

Another questioned Zodiac case letter I was able to obtain via the FOIA from the FBI-

Man, it’s been so long since I got this. Does anyone remember what date this letter was supposedly mailed?

me -37 SFPD – 0

The numbers add up to 38.

I also like the handwriting. A lot of similarities, IMO.

With Hakari, Bennallack and maybe Hilburn, the government life part makes more sense. Donna Lass wasn’t far from Carson City, either. Plus Atlanta in the child murders and that letter. Boston, if you buy Joan Webster.

Richard Raditich, a cop, was killed June 19th, 1970
The June 26th "button" letter shows up shortly after

This state is in troulbe..I will go for the Goverment life"

Holy…