Well, unless pointing out a fact about the case that is not open for argument renders one a ‘Kook’. I would have have to go with the fact being a fact though and a ‘Kook’ being a personal opinion.

"This is my story. I started the Zodiac case, and ended it. (assuming Bettye Harden wrote this, she is somehow taking credit for the book, crimes, or solving the case?)
The last half of this book is theory. When I write the true ending it will shake the earth! (same as above, ok where is the book?)
Betty Harden"

The second hand-written page reads,
"The author use to drive around Salinas to pick our brains — (ah, so maybe this was written by a Salinas resident whom knows about the preparation for the book and is working on their own which hasn’t materialized – sound familiar?)
all we told him was already public news that made headlines 5 inches long. (same as above, didn’t want to expose themselves so they signed Bettye’s name)
Our code-solving.
Bettye"

Of course, this is just my opinion. What do I really know anyway?

Vic, be specific please. I said a few different things. What has someone posted a youtube video about? Why are they classed as kooks? And I don’t think it’s the mentally unstable that are claiming that Salinas area code and Zodiac’s cipher code are a match digitally, both being 408. Lock these nut cases up!

In the link I provided, someone is hosting a video showing the writing in the book accompanied to very creepy music. What I mean by kooks are people simply looking to contribute to The Z.’s timeline and saga. No different than a Z. letter forger.

I know the uploads your referring to on youtube. I have left a few comments on them myself along the lines of while I think there’s reason to believe that Don and/or Bettye may know more than they are letting on, Don Harden doesn’t match the description of the ‘Stocky, even overweight man who was once even described as barrel chested. Don H is tall and thin.

I am confident the writing in that book is indeed Bettye’s writing. I know more about the book, but was asked not to share any details, sorry

I am confident the writing in that book is indeed Bettye’s writing. I know more about the book, but was asked not to share any details, sorry

I know you did mention that the other day Morf. I trust your word enough Morf without needing the Source as proof if you mean you have info regarding how you know Bettye wrote the message, ie, who gave you that info.

If it is the case that Bettye did write that almost without question, then I can’t see how the message can be interpreted any other way other than it being A self incriminating statement. I have heard that Bettye was mentally ill and I suppose some will dismiss the comment based on that but I think she wrote it knowingly and with a deliberate intent.

That’s another thing I found really odd Bettye’s Daughter said at the meeting. She said she hadn’t been back to the old house in years but she remembers where she left the Cipher that her mother had decoded most of (the 340). She said that upon her going back, the Cipher and it’s decryption were no longer there and that she believed "Someone" had beat her to it and removed it a day or so before she got there.

I know you did mention that the other day Morf. I trust your word enough Morf without needing the Source as proof if you mean you have info regarding how you know Bettye wrote the message, ie, who gave you that info.

If it is the case that Bettye did write that almost without question, then I can’t see how the message can be interpreted any other way other than it being A self incriminating statement. I have heard that Bettye was mentally ill and I suppose some will dismiss the comment based on that but I think she wrote it knowingly and with a deliberate intent.

That’s another thing I found really odd Bettye’s Daughter said at the meeting. She said she hadn’t been back to the old house in years but she remembers where she left the Cipher that her mother had decoded most of (the 340). She said that upon her going back, the Cipher and it’s decryption were no longer there and that she believed "Someone" had beat her to it and removed it a day or so before she got there.

The person that owns the book could certainly chime in and discuss this with you, that would be awesome.

Whomever that person is, I would be more than curious to hear what they have to say either in PM or on this board.

I know you did mention that the other day Morf. I trust your word enough Morf without needing the Source as proof if you mean you have info regarding how you know Bettye wrote the message, ie, who gave you that info.

If it is the case that Bettye did write that almost without question, then I can’t see how the message can be interpreted any other way other than it being A self incriminating statement. I have heard that Bettye was mentally ill and I suppose some will dismiss the comment based on that but I think she wrote it knowingly and with a deliberate intent.

That’s another thing I found really odd Bettye’s Daughter said at the meeting. She said she hadn’t been back to the old house in years but she remembers where she left the Cipher that her mother had decoded most of (the 340). She said that upon her going back, the Cipher and it’s decryption were no longer there and that she believed "Someone" had beat her to it and removed it a day or so before she got there.

The person that owns the book could certainly chime in and discuss this with you, that would be awesome.

morf, can we expect them to publish a book about this in the near future?

I know you did mention that the other day Morf. I trust your word enough Morf without needing the Source as proof if you mean you have info regarding how you know Bettye wrote the message, ie, who gave you that info.

If it is the case that Bettye did write that almost without question, then I can’t see how the message can be interpreted any other way other than it being A self incriminating statement. I have heard that Bettye was mentally ill and I suppose some will dismiss the comment based on that but I think she wrote it knowingly and with a deliberate intent.

That’s another thing I found really odd Bettye’s Daughter said at the meeting. She said she hadn’t been back to the old house in years but she remembers where she left the Cipher that her mother had decoded most of (the 340). She said that upon her going back, the Cipher and it’s decryption were no longer there and that she believed "Someone" had beat her to it and removed it a day or so before she got there.

The person that owns the book could certainly chime in and discuss this with you, that would be awesome.

morf, can we expect them to publish a book about this in the near future?

I have no idea. I just know that they have the book, and have some opinions about it. I hope they will one day chhose to share with everybody here. If they give me permsission to share,I would do so.

Well whoever it is that Morf is referring to who has the book and gave him the confidential information, if you choose to tell me whatever it is you told Morf, then I too give you my word I will not utter it anywhere else online or off. I understand if whoever it is doesn’t feel comfortable in doing so but to try and offer some sense of how my word is just that and if I say I won’t, I won’t then I publically state here that if I repeat it then I deserve, and ask that Morf bans me and let the entire community know that I cannot be trusted. I assure you, it wouldn’t need to go to that but i’ll leave it up to that 3rd person to decide. My PM is always there

Odd. I was just discussing this on the IMDB Z board.

I made a good point that hasn’t been brought up here, so I’ll repost it here.

where does this idea that the ciphers were sent to the Navy, FBI, CIA, and NSA and they were unable to solve them? That’s in Graysmith of course and it makes a good story, but is it true?

The newspaper story in the Vallejo Times Herald on August 6, 1969 about the Harden’s solution says that it was sent to the Navy, but not the others.

The FBI files state "The Ciphers enclosed with items 2 dash 4 were submitted by the Vallejo Police Department to the Navy Department, but were not examined by cryptographer." emphasis mine.

The FBI’s examination of the ciphers occur after the Harden’s had already solved it and in fact it confirms their solution to be correct.

It would seem that the reason none of these agencies could solve it was because they never tried to.

if it is the case that Bettye did write that almost without question, then I can’t see how the message can be interpreted any other way other than it being A self incriminating statement.

Graysmith said that Bettye had a keen interest in the unsolved Z340 cipher and he proposed his own solution in the book. If she really did write that it would seem that she meant his solution was the theory and she started the case with her Z408 solution and will end it when she solves the Z340. That would make the most sense.

Odd. I was just discussing this on the IMDB Z board.

I made a good point that hasn’t been brought up here, so I’ll repost it here.

where does this idea that the ciphers were sent to the Navy, FBI, CIA, and NSA and they were unable to solve them? That’s in Graysmith of course and it makes a good story, but is it true?

The newspaper story in the Vallejo Times Herald on August 6, 1969 about the Harden’s solution says that it was sent to the Navy, but not the others.

The FBI files state "The Ciphers enclosed with items 2 dash 4 were submitted by the Vallejo Police Department to the Navy Department, but were not examined by cryptographer." emphasis mine.

The FBI’s examination of the ciphers occur after the Harden’s had already solved it and in fact it confirms their solution to be correct.

It would seem that the reason none of these agencies could solve it was because they never tried to.

if it is the case that Bettye did write that almost without question, then I can’t see how the message can be interpreted any other way other than it being A self incriminating statement.

Graysmith said that Bettye had a keen interest in the unsolved Z340 cipher and he proposed his own solution in the book. If she really did write that it would seem that she meant his solution was the theory and she started the case with her Z408 solution and will end it when she solves the Z340. That would make the most sense.

Do you think Graysmith may have based his 340 cipher solution on Bettye Harden’s solution?

I have no idea, but I kind of doubt it. We know that an early version of his solution was submitted to the FBI and that he apparently revised it before his final version in the book. Unless the FBI one was actually Bettye’s and her and Graysmith were working together on it. I don’t think that is very likely.

"it would seem that she meant his solution was the theory and she started the case with her Z408 solution and will end it when she solves the Z340."

That is a very good and reasonable assumption, but it is inconsistent with her "When I write the true ending, it will shake the Earth" comment because if, as you suggest, her saying "I started the Zodiac case" is her way of saying she cracked the first cipher, and that ‘the true ending’ is a reference to, as you say, ‘when she solves the 340’, then how can Bettye add that "It will shake the Earth?" If she hasn’t any idea of what the message contained in the 340 is, how can she assume that it will be Earth Shaking? I mean Bettye knows the first one she and Don deciphered contained a message that was completely useless and of no significant use evidentiary wise at all so why would she, knowing this, make the huge leap from 408’s message being random babbling to the assumption that the 340’s message will be the exact opposite and contain a message and information that is profoundly Earth Shattering?

You phrased it in your comment that she will end it when she solves the 340. That’s where I think there are grounds to say her statement is self incriminating, or highly suspicious at best because she is not speaking as one who is unaware of the end game, or as you say, the Ciphers message, she is speaking as one who already has that knowledge. It’s not ‘If’ Bettye is able to write the end, she tells us it’s when. How can she assume that she will ever be able to solve the 340? And she also has told us that WHEN she does, we will be left stunned by what the answers are, or as you said, the 340’s message and what it says.

The only way she can say what she says and the comments be logical is if she already knows the ending (or what the full message says in the 340) and that’s how she can justify saying it will be "Earth Shaking."