Something that bothers me about Tarbox’s suspect is that he sounds like the perfect Zodiac suspect…merchant marine, Vallejo insider, the Belli connection, etc. It’s like if you were going to come up with a new Z suspect from scratch for a book or movie, this would be your suspect. Interesting also that Jack the Ripper was suspected of being a merchant seaman. I’m not saying Mr. Tarbox never had this conversation, but I find it odd how his suspect so neatly fits the profile.

Good point Drew.

Something that bothers me about Tarbox’s suspect is that he sounds like the perfect Zodiac suspect…merchant marine, Vallejo insider, the Belli connection, etc. It’s like if you were going to come up with a new Z suspect from scratch for a book or movie, this would be your suspect. Interesting also that Jack the Ripper was suspected of being a merchant seaman. I’m not saying Mr. Tarbox never had this conversation, but I find it odd how his suspect so neatly fits the profile.

Completely agree.

One interesting aspect of being a merchant marine is that one can work out of any port he chooses. Meaning he can easily move to a different area and wait for the heat to blow over. This would explain why the Z murders could have taken place in different parts of CA.

Thanks for your reply Paul and remember hearing somewhere that Tarbox said the MM was not one of the major suspects and heck maybe it came from you where I heard it. I think it would be great if someone could run the names of the lesser know suspects on this board and others by him. Anyhow thanks for your info and post on this subject. I guess Tarbox inspiration for the ad in the first place was to help Allen’s family name if you believe him.

Paul,

Did Tarbox mention that he would leave the name in his will to be released on his death or anything like that?

Being a graduate of the Calif. Maritime Academy and Merchant Mariner myself, the whole story of him walking into an lawyer’s office to get advice is just directly on point. Back then and even into the 1990’s merchant sailors used lawyers for all kinds of tasks, especially if they sailed deep sea. That means sailing foreign which would cause them to be gone for long periods.

As every US Merchant Mariner has a Z Card which requires finger prints to obtain, it would be interesting to know if the SFPD ever sent a request to the Coast Guard to access those files and try to make a comparison?

Paul_Averly, Tarbox told you that the man he spoke with had a full head of hair, no crew cut and didn’t resemble the Zodiac sketch… That makes me wonder, did you ask Tarbox if the man resembled the Lake Berryessa POI sketch?

Tarbox told me that the SF Z sketch "didn’t make him feel like it was the same guy." He had seen the LB sketch (back when it came out) and said it looked to low quality.

Overall, my memory of our discussion was that no police sketch really looked like the seaman. Tarbox mentioned he thought the seaman to have the look of southern France / mediterranean. But the seaman was an American with no accent.

** Also, Tarbox told me the name of the seaman WAS NOT Ross. **

Do you know if Tarbox is still alive?

Also, was there anything else Tarbox told you about this man?

Tarbox was alive as of early 2014. He is getting old though.

I have posted here, everything he has ever told me.

It sounds like this was really Z! I wonder if Tarbox could eliminate poi’s since he has the name, as others have suggested. I’d sure like to run my poi by him. My poi is still living and fits Tarbox’s description except he has never been in the Merchant Marines (at least as far as I know).

Also, after re-reading all of the information here, no longer think Ted Kaczinski is Z since he was never in the Merchant Marines!

If Tarbox could help eliminate suspects, it would be great and end hours of wasted time on sheer speculation. For instance, could he at least drop a hint such as the M.M.’s initials or maybe just his first name. It seems that would not violate any ethical considerations since he said the man’s name was a common American one. It also seems that he has eliminated Arthur Allen and it would actually be a very good thing for him to help eliminate all those innocent people who have been falsely accused.

Imagine how the friends and family of the innocent named suspects must feel to see their loved one’s name being drug through the mud after they are dead and cannnot possible defend themselves against such hideous accusations.

Mr. Tarbox seems to be the only person other than Brian Hartnell at this point who could realistically identify the Zodiac.

Do you suppose he and Hartnell have ever consulted about Z?

Mr. Tarbox must be a pretty nice guy since Z spent two hours with him. Is there any way this man could have had a fake Merchant Marine card?

Tarbox told me that the SF Z sketch "didn’t make him feel like it was the same guy." He had seen the LB sketch (back when it came out) and said it looked to low quality.

Overall, my memory of our discussion was that no police sketch really looked like the seaman. Tarbox mentioned he thought the seaman to have the look of southern France / mediterranean. But the seaman was an American with no accent.

** Also, Tarbox told me the name of the seaman WAS NOT Ross. **

Did you ask him if the seaman’s initials were "RH?"

Also, I’m curious how this two hour consultation ended. What advice if any did Tarbox give this man? All we know is a man who identified as the Zodiac came to his office and paid money for a consultation, was worried about a sentence and that the lawyer felt he was "confessing." Did Tarbox ask him what his plans were, next port-of-call, if he was married, or any other information? I’m thinking he did as I can’t imagine this being all that came out in two hours!

Since Tarbox is still living, it is critical imo that he help eliminate innocent people and at least help narrow the field of suspected and future poi’s by giving a hint such as a first name or initials! Please contact him at your earliest convenience and let us know!

Sorry to go on about this but it is very interesting and assuming Tarbox is telling the truth, then we know that Zodiac was also when he said he looked nothing like the Wanted Posters when he wasn’t "doing his thing."

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/A … 225232.php

Thanks for posting this most informative article.

I find it most interesting that Mr. Tarbox was the former owner or part-owner in a bar/nightclub and think maybe the seaman knew that and could have been why he was chosen.

It would be interesting to know if Tarbox ever actually worked IN the establishment, perhaps as a bartender where he could have served this man. Or, he could have been there greeting customers and seating them and met him that way. If he’d become acquainted with this seaman and the subject of UC Berkeley had arisen, that would have been another thing the two had in common and the M.M. remembered that when he decided to seek consultation out of what sounds like terrific remorse/guilt.

I met my poi in late spring or early summer of 1970 and felt exactly as Tarbox did locked in his office when my poi appeared in the Zodiac costume while I was locked in his apt. and we were preparing to go out for dinner after having spent the afternoon at the beach. I thought he was in his bedroom changing his clothes and I was sitting on the floor in the living area listening to LP’S on the stereo.

I can now even remember Karen Carpenter’s album was playing "Rainy Days and Monday’s Always Get Me Down" when my boyfriend came loping out in what I now know to be the Zodiac disguise! I still get the panicky feeling when I remember the details of that and cannot allow myself to dwell on them for very long without getting heart palpitations.

Do the Merchant Marine Identification cards have a photo on them? If not, then it would be easier for someone to pass themself off as one but seems it would be impossible otherwise.