We can find most of the Zodiac letters online these days but which ones would potential hoaxers have had access to at the time to copy writing style etc? Are there any that definitely were not made public back then?
There’s a collection of Chronicle scans here:
Also, the Times-Herald printed a full page from the July 31st letter, including Z’s circle-cross signature. Which should be somewhere on this board…
Also, the Times-Herald printed a full page from the July 31st letter, including Z’s circle-cross signature. Which should be somewhere on this board…
You can find that here:
http://zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?p=439#p439
The SF Examiner also posted parts of the 8/4 letter:
https://www.evernote.com/l/AAFkF_vsBkNM … LM9U4l9nIs
Thanks. Have to wonder why they allowed the actual handwriting to be published. It gave hoaxers something to work with. But perhaps they thought someone might recognise the style?
Thanks. Have to wonder why they allowed the actual handwriting to be published. It gave hoaxers something to work with. But perhaps they thought someone might recognise the style?
Didn’t just give hoaxers something to work with basically gave them everything they needed. Virtually every unique little trait which could have been used to verify a legit Zodiac letter was published somewhere.
I think printing the letters helped sell newspapers so that’s why they did it.
I think clearly looking back now was a huge mistake.
I think printing the letters helped sell newspapers so that’s why they did it.
I think clearly looking back now was a huge mistake.
Zodiac demanded publication or he’d kill additional people. Also, getting his handwriting out there was a great way to potentially catch him.
The Chronicle already had a giant circulation; no help from Zodiac was needed to help sell newspapers.
Agreed. Every letter he sent told authorities more about who he was. Plus you had the physical evidence of the envelopes themselves. You knew where he was mailing from, what kind of stationary he was using and where that was sold, and what day he was posting the letters (and where from). The more he communicated the more vulnerable he was, which I think he realized to a degree. But after the second attack his purpose seemed to shift to where the murders were secondary to the communication. Once that happened he just couldn’t help himself. And if we ever learn Zodiac’s identity it will likely be in large part due to those letters. I think the papers did the right thing publishing them. If they had refused the killings would not have stopped but the odds of finding him would have been negatively impacted.
Well they haven’t found him anyway so you can’t use that argument.
It’s funny what turns up on Newspapersdotcom…
