The toll is above 1,000 now..with still ‘additional’ 1,600 bodies not being identified..creepy.

The list (of course not all Z) is updated and can be accessed under:

https://docs.zoho.com/file/gu1waf38b4cc … 18ee95a94c
(Zodiachronology)

QT

I recently read Q’s impressive spreadsheet of all possible victims (like, 500-600?), which fits very well with my POI(s). Z could not have done all those crimes himself. Though some are undoubtedly not Z crimes–(Z wasn’t the only criminal in California)–if even half of them were due to other criminals, to commit the remaining half, Z would have to be two guys with the same MO.

Which brings me to this question: Does anyone know how to get a copy of the original "Open Letter to the Zodiac" published by the Vallejo Times-Herald on Jan. 4, 1971?

It told Z, in part, " You need no explosives for your big blast, just go to the nearest Police station and tell the truth about the man who has made a killer out of you, your father who has been getting away with famous American crimes since 1947 and is now an expert at giving killing lessons…." It mentions a brother.

This is from Graysmith’s "Zodiac Unmasked," p. 146.

I would very much like to see the rest of this letter, and its postmark.

I’ve called the VTH, but they are little more responsive than their police department.

I would contact the Solano County Library and see if they can find a copy of it in the old papers.

I recently read Q’s impressive spreadsheet of all possible victims (like, 500-600?), which fits very well with my POI(s). Z could not have done all those crimes himself. Though some are undoubtedly not Z crimes–(Z wasn’t the only criminal in California)–if even half of them were due to other criminals, to commit the remaining half, Z would have to be two guys with the same MO.

Which brings me to this question: Does anyone know how to get a copy of the original "Open Letter to the Zodiac" published by the Vallejo Times-Herald on Jan. 4, 1971?

It told Z, in part, " You need no explosives for your big blast, just go to the nearest Police station and tell the truth about the man who has made a killer out of you, your father who has been getting away with famous American crimes since 1947 and is now an expert at giving killing lessons…." It mentions a brother.

This is from Graysmith’s "Zodiac Unmasked," p. 146.

I would very much like to see the rest of this letter, and its postmark.

I’ve called the VTH, but they are little more responsive than their police department.

I had a person I work with at Solano County Library look thru the entire 1/4/71 Vallejo Times Herald, and there is NO MENTION of anything regarding Zodiac, or an open letter to him,etc, as a matter of fact she went thru 1/1/71 to 1/14/71, and found NO MENTION of Zodiac, so not sure if Graysmith got his dates mixed up or what

DEAR,GESTR:
The Famous Crime since 1947 is The Black Dahlia (ELIZABETH SHORT) City of Lost Angels

I recently read Q’s impressive spreadsheet of all possible victims (like, 500-600?), which fits very well with my POI(s). Z could not have done all those crimes himself. Though some are undoubtedly not Z crimes–(Z wasn’t the only criminal in California)–if even half of them were due to other criminals, to commit the remaining half, Z would have to be two guys with the same MO.

Which brings me to this question: Does anyone know how to get a copy of the original "Open Letter to the Zodiac" published by the Vallejo Times-Herald on Jan. 4, 1971?

It told Z, in part, " You need no explosives for your big blast, just go to the nearest Police station and tell the truth about the man who has made a killer out of you, your father who has been getting away with famous American crimes since 1947 and is now an expert at giving killing lessons…." It mentions a brother.

This is from Graysmith’s "Zodiac Unmasked," p. 146.

I would very much like to see the rest of this letter, and its postmark.

I’ve called the VTH, but they are little more responsive than their police department.

I had a person I work with at Solano County Library look thru the entire 1/4/71 Vallejo Times Herald, and there is NO MENTION of anything regarding Zodiac, or an open letter to him,etc, as a matter of fact she went thru 1/1/71 to 1/14/71, and found NO MENTION of Zodiac, so not sure if Graysmith got his dates mixed up or what

I recall looking for Herb Caen columns that mention Zodiac by using the info in Graysmith’s books and the columns were either not there or written on a different date. So I don’t think your librarian has overlooked anything. When the ladies that went to the Vallejo library to get the Zodiac articles from the VTH that Zam posted they got them from a binder that was complied by library staff and it was very complete.

Thank you very much, Morf. I don’t live near Vallejo. Can anyone go to that paper and ask them to search their archives for that letter? I don’t know why Graysmith would have made that up. He seemed to pooh-pooh it.

Actually, Graysmith didn’t specifically say that the letter came to the Vallejo Times-Herald. He had mentioned that paper a few pages before, so I thought he meant that paper when he wrote "an anonymous letter came to the paper."

It’s possible this letter came to the Chronicle, or some other paper. When I write to them, they are not very responsive. If anyone can get this out of them, I’d sure appreciate it.

DEAR,GESTR:
The Famous Crime since 1947 is The Black Dahlia (ELIZABETH SHORT) City of Lost Angels

Hi Scary Guy,
Have fun catching up on your reading.

Well, I have a JPEG image of Graysmith’s page showing the "Open Letter to the Zodiac." It’s 3.86 MB, and this program will not allow it to post. I tried it as a TIFF image, at 21.4 MB. It still won’t post. I converted it to PDF, but it’s still 3.86 MB. I opened the in Paint, and cropped it to 1.91 MB, but this program still allows nothing to be inserted between the Img brackets. Any suggestions?

DEAR,GESTR:
The Famous Crime since 1947 is The Black Dahlia (ELIZABETH SHORT) City of Lost Angels

Did you mention Elizabeth Short on this zodiac site because, in 1943, she lived for a time in San Francisco, and Vallejo, and in Lompoc, near Vandenburg AFB?

Are you hinting there is a connection between Elizabeth Short’s murder and the Dominguez-Edwards murder? (and zodiac)

The following excerpt is posted under the fair use act, as this is a non-profit website, and it is posted here only for purposes of research, education and discussion.

When Graysmith says "the paper" I think he is referring to the paper he worked at, the SF Chronicle.

I would try writing or calling them. Perhaps Zam or Sandy could ask their contact at the paper. But it might well be thrown out, or buried in a box somewhere. There is nothing to indicate the police ever had a copy, so I can’t help you with a FOIA request.

Can I ask what is your particular interest in this letter?

For me it brings to mind the book "Most Evil" and the man who claimed his father was both the Black Dahlia Killer and the Zodiac. IMO the evidence shows he absolutely was not the Zodiac and probably not the BDK either. His name was Steve Hodell?

Other than that I am not sure this is anything but a crank or hoax letter, one of hundreds the SF Chronicle got. But perhaps it is of interest to you as it matches something with your poi.

The following excerpt is posted under the fair use act, as this is a non-profit website, and it is posted here only for purposes of research, education and discussion.

When Graysmith says "the paper" I think he is referring to the paper he worked at, the SF Chronicle.

I would try writing or calling them. Perhaps Zam or Sandy could ask their contact at the paper. But it might well be thrown out, or buried in a box somewhere. There is nothing to indicate the police ever had a copy, so I can’t help you with a FOIA request.

Can I ask what is your particular interest in this letter?

For me it brings to mind the book "Most Evil" and the man who claimed his father was both the Black Dahlia Killer and the Zodiac. IMO the evidence shows he absolutely was not the Zodiac and probably not the BDK either. His name was Steve Hodell?

Other than that I am not sure this is anything but a crank or hoax letter, one of hundreds the SF Chronicle got. But perhaps it is of interest to you as it matches something with your poi.

I pm-ed you my interest. Please keep it confidential.

Also, I did contact the Chronicle. No reply.

I would greatly appreciate if someone with more pull could dig this up, especially the postmark.

Thank you.

Thanks for the pm. I see your interest.

I would like to help you. But since the police never had this letter a foia would not work.

I don’t know if its a question of having pull. Sandy and Zam know Kevin Fagan a reporter at the SF Chronicle. But the problem is this letter could have been thrown out, taken home by Graysmith or someone else or may be sitting in one of the many boxes and files of Z material that the Chronicle has.

Thanks for the concern. If this "Open Letter" was published in the Chronicle, then it should be an easy matter to retrieve the Chronicle for that day. Surely that issue is in their archives and not just sitting in a box somewhere. Yet, I cannot get a response from the Chronicle when I ask for assistance in looking up that issue. I’m willing to pay, if there’s a service fee.

gestr to the best of my knowledge that letter never appeared in the Chronicle. I have done extensive searching for and obtaining Chronicle articles and this letter has never been mentioned by them.