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Post by Rubislaw32 on May 17, 2016 11:13:13 GMT -8
Zodiac's choice of words and,more particularly,his often unconventional spelling,are a significant feature of his letter writing in general.
It is unlikely that Zodiac was dyslexic,and was certainly well read,as well as probably receiving a good education.
Why did Zodiac play with words ? More than likely,for self-amusement and to leave an individual legacy,behind him.
A few examples :
''Christmass'' - A singular version of the plural of Christmas,Christmasses [English spelling].
''Fry'' - as a reference to Friday.A tradition in Christian based societies,is to fry fish to eat,on a Friday.
''Howers'' and ''Clews'' - Old English words for Hours and Clues.These words are still acceptable today,but just look a little eccentric.
Zodiac is presumed to have wanted to impress readers that he was well read.
There are many indications that,indeed,this was the case.
But,were there other reasons ?
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Post by Rubislaw32 on May 25, 2016 12:12:08 GMT -8
On October 13th 1969,Zodiac mailed a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle,now referred to as ''The Stine Letter''.
In a confident and boastful tone,Zodiac reflected : ''The S.F.Police could have caught me last night if they had searched the park properly instead of holding road races with their motorcicles seeing who could make the most noise.''.
''Motorcicles'' stood out,as being another of Zodiac's unconventional spellings.One assumes that he wrote the word this way,so as to be pronounced as ''Motor-sickles''.A pronunciation of ''motorcycles'',more usually heard in ''The Southern States''.
In September 1967,the Folk and Blues singer Arlo Guthrie brought out an Album of music called ''Alice's restaurant''.A particular song,from that Album,called ''The Motorcycle song'',became one of Guthrie's most popular songs,when performed at live shows.
''The Motorcycle song'' starts with : ''I don't want a pickle,I just want to ride my motorcicle...''.And the lyrics move on to a story about Guthrie leaving the highway,by accident,and going over a cliff,where he happens to land his motorcycle on a police car....which he figured was ''illegal'' [!].
Guthrie was a ''New York boy'',but sang with a southern accent,in keeping with his Folk/Country/Blue Grass music origins.
Perhaps Zodiac spelled the word ''motorcycles'' as ''motorcicles'' because he ''heard'' it that way,as he wrote it [?].Or even,the comical imagery of Guthrie and his motorcycle landing on a police car,came to mind [?].
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Post by Rubislaw32 on May 28, 2016 1:03:12 GMT -8
A Zodiac legacy,perhaps :
In the week leading up To Ted Bundy's execution,by electrocution,both ''pro'' and ''anti'' capital punishment parties camped outside his prison.
Banners for the ''pro'' group,included :
''TUESDAY IS FRY DAY''
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jun 18, 2016 12:11:21 GMT -8
On official date July 31st 1969,Zodiac mails three Newspapers in the San Francisco vicinity,a ''very similar'' letter each,and submits to each,one third of a ''three part whole'' cipher,which would later be referred to as ''Z408''.
To the Vallejo Times Herald,he wrote :
Here is a ciypher [sic] or part of one.The other two parts have been mailed to the S.F.Examiner and S.F.Chronicle.
To the S.F.Examiner,he wrote :
Here is a cipher or that is part of one.The other 2 parts are being mailed to the Vallejo Times & S.F.Chronicle.
To the S.F.Chronicle,he wrote :
Here is part of a cipher the other 2 parts of the cipher are being mailed to the editors of the Vallejo times & S.F.Examiner.
So,in examining these three letters,the message regarding the ''408'',was fairly straightforward - that each Newspaper had received one third of the whole cipher.
The main difference in Zodiac's references to this effect is,that he spells ''cipher'' as ''CIYPHER'' in his letter to the Vallejo Times Herald.
That letter is presumed to have been Zodiac's first letter,of the three,and strangely,Zodiac appears to be in two minds,as how to spell ''cipher'' [?].
Stranger still,a so far unauthenticated cipher,known as the 1990 Celebrity Cipher,spelled ''cipher'' as ''cypher'' - the British English spelling.
And this cipher was sent to the Vallejo Times Herald,also.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jul 1, 2016 12:13:38 GMT -8
With reference to my previous post,it transpires that Zodiac,in all probability,wrote the word ''Cipher'',three different ways.
Evidence suggests he spelled the word as ''CIPHER'',''CYPHER'',and ''CIYPHER''.
If I might direct the reader to the back of the Halloween Card,sent to Paul Avery [July 26th 1970] :
In general terms,we observe a collection of words,presented in capital alphabetic letters form - EXCEPT ''i's'' and ''y's'',which are exclusively presented in lower case form.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jul 1, 2016 22:07:45 GMT -8
With reference to the back of the Halloween Card,we could be looking at,at the very least,Zodiac subliminally suggesting that the reader pays attention to the ''eyes'' and the ''why's''[??].
Yes,all a bit ''nebulous'',but the study of The Zodiac Killer,is both an exact and inexact science.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jul 29, 2016 15:56:05 GMT -8
Having referred to the spelling of ''Cypher''- The British English spelling,in the so far unauthenticated 1990 Celebrity Cipher missive,we could perhaps,compare this with another unauthenticated Zodiac missive - the ''concerned citizen'' letter,received by The Vallejo Police Department,August 11th 1969.
In full,the typed letter,was as follows :
Dear Sergeant Lynch
I hope the enclosed ''key'' will prove to be beneficial to you in connection with the cipher letter writer.
Working puzzles criptograms and word puzzles is one of my pleasures.Please forgive the absence of my signature or name as I do not wish to have my name in the papers and it could be mentioned by slip of the tongue.
With best wishes.
concerned citizen
.......Although typed,the letter contains one correction with a Biro pen - to the word ''signature'' - so as to present the word correctly spelled.
What is,perhaps,of particular interest,is the misspelling of the word ''cryptogram'',left by ''Zodiac'' unchecked,and spelled as ''criptogram''.
''Zodiac'' has presumably,assumed that since the [American English] ''cipher'',is spelled with an ''i'',then it follows that ''criptogram'' is correct [?].
Of course,although ''cipher'' and ''cypher'' are both perfectly acceptable spellings - ONLY ''cryptogram'' is correct,in both American English and British English.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Aug 29, 2016 14:38:32 GMT -8
Perhaps unsurprisingly,being an ex-Vallejo Policeman,the late Lyndon Lafferty held certain advantages in obtaining items that might constitute ''Zodiac evidence''.The most well known of these items,is probably the cipher,which has come to be known as ''The 1990 Celebrity Cypher''.
There is another interesting ''possible'' piece of evidence,which has largely ''fallen under the radar''.I refer to a note that was found at the front door of The Benicia High School,circa 1972-1973.
The note read as follows :
[IM SORRY]BUT BY SON SHOULD OF SAID ANYTHING ABOUT TIME BLOW UP THE SCHOOL SO I WILL DO IT BETWEEN NOW AND THE 22 OF DEC.SO I KILL BY SON AND YOU WILL FIND HIM UP BY LAKE HERMAN ROAD.IF YOU GET UP THEIR IN TIME YOU WILL FIND HIM BEFORE THE DOG EAT HIM UP I HOPE THEY DO.
GUESS WHO THIS HIS BLOOD OFF
[....Blood sample pasted....]
YOU DIE ZODIAC
IM GONA DO MY THING AT AIR SCHOOL
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There are a number of points of interest,with regard to this ''Benicia High School'' note.
i]The ''O's'' are mostly filled in with crosses,so as to resemble the ''cross-hair'' symbol.
ii]The expression ''ABOUT TIME''was used in the Riverside letter of confession : '' I said it was about time.She asked me 'about time for what ?'I said it was about time for her to die.''.
iii]The expression ''IM GONA DO MY THING'' is similar to Zodiac's ''...I could do my Thing !!!!!! '',as he signed off in his ''Dripping Pen'' card to the San Francisco Chronicle,November 8th 1969.In addition,this ''Benicia note'' contains ''22 OF DEC'',as a definite declaration of a date - which ''relegates'' ''Des'',on the ''Dripping Pen'' card to almost certainly standing for ''degrees''.
iv]Bearing in mind that Lyndon Lafferty believes that this ''Benicia note''was possibly written by Zodiac,whom Lafferty believes was William Joseph Grant,Lafferty is at a loss to explain ''AIR SCHOOL''.One possible solution is that,though unconfirmed,William Joseph Grant was seconded,during WWII,to The Air Training College at San Antonia,Texas,to teach codes.It appears that US Federal Law Enforcement have confiscated Mr.Grant's War Record,but I am aware of which department,specifically,holds this information.
v]The use of ''BY SON''.Well,most of us are aware that Zodiac employed ''FRY'' as an abbreviated form of the word ''Friday''.So,was ''SON'',an abbreviated form for ''Sunday'' ?
One would have thought that Zodiac would have employed ''SUN'',if this was the case [?].Is it possible that ''Zodiac'' was referring to his male progeny ?
''Zodiac'' states : ''If you get up their in time you will find him before dog eat him up....''.Is ''Zodiac'' actually referring to ''his'' son,or a bomb,since ''By Sunday'' doesn't make much sense,in the context of the message.
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The ''Benicia High School'' note,is a ''troubled message'' [?].But was it really written by ''A village idiot'' ?
I would suggest not,but of course could have been a ''copycat''.
Lyndon Lafferty was certainly perplexed.
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Zamantha
Moderator
Zodiac Killer Mystery Moderator
Posts: 44
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Post by Zamantha on Aug 30, 2016 21:58:46 GMT -8
FYI: in Dixon, there is a road called FRY Road. It's off of 113. Synchronicity, Not too far from Grants home during the Z days in Cordelia. PDF]1 The City of Vacaville was founded as an agricultural center, and land use im ... www.vacavillegeneralplan.org › 2010/08 acres, is located on the east side of Leisure Town Road, north of Fry Road. .... The Dixon Ridge agricultural region borders the City of Vacaville to the north. This region ..... The City of Vacaville has a rich agricultural history. Zam*
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Post by Ricardo on Aug 30, 2016 23:17:34 GMT -8
Perhaps unsurprisingly,being an ex-Vallejo Policeman,the late Lyndon Lafferty held certain advantages in obtaining items that might constitute ''Zodiac evidence''.The most well known of these items,is probably the cipher,which has come to be known as ''The 1990 Celebrity Cypher''. There is another interesting ''possible'' piece of evidence,which has largely ''fallen under the radar''.I refer to a note that was found at the front door of The Benicia High School,circa 1972-1973. The note read as follows : [IM SORRY]BUT BY SON SHOULD OF SAID ANYTHING ABOUT TIME BLOW UP THE SCHOOL SO I WILL DO IT BETWEEN NOW AND THE 22 OF DEC.SO I KILL BY SON AND YOU WILL FIND HIM UP BY LAKE HERMAN ROAD.IF YOU GET UP THEIR IN TIME YOU WILL FIND HIM BEFORE THE DOG EAT HIM UP I HOPE THEY DO. GUESS WHO THIS HIS BLOOD OFF [....Blood sample pasted....] YOU DIE ZODIAC IM GONA DO MY THING AT AIR SCHOOL -------------- There are a number of points of interest,with regard to this ''Benicia High School'' note. i]The ''O's'' are mostly filled in with crosses,so as to resemble the ''cross-hair'' symbol. ii]The expression ''ABOUT TIME''was used in the Riverside letter of confession : '' I said it was about time.She asked me 'about time for what ?'I said it was about time for her to die.''. iii]The expression ''IM GONA DO MY THING'' is similar to Zodiac's ''...I could do my Thing !!!!!! '',as he signed off in his ''Dripping Pen'' card to the San Francisco Chronicle,November 8th 1969.In addition,this ''Benicia note'' contains ''22 OF DEC'',as a definite declaration of a date - which ''relegates'' ''Des'',on the ''Dripping Pen'' card to almost certainly standing for ''degrees''. iv]Bearing in mind that Lyndon Lafferty believes that this ''Benicia note''was possibly written by Zodiac,whom Lafferty believes was William Joseph Grant,Lafferty is at a loss to explain ''AIR SCHOOL''.One possible solution is that,though unconfirmed,William Joseph Grant was seconded,during WWII,to The Air Training College at San Antonia,Texas,to teach codes.It appears that US Federal Law Enforcement have confiscated Mr.Grant's War Record,but I am aware of which department,specifically,holds this information. v]The use of ''BY SON''.Well,most of us are aware that Zodiac employed ''FRY'' as an abbreviated form of the word ''Friday''.So,was ''SON'',an abbreviated form for ''Sunday'' ? One would have thought that Zodiac would have employed ''SUN'',if this was the case [?].Is it possible that ''Zodiac'' was referring to his male progeny ? ''Zodiac'' states : ''If you get up their in time you will find him before dog eat him up....''.Is ''Zodiac'' actually referring to ''his'' son,or a bomb,since ''By Sunday'' doesn't make much sense,in the context of the message. ------------------- The ''Benicia High School'' note,is a ''troubled message'' [?].But was it really written by ''A village idiot'' ? I would suggest not,but of course could have been a ''copycat''. Lyndon Lafferty was certainly perplexed. A Benicia Police Department sergeant told Lyndon Lafferty about this note which was left at Benicia High School sometime in 1972 or 1973. This note was never confirmed to be written by the Zodiac killer. However, there are still questions about this note because of the references to the Zodiac killer. This note might have been written by one of the students who were arrested for telephone bomb threats related to Benicia High School in 1974. The names of the students were kept confidential because they were minors. I would like to find out who wrote this note even if it was not the Zodiac killer.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Aug 31, 2016 12:40:54 GMT -8
The fact that Fry Road,was close to where W.J.Grant lived,is a very interesting piece of information,Zamantha.
It is indeed the case that Zodiac employed ''FRY'' for ''Friday'' [....by Fry afternoon Aug 1-69....go on kill rampage Fry night...etc.],but the influence of using his ''very particular'' abbreviated form,may well have come from knowledge of ''Fry Road'',as you have suggested [?].
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I had not previously been aware of delinquent behavior of students at Benicia High School,Ricardo.It is certainly something to consider,when assessing the legitimacy of the ''Benicia High School note'',as ''Zodiac evidence'' [?].
Even though the note reads,as if written by someone of idiot mentality,it seems to have '' a lot going for it'',in terms of knowledge of ''prior'' Zodiac references.If the author was a copycat,they would have had to have taken a keen interest in The Zodiac Killer [?].
I have to admit,that ''alarm bells'' did go off,for me,with ''AIR SCHOOL''.Lyndon Lafferty never did really pin Grant down accurately,with regard to Grant's WWII record.Lafferty pretty much had Grant ''back to front'' on that,relying mostly on conversations with Grant,himself,through social occasions,forced upon Lafferty [!],with respect to the friendship between his wife,Yvonne,and Grant's wife Marion.
As Lafferty admitted,on these occasions,he would always ''pack a weapon'' [!].But one bonus for ''us'' is that we learned that Grant also taught ''Gunner's weaponary''.
From extensive research,including a coded abbreviated war record,at Grant's War Veteran's site,I have narrowed down Grant's teaching placement to San Antonio,and more than likely,the Air Training College there,during WWII.
I think it unlikely that the branch and department of US Federal Law Enforcement,will give up Grant's full war record.Perhaps,lucky for them that Grant died,without a recognized ''blood'' relative,who ''would'' have had legal rights to access this information [?].
But,more to the point,how is it that,whoever did write that ''Benicia High School note'',in addition to understanding various ''quirks'' of Zodiac,probably knew about W.J.Grant's wartime activities ?
''AIR SCHOOL'' - whatever else,could it mean ?
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Post by Ricardo on Aug 31, 2016 21:46:09 GMT -8
The use of ''BY SON''.Well,most of us are aware that Zodiac employed ''FRY'' as an abbreviated form of the word ''Friday''.So,was ''SON'',an abbreviated form for ''Sunday'' ? One would have thought that Zodiac would have employed ''SUN'',if this was the case [?].Is it possible that ''Zodiac'' was referring to his male progeny ? ''Zodiac'' states : ''If you get up their in time you will find him before dog eat him up....''.Is ''Zodiac'' actually referring to ''his'' son,or a bomb,since ''By Sunday'' doesn't make much sense,in the context of the message. There is some unusual wording in this note. The “by son” wording could have been intended to be a variant of “by fire”, “by gun”, “by knife”, and “by rope”. "So I kill by son…" * * * Or maybe “Byson” is someone’s name? "(I'm sorry) but Byson soud of said anything." "So I kill Byson and you will find him up by Lake Herman Road."
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Post by Ricardo on Aug 31, 2016 21:52:23 GMT -8
I have to admit,that ''alarm bells'' did go off,for me,with ''AIR SCHOOL''.Lyndon Lafferty never did really pin Grant down accurately,with regard to Grant's WWII record.Lafferty pretty much had Grant ''back to front'' on that,relying mostly on conversations with Grant,himself,through social occasions,forced upon Lafferty [!],with respect to the friendship between his wife,Yvonne,and Grant's wife Marion. As Lafferty admitted,on these occasions,he would always ''pack a weapon'' [!].But one bonus for ''us'' is that we learned that Grant also taught ''Gunner's weaponary''. From extensive research,including a coded abbreviated war record,at Grant's War Veteran's site,I have narrowed down Grant's teaching placement to San Antonio,and more than likely,the Air Training College there,during WWII. I think it unlikely that the branch and department of US Federal Law Enforcement,will give up Grant's full war record.Perhaps,lucky for them that Grant died,without a recognized ''blood'' relative,who ''would'' have had legal rights to access this information [?]. But,more to the point,how is it that,whoever did write that ''Benicia High School note'',in addition to understanding various ''quirks'' of Zodiac,probably knew about W.J.Grant's wartime activities ? ''AIR SCHOOL'' - whatever else,could it mean ? It could mean something else. It could mean “our school” (not “air school”). “Im gona do my thing at oir school.”
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Post by Ricardo on Aug 31, 2016 21:56:25 GMT -8
note Benicia High School 1972-1973 ?
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Sept 1, 2016 10:38:26 GMT -8
Great that you have put the note up,Ricardo.It gives us all an opportunity,to have good look.
If I could be so bold as to home in on the author's final words,which are almost upside down :
This is another ''piece of evidence'' that Lafferty acquired,as a ''copy of a copy'',and had interpreted it,or had it pointed out to him as, ''AIR SCHOOL''.
BUT...in examining it closer,and as you have highlighted,it could be ''OIR SCHOOL'' [?].Which could be meant as ''OUR SCHOOL'' [?].Or even ''CHOIR SCHOOL'',without the ''CH'' [?].
BUT,BUT,BUT...here's another interpretation.It actually looks like ''QIR SCHOOL'' [!].And,as we are all no doubt aware,the common expression for ''GAY'',used to be ''QUEER''....which may be what ''QIR'' is actually meant to be [?].
''I AM GOING TO DO MY THING AT QUEER SCHOOL'' [?].I think most Zodiac enthusiasts are aware,that there was an ''undercurrent'' of inference that ''some'' local residents believed that W.J.GRANT was a ''closet queen'' [?].And also,in light of further ''disclosures'',that W.J.GRANT must have been a hater of women [?].All unfair,and all unsubstantiated...he was probably just,what is often referred to,as a ''prickly customer'' [?].
Naturally,''we'' could view this note,in Lyndon Lafferty's eyes....that it is written by Zodiac - who is also W.J.GRANT.If I,myself,side with a personal view,it could be Zodiac,pretending to be W.J.GRANT....AS Zodiac,himself....since I infer that Zodiac was being ''busy'',persecuting W.J.GRANT,at that time.
Anyway,no doubt the FBI obtained the original....and that the blood sample is probably that of a livestock animal.
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Yes,Ricardo,that's an interesting observation,with regard to ''BY SON''.Particularly,in light of the ''By'' statements on the back of the Halloween Card.
Perhaps,''BY SON'' could be taken literally [?].That,whoever wrote the ''Benicia High School note'',desires to be assumed as Zodiac,and is referring to his son,as either ''in cohorts'' with him,or the real ''precipitator of mayhem '' - or both [?].
Further opinions,would be good to hear.
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