Dear Melvin

[Quicktrader]

Some things about the Z letters are weird. First, why did he send them at all? It's sort of somehow useless, nevertheless he had sent many of those, adressed to various people/institutions. Z had to be aware that noone would pay attention to his letters at all, especially if the addressee varies each time.

Not so the Melvin Belli letter: Not only that he addressed it personally to him, he even adresses it to Belli's first name rather than to e.g. 'Dear Mr. Belli' or 'Dear attorney Belli' or something comparable.

I just wonder if Z had known Belli by his first name, like he may had known Bates or Sheeler.

Of course Belli's name wasn't a secret, but not only did he choose this lawer, no, he even called him as if he had been quite familiar to him.

Doesn't help a lot, but not many names had been mentioned in his letters.

QT

[Welsh Chappie]

That's a good point actually. I mean yes, Belli was very well known in San Francisco and many were aware that his name was Melvin, but similar could be said of Dave Toschi, and yet, Zodiac only ever refers to the city cop as Toschi, or Dave Toschi, never simply 'Dave' or 'David.'

Zodiac addresses the attorney informally, as though you would if you were writing to a friend. If he's approaching Mel Belli with hopes of retaining his services as a defence lawyer then I'd expect him to address the attorney formally with "Dear Mr Belli" or Dear Sir, at least.

I mean it could also be Zodiac's inflated ego that deems himself so important that he and Belli are going to be on first name terms.

But I don't think it's likely that he addressed him informally because of any narcissistic sense of self importance. I think that's a good point about Z writing to the famous attorney like he's addressing an old friend.
Wasn't there also something to do with the way Zodiac had written Melvin's home address on the envelope in that he seemed to have written the number 1228 in the same odd way that it appeared on the front of Mel Belli's home? The number 8 was odd and had a far smaller o on top and a O twice the size underneath and Zodiac had written it almost identical leading some to speculate that he had either been to, or walked past, Mel's house and knew he lived there and took note of the odd numbering on the front of his home?

[Quicktrader]

That's a good point actually. I mean yes, Belli was very well known in San Francisco and many were aware that his name was Melvin, but similar could be said of Dave Toschi, and yet, Zodiac only ever refers to the city cop as Toschi, or Dave Toschi, never simply 'Dave' or 'David.'

Zodiac addresses the attorney informally, as though you would if you were writing to a friend. If he's approaching Mel Belli with hopes of retaining his services as a defence lawyer then I'd expect him to address the attorney formally with "Dear Mr Belli" or Dear Sir, at least.

I mean it could also be Zodiac's inflated ego that deems himself so important that he and Belli are going to be on first name terms.

But I don't think it's likely that he addressed him informally because of any narcissistic sense of self importance. I think that's a good point about Z writing to the famous attorney like he's addressing an old friend.
Wasn't there also something to do with the way Zodiac had written Melvin's home address on the envelope in that he seemed to have written the number 1228 in the same odd way that it appeared on the front of Mel Belli's home? The number 8 was odd and had a far smaller o on top and a O twice the size underneath and Zodiac had written it almost identical leading some to speculate that he had either been to, or walked past, Mel's house and knew he lived there and took note of the odd numbering on the front of his home?

Quite unusual to send a letter to a lawyer to his home address, too.

[Tahoe27]

I think it's belittling and condescending.

In regards to the number on his home, I know it was written in exactly that manner in the phone book and that is how it was addressed on the envelope...the lettering too.

[up2something]

I think it's belittling and condescending.

In regards to the number on his home, I know it was written in exactly that manner in the phone book and that is how it was addressed on the envelope...the lettering too.

Which IMO has always been the simplest and most reasonable explanation.

[Welsh Chappie]

I think it's belittling and condescending.

In regards to the number on his home, I know it was written in exactly that manner in the phone book and that is how it was addressed on the envelope...the lettering too.

Well I have to disagree there T, you have to take into consideration that in this letter he wants to appear as though he's remorseful, wants to stop and needs help. I think addressing his plea to Melvin and not Mr Belli is more personal, you are not addressing them as a title or profession, but as a fellow human being. I don't think it comes across as condescending and nor do I think that was Zodiac intent. He wanted to personally reach out to The Attorney for help and wants to appeal personally to Melvin the man, not Mr Belli the Attorney.

Well put it this way, if someone addresses me as "Mr Lewis" then I automatically associate that with a business or professional person in a professional setting of one sort or another. If I pick up the phone and someone asks for 'Mr Lewis' I instantly know it's a business or company calling. My friends, family and people I meet in the pub for example, it's Alex to them.

I suppose I am totally the reverse in that I hate being called 'Mr Lewis', much prefer informal introductions and addressing, that is why I have a first name lol.

But if people ask me then it's a different story, just because I like to take the piss sometimes and have a laugh.....

"Good Afternoon, is that Mr Lewis?"

Yes, Speaking.

"Oh hi Mr Lewis, may I call you Alex?"

"No you may not."

[Tahoe27]

I don't believe Zodiac was reaching out for any help from him. I think it was all a big facade. I imagine Zodiac didn't think much of Belli after the Dunbar show. And if he somehow saw that news clip with Dunbar and Belli in the clip with Joe Stine..I'd say Zodiac was mocking him.

[Welsh Chappie]

I don't believe Zodiac was reaching out for any help from him. I think it was all a big facade. I imagine Zodiac didn't think much of Belli after the Dunbar show. And if he somehow saw that news clip with Dunbar and Belli in the clip with Joe Stine..I'd say Zodiac was mocking him.

I agree, he's not wanting help and reaching out really and I think his motive is that shortly before he writes this, THE Chronicle reports that SFPD Homicide Chief states they have a composite of him, they have his pint lifted from the cab, and his capture is just a matter of time now. So I do think he does want to make it appear to readers that the letter is genuine as opposed to a completely obvious tongue in cheek piss take like the Badlands letter.

I really can't see Zodiac wanting to belittle or offend someone and decides that he'll do it by addressing them by their Christian name lol. When he referring to his arch rival Tosci, he did so as 'That City Pig.' As for the Cop who drove past him, he addressed him as "Hey blue pig." When Paul Avery had written something that Z had decided to become offended by he sent Paul a greeting card informing him that he is a dead man basically saying "You are doomed."

If Z wanted to piss someone off, he made no secret of it. If he wanted to embarrass the sh*t out of another, he literally tells them he's rubbing their faces in their own incompetence publically. And finally, when he's being sarcastic and taking the piss with a comic undertone, he does so blatantly aswel such as is evidenced in his condemning of murder glorification, and the 'Count Marco comments claiming he 'always needs to feel superior, I should refer him to a shrink" when he knows, and probably laughs at, the fact that he's a cold hearted murderer who is taking the moral stand to let the editor know that 'This can only be deplorable at best.'

[Nachtsider]

I think that Zodiac wrote the Belli Letter at a time when he was genuinely feeling down and worried about being apprehended.

The guy was bipolar, I'm almost certain of it.

[Tahoe27]

When he referring to his arch rival Tosci, he did so as 'That City Pig.'

For the record, that letter was determined to be fake.