Today I read the San Francisco Chronicle online and was intrigued by this story.
"Another possible Zodiac suspect put forth" http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/19/MNGA18D3FV.DTL
Having grown up in the San Francisco completely terrified by the Zodiac, I'm always interested in any new developments to the cold case. But what really caught my eye was this photo of Robert Tarbox. This guy has style.
On closer examination I realized that wall of his house is made of concrete blocks. I've always wondered why more houses weren't made of concrete blocks. They are inexpensive, easy to work with, weather resitant, and commonly used for commercial spaces . . . so why are they rarely used for residential construction?
Mr. Tarbox is claiming in this article to have met the real Zodiac killer. One day, while closing up his lawfirm in downtown San Francisco, a merchant seaman entered and asked for legal advice. This man revealed to Tarbox that he was the Zodiac killer, and he wondered what might happen if he turned himself in. Tarbox, the lawyer, told him that personally it would have devastating circumstances. Tarbox, the man, was terrified of becoming the Zodiac's next victim.
Bob Tarbox now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. If I were to interview him, I would most likely be more interested in his house, than his Zodiac story. An internet search reveals that Tarbox has expressed his opinion on high profile San Francisco murders before - ten years ago Bob wrote the editor of the Las Vegas Review Journal with his insight that greed killed Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk.
Sunday, December 27, 1998
"The real story
More to the San Francisco shooting than columnist implied
To the editor:
In response to Christopher Matthews' Dec. 3 commentary "Twenty years since murders at city hall," on the shooting of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk by then-Supervisor Dan White in San Francisco:
For 19 years I went through the same basement entrance to San Francisco City Hall that White used that day -- not because of some sinister reason, but because it was the most convenient entrance to the facility.
I first became aware of Mr. Moscone when he and current Mayor Willie Brown, who at that time were student janitors at Hastings College of the Law, violated a rule of the college and were up for sanctions. Both gentlemen went on to considerable public service. Both gentlemen were consummate political animals.
The following facts are necessary to show how the tragedy played out:
Dan White was a police officer turned politician who believed his burgeoning business success was based on his business acumen rather than his seat as supervisor. Based upon bad reasoning, White submitted his resignation from the board to Mayor Moscone. As a San Francisco police officer, White was required to have his gun with him.
George Moscone was a consummate politician with the board seat completely under his control after White's resignation. Mr. Moscone publicly withheld comment on whether he would allow White's resignation to be withdrawn for pure political reasoning, but he informed the board privately that the resignation would stick.
Harvey Milk was a member of the Board of Supervisors, but junior to Dan White in seniority.
The dance commences:
White is going to city hall to find out his fate with regard to his ill-advised resignation and enters through the side entrance of the building -- the same one I used for 19 years. White has a gun with him, as required. White and Mayor Moscone meet. White is told that his resignation is final. Mayor Moscone has screwed White. Mayor Moscone then asks White about the health and well being of his family. White shoots Mayor Moscone and the "twinkie defense" is born.
White proceeds to his office and finds Harvey Milk there. Mr. Milk would succeed to White's bigger office if the resignation of White stands. White realizes that Mayor Moscone had informed the other supervisors of his decision prior to telling him, and he shoots Harvey Milk as a continuation of the confrontation with Mayor Moscone.
It is my belief that Mayor Moscone tried to get political capital out of the resignation of White. If he had just publicly stated that the resignation would stand on the day that he made his decision, George Moscone would not have died. If Harvey Milk had not been so eager to get the bigger office, he, too, would not have died on that tragic day.
ROBERT E. TARBOX
Las Vegas
The writer is a retired attorney who formerly resided in San Francisco."
For all his experience, and opinions, for me Bob Tarbox is less an old coot looking for a little media attention, and more a cool looking old guy with a stylish pad.
