Thanks to an astute reader and long-time “honorary Detective II”, Dr. Luigi Warren, I have a “For The Record” correction to make in The Early Years Part I, Chapter 4, as relates to the “Father Patrick Heslin murder.”
What I initially interpreted as a George Hodel thoughtprint in a taunting letter sent to Archbishop Hanna was in fact, NOT A THOUGHTPRINT, as proven by the further sleuthing of Dr. Warren, who discovered the additional message text. His findings prove that my initial interpretation based on incomplete information was incorrect.
(Bottom of page 196 to top of 197, reads):
“Let’s play a game. Below is a reproduction of the second ransom note delivered to Archbishop Hanna at his San Francisco church. It followed shortly after the first lengthy typewritten and handprinted note confirming the kidnap of Father Patrick Heslin.”
…
And continues to page 200:
AUTHOR CORRECTION –
NOT A THOUGHTPRINT
Taken at face value, in reading the above note, my original logic was sound. Clearly, the torn note sent to Archbishop Hanna, and printed in the newspaper appears to end with, “Please forgive this act. ib
But, it does not.
Thanks to the sleuthing of one of my regular readers, Dr. Luigi Warren, we discover that in fact, as printed in another newspaper, another source, missed by me, the note actually continues on and reveals that what I thought was a taunting intellectual thoughtprint left by George Hodel, was in fact incorrect.
Here is the full text of the killer’s message as found in a separate newspaper article. (The full handwritten text was not shown, just the complete message as written by the killer and addressed to Archbishop Hanna.)
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Sacramento Bee, Aug.10, 1921
It reads:
“Don’t be surprised to get this. It is to tell you, Father Heslin, is not dead. Neither is he injured yet. Fate has made me do this. Sickness and misery has compelled my action. I must have money. Please forgive this act if you can. Have $15,000 ready. You will hear from me very soon. The manner in which this is to be paid will be revealed to you in my own way very soon. In fact now that the excitement is died down Father Heslin is brave and says for you help him. Have money ready for my future instructions. You will hear from me very soon. You will know I am the right person as will have the piece of paper that fits on this letter.”
Major Kudos to Dr. Warren for his follow-up correction and discovery of the additional text of the letter which clearly establishes and allows us to eliminate what initially appeared to be a George Hodel taunting thoughtprint, as something completely different, as just part of a larger ransom demand.
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