The Box From Hell (BFH) - #1

[iNTERESTEDWOMAN]

Anyone know what company S.O Western was/is? (Under the gas section of Waters financials). I've googled all forms and can't find any reference to a petroleum company with S O Western as ever existing. Seems it was his favorite gas, for the most dollar amounts came from that company.

(FYI Humble Oil became EXXON in Jan 1973)

Also...this might seem kind of odd, but as you may recall, it was determined Waters was putting quite a few miles on his car in the 70's each month determined by his mileage log in his pocket notebook. 2000+ miles per month. Looking at his gas charges, (if they are in fact credit card payments). In February 1973 he paid $36.34 in gas charges. If these charges were for the previous month, that would mean in Jan. 73 he purchased that much gas. According to http://www.energy.ca.gov/gasoline/statistics/gasoline_cpi_adjusted.html In 1972/1973 the average gas prices where around .36 a gal, (approx). According to his mileage records his car got around 21 miles to the gallon. That would mean he drove approx. 2180 miles in January of 1973. Using the same method, he would have driven approx. 1770 in February 1973 and only 162 miles in March. (Same month as the binoculars where returned)...


Opps, I was writing this as Sherlock added the new info. The gulf oil charges blew this theory.

 

[Dr. Doogie]

Anyone know what company S.O Western was/is?

Standard Oil - Western? Standard Oil eventually became Chevron.

 

[Cubby]

FWIW I initially thought the small two and three dollar checks made to gasoline companies may have been for insurance premiums, however the majority of the accident policies appear to have been purchased after Anna went missing. This, imo, could mean one of two things, either GB convinced GW he too would suffer the same fate as Anna, and or that GW was terribly afraid of being found out he/they were behind Anna's dissappearance.

 

[iNTERESTEDWOMAN]

Transactions by Payee
10/1/1972 Through 10/1/1973

Insurance
650 10/9/1972 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (31.12)
675 11/13/1972 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (30.82)
692 12/8/1972 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (30.53)
712 1/10/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (30.23)
750 3/8/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (49.20)
765 4/9/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (38.69)
786 5/8/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (38.32)
811 6/8/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (37.94)
824 7/9/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (37.57)
865 9/4/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (198.00)

There must be hidden (life) insurance included here. This would total $522 for 1 year (in 1973!!) of car insurance. Also if his car was paid off in January, you would have thought the price would drastically decrease. Most loan companies require full coverage as long as there is a loan against the vehicle. Many people drop coverage, not add after their car is paid off. He must have added a life/accident amount, after Anna was out of the picture.

 

[SherlockJr]

The last entry on 9/4/73, he noted in the register this was for 6 months.

 

[Cubby]

There must be hidden (life) insurance included here. This would total $522 for 1 year (in 1973!!) of car insurance. Also if his car was paid off in January, you would have thought the price would decrease. Most loan companies require full coverage as long as there is a loan against the vehicle. Many people drop coverage, not add after their car is paid off. He must have added a large life accident amount, after Anna was out of the picture.

Just a thought but could his insurance coverage been so expensive based on the area of his residence? It's my understanding in addition to driving record, marital status and age, the insured's zip code is factored into the price of automobile insurance. I don't know if that was the same back in 73.

 

[iNTERESTEDWOMAN]

Standard Oil - Western? Standard Oil eventually became Chevron.

Yep...your right. Thanks

 

[Annasmom]

If memory serves, I believe he traded his Volkswagon in on a Green Mazda. This is the vehicle he was using when my surveillance was undertaken.

I have a note that the license plate on the gray 1970 Volkswagen was 653ARH. Here is a surveillance picture Joe Ford took which seems to be the Mazda. Also, on yet another trip to the BFH, I found a note (but not receipts) regarding a domestic air flight to Chicago. I've sent these notes (Joe's remarks from 1982) to SherlockJr to correlate with the bank books, so she will post if she thinks it is significant.

 

[Dr. Doogie]

Check entries for January & February 1973


708 1/2/1973 Cash Withdrawal (40.00)
709 1/8/1973 American Express Credit Card (41.68)
710 1/8/1973 IRS Taxes : Federal Income Tax (214.00)
711 1/10/1973 Cash Withdrawal (120.00)
712 1/10/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (30.23)
714 1/11/1973 Texaco Automobile : Gasoline (3.10)
715 1/11/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (3.15)
713 1/12/1973 Humble Automobile : Gasoline (2.00)
716 1/12/1973 S.O Western Automobile : Gasoline (4.30)
717 1/12/1973 Sears Miscellaneous (9.23)
719 1/13/1973 Clerk, Municipal Court Court Fees (3.00)
720 1/16/1973 Cash Withdrawal (75.00)
722 1/18/1973 Cash Withdrawal (50.00)
721 1/18/1973 Arco Automobile : Gasoline (7.20)
723 1/19/1973 American Oil Automobile : Gasoline (7.09)
725 1/19/1973 Bank Americard Credit Card (75.00)
724 1/19/1973 Bank of America Loan Loan : (98.60)
726 1/21/1973 WFB Credit Card (58.00)
727 1/22/1973 Exxon Automobile : Gasoline (3.00)
728 1/25/1973 Regents-UC Education (31.84)
729 1/29/1973 Cash Withdrawal (100.00)
173 1/31/1973 Cash Withdrawal (125.00)
731 1/31/1973 Cash Withdrawal (35.00)
730 1/31/1973 DMV Automobile (29.00)
732 2/2/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (7.00)
733 2/9/1973 Arco Automobile : Gasoline (3.35)
734 2/11/1973 Macy's Clothing (10.00)
736 2/12/1973 Cash Withdrawal (80.00)
735 2/12/1973 Texaco Automobile : Gasoline (8.00)
737 2/16/1973 Bank of America Loan Loan : (98.60)
738 2/16/1973 TWA Vacation : Travel (10.00)
739 2/17/1973 S.O Western Automobile : Gasoline (13.99)
740 2/17/1973 Oakland Mazda Automobile : Maintenance (50.00)
741 2/18/1973 WFB Credit Card (57.00)
742 2/19/1973 Bank Americard Credit Card (58.00)
743 2/23/1973 Regents-UC Education (31.84)
744 2/26/1973 Exxon Automobile : Gasoline (4.00)
745 2/26/1973 Cash Withdrawal (300.00)


So we have a cash withdrawl on January 16, 1973 which would have placed Waters in San Francisco at some point on the day that Anna disappeared. Also, we have a medical form that indicates that he was at work for at least part of that day (though it is curious that the only form like this that Waters had was for this particular day).

The only significant gap in check writing occurs between 2/2 and 2/9. It seems unlikely that he would have held Anna for two weeks before flying her out in early February, but not impossible - remember that there was a third mystery room that they seem to have rented.

So I see three possibilities:

1. They held Anna until early February when they flew her away.
2. They flew her away right after the abduction, but returned immediately.
3. The ticket/tickets were purchased by Waters but were used by someone else to fly her away.

 

[SherlockJr]

Notice there are no records of a telephone until August of 1973?

 

[SherlockJr]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150232497481&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005


someone on e-bay selling a TWA timeline...

 

[SherlockJr]

I ran a report just showing payments to Gulf Oil Co.

Transactions by Payee
1/1/1969 Through 12/31/1977


507 2/7/1972 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (2.62)
519 3/2/1972 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (2.00)
666 11/3/1972 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (3.40)
715 1/11/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (3.15)
732 2/2/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (7.00)
746 3/5/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (5.00)
813 6/11/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (26.99)
820 7/1/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (23.24)
839 8/2/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (14.60)
862 8/31/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (7.98)
888 10/1/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (12.35)
113 10/29/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (4.70)
134 11/26/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (5.85)
175 2/4/1974 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (5.30)


The three months listed are close to the price of the binoculars on the receipt.

Notice on the receipt card it states to return the card for proper credit. GW must have misplaced this return receipt and ended up having to pay for binoculars after all.

 

[iNTERESTEDWOMAN]

Check entries for January & February 1973


708 1/2/1973 Cash Withdrawal (40.00)
709 1/8/1973 American Express Credit Card (41.68)
710 1/8/1973 IRS Taxes : Federal Income Tax (214.00)
711 1/10/1973 Cash Withdrawal (120.00)
712 1/10/1973 Sentry Insurance Insurance : Automobile (30.23)
714 1/11/1973 Texaco Automobile : Gasoline (3.10)
715 1/11/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (3.15)
713 1/12/1973 Humble Automobile : Gasoline (2.00)
716 1/12/1973 S.O Western Automobile : Gasoline (4.30)
717 1/12/1973 Sears Miscellaneous (9.23)
719 1/13/1973 Clerk, Municipal Court Court Fees (3.00)
720 1/16/1973 Cash Withdrawal (75.00)
722 1/18/1973 Cash Withdrawal (50.00)
721 1/18/1973 Arco Automobile : Gasoline (7.20)
723 1/19/1973 American Oil Automobile : Gasoline (7.09)
725 1/19/1973 Bank Americard Credit Card (75.00)
724 1/19/1973 Bank of America Loan Loan : (98.60)
726 1/21/1973 WFB Credit Card (58.00)
727 1/22/1973 Exxon Automobile : Gasoline (3.00)
728 1/25/1973 Regents-UC Education (31.84)
729 1/29/1973 Cash Withdrawal (100.00)
173 1/31/1973 Cash Withdrawal (125.00)
731 1/31/1973 Cash Withdrawal (35.00)
730 1/31/1973 DMV Automobile (29.00)
732 2/2/1973 Gulf Oil Automobile : Gasoline (7.00)
733 2/9/1973 Arco Automobile : Gasoline (3.35)
734 2/11/1973 Macy's Clothing (10.00)
736 2/12/1973 Cash Withdrawal (80.00)
735 2/12/1973 Texaco Automobile : Gasoline (8.00)
737 2/16/1973 Bank of America Loan Loan : (98.60)
738 2/16/1973 TWA Vacation : Travel (10.00)
739 2/17/1973 S.O Western Automobile : Gasoline (13.99)
740 2/17/1973 Oakland Mazda Automobile : Maintenance (50.00)
741 2/18/1973 WFB Credit Card (57.00)
742 2/19/1973 Bank Americard Credit Card (58.00)
743 2/23/1973 Regents-UC Education (31.84)
744 2/26/1973 Exxon Automobile : Gasoline (4.00)
745 2/26/1973 Cash Withdrawal (300.00)


So we have a cash withdrawl on January 16, 1973 which would have placed Waters in San Francisco at some point on the day that Anna disappeared. Also, we have a medical form that indicates that he was at work for at least part of that day (though it is curious that the only form like this that Waters had was for this particular day).

The only significant gap in check writing occurs between 2/2 and 2/9. It seems unlikely that he would have held Anna for two weeks before flying her out in early February, but not impossible - remember that there was a third mystery room that they seem to have rented.

So I see three possibilities:

1. They held Anna until early February when they flew her away.
2. They flew her away right after the abduction, but returned immediately.
3. The ticket/tickets were purchased by Waters but were used by someone else to fly her away.

One important thing to remember is just because he DATED the checks on a certain date, doesn't necessarily mean he actually wrote them on that day. Take the bold highlighted checks for example. They are out of sequence. Check 713 was dated 1-12-73 then previous checks 714 & 715 were dated 1-11-73 and then check 716 is back to 1-12-73. I think he slipped up when he made that mistake. Who pays bills virtually every day? Most people do it once a week, or twice a month.

Are there any cancelled checks for these checks? Can you tell when the checks actually cleared the payees bank from the stamp on the back?\\Also What is up with the cash withdrawal on 1-31? That check number is way off.

 

[SherlockJr]

As I'm sitting here working with 1975 checks, I noticed how many times it is every day he was writing checks. That would drive me bonkers! But then again he was already bonkers.

 

[Annasmom]

One important thing to remember is just because he DATED the checks on a certain date, doesn't necessarily mean he actually wrote them on that day. Take the bold highlighted checks for example. They are out of sequence. Check 713 was dated 1-12-73 then previous checks 714 & 715 were dated 1-11-73 and then check 716 is back to 1-12-73. I think he slipped up when he made that mistake. Who pays bills virtually every day? Most people do it once a week, or twice a month.

Are there any cancelled checks for these checks? Can you tell when the checks actually cleared the payees bank from the stamp on the back?\\Also What is up with the cash withdrawal on 1-31? That check number is way off.

Good catch! We don't have the cancelled checks, only his own check registers, with one big gap. Remember that he had more than a week to go through his files and get rid of anything he wanted to, so whatever we find was either what he wanted found or overlooked...what you saw was obviously one of these oversights. Also, from what we can find out, he spent one of his last days paying bills, and according to Joe Ford's notes, GW's brother found several of these unmailed bill stubs with checks in envelopes.

 

[smile22]

do we have the unmailed bill stubs? or were they thrown out id be curious to see where the checks were going to and i find it odd that the checks are out of sequence but then again it could have been some sort of ocd where i write only odd number or even number check numbers out or some sorta number method

 

[Annasmom]

do we have the unmailed bill stubs? or were they thrown out id be curious to see where the checks were going to and i find it odd that the checks are out of sequence but then again it could have been some sort of ocd where i write only odd number or even number check numbers out or some sorta number method

The only bill stubs are from the child support payments (money orders), but SherlockJr has listed the recipients of all the checks, at least as they were noted in GW's bank book.

 

[SherlockJr]

Does anyone know if "Vaughn" is or was a clothing store?

 

[Dr. Doogie]

Does anyone know if "Vaughn" is or was a clothing store?

I believe that it was a SF based clothing store.

These two must have been the best dressed guys living in the Tenderloin. Sheezz!

 

[SherlockJr]

I believe that it was a SF based clothing store.

These two must have been the best dressed guys living in the Tenderloin. Sheezz!

Thanks Doogie, I've put Vaughn into the clothing catagory. I also put Sears into clothing catagory as well.

GW paid off his VW in Dec. 72 then bought the Mazda in early 73 because his first Mazda payment was March 22, 1973. From what I understand from Annasmom, he kept both vehicles for awhile. Is this correct?