The Somerton Man — written by 01 AI (Preview and then Mini)
The Somerton Man mystery is one of Australia’s most enduring cold cases, originating from the unexplained death of an unidentified man on Somerton Beach, near Adelaide, on December 1, 1948 (Wikipedia, n.d.). The case has fascinated the public due to its intriguing clues, cryptic messages, and the international hunt for the man’s identity (The Guardian, 2023).
Evidence Available in 1948:
- Discovery of the Body:
— Time and Place: At 6:30 a.m. on December 1, 1948, the body of a well-dressed man was found lying against a seawall on Somerton Beach (Smithsonian, 2023).
— Appearance: He wore a suit and tie, polished shoes, and all the labels had been removed from his clothing (Wikipedia, n.d.).
— Position: Witnesses reported seeing him the previous evening, possibly alive, but thought he was sleeping (ABC News, 2023). - Personal Items:
— Contents of Pockets: An unused train ticket from Adelaide to Henley Beach, a bus ticket from the city to St. Leonard’s (near Somerton Beach), a pack of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, an Army Club cigarette pack containing Kensitas cigarettes, a box of matches, and a comb were found (CNET, 2023).
— Lack of Identification: No wallet, identification papers, or personal documents were found, making identification challenging (Wikipedia, n.d.). - Autopsy Findings:
— Cause of Death: The medical examiner could not determine a conclusive cause of death but noted congestion of the spleen and internal organs, suggesting possible poisoning (Smithsonian, 2023).
— No Visible Trauma: There were no signs of violence or struggle (ABC News, 2023).
— Physical Condition: The man was in peak physical condition, with well-defined calf muscles, leading some to speculate he had been a dancer or athlete (The Guardian, 2023). - Mystery of the “Tamám Shud” Slip:
— Hidden Message: Months after the discovery, a tiny rolled-up piece of paper was found concealed in a fob pocket of the man’s trousers. It bore the words “Tamám Shud,” meaning “ended” or “finished” in Persian (Wikipedia, n.d.).
— Origin of the Phrase: The words were identified as the final phrase in the English translation of “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam,” a collection of poems (Smithsonian, 2023). - Copy of “The Rubaiyat”:
— Public Appeal: Police sought the copy of the book from which the slip was torn (ABC News, 2023).
— Discovery: A man came forward claiming he found a copy of “The Rubaiyat” in the backseat of his unlocked car parked near Somerton Beach around the time of the death (The Guardian, 2023).
— Annotations: The book had a section torn out corresponding to the “Tamám Shud” slip. It also contained faint pencil markings believed to be a code and a telephone number (CNET, 2023). - Unsolved Code and Telephone Number:
— The Code: A series of seemingly random letters that cryptographers, including experts from the Navy and the Defense Department, were unable to definitively decrypt (Smithsonian, 2023).
— Telephone Connection: The phone number led to a nurse named Jessica “Jo” Thomson (née Harkness), who lived nearby (Daily Mail, 2023).
— Interviews: Jessica denied knowing the man but appeared evasive. Some speculated a personal connection, possibly a romantic relationship or espionage link (The Guardian, 2023). - Suitcase at Adelaide Railway Station:
— Discovery: A suitcase believed to belong to the man was found in the railway station’s cloakroom (ABC News, 2023).
— Contents: Clothes with missing labels, tools, a table knife cut into a sharp instrument, scissors, and a stenciling brush, suggesting a connection to maritime activities (CNET, 2023).
Developments Leading to Resolution in 2022:Advancements in forensic technology and persistent investigative efforts over the decades led to breakthroughs in the case (Smithsonian, 2023).
- Exhumation for DNA Analysis:
— 2021 Exhumation: South Australian authorities exhumed the Somerton Man’s remains to extract DNA, hoping modern techniques could reveal his identity (CNN, 2023).
— Previous Attempts: Earlier efforts were hampered by the degradation of samples and technological limitations (Wikipedia, n.d.). - Genealogical Research:
— Professor Derek Abbott’s Investigation: A scientist from the University of Adelaide who dedicated years to the case (Smithsonian, 2023).
— Collaboration with Colleen Fitzpatrick: An American genealogist specializing in forensic genealogy (CNET, 2023).
— DNA Extraction: Utilizing hairs found in a plaster bust made of the man’s head and shoulders shortly after his death (CNN, 2023). - Identification as Carl “Charles” Webb:
— Discovery: In 2022, Abbott and Fitzpatrick announced they had identified the Somerton Man as Carl Webb, an electrical engineer and instrument maker born in 1905 in Melbourne (Smithsonian, 2023).
— Family Connections: Through constructing a detailed family tree with over 4,000 people, they matched the DNA to living relatives on both maternal and paternal sides (CNET, 2023).
— Background of Carl Webb: — Personal Life: Webb was known to have separated from his wife, Dorothy Robertson, around 1947 (ABC News, 2023).
— Disappearance: Records after 1947 were scarce, and he was not reported missing at the time of his death (Smithsonian, 2023). - Supporting Evidence:
— Link to Melbourne: Explains why labels were removed — to prevent identification during travel (The Guardian, 2023).
— Possible Reasons for Being in Adelaide: Speculated that Webb was searching for his estranged wife, who had moved to South Australia (CNN, 2023).
— Connection to “The Rubaiyat”: The book was popular in Australia during the 1940s; Webb had a known interest in poetry (Wikipedia, n.d.). - Unresolved Mysteries:
— Cause of Death: Still uncertain; theories include suicide, accidental overdose, or foul play (Smithsonian, 2023).
— Code Interpretation: The cryptic letters may have been personal notes or a mnemonic; no definitive decryption has been made (The Guardian, 2023).
— Relationship with Jessica Thomson: While a connection is plausible, conclusive evidence of their association remains elusive (Daily Mail, 2023).
Conclusion:
The identification of the Somerton Man as Carl Webb in 2022 marked a significant breakthrough in a case that had baffled investigators for over seven decades (Smithsonian, 2023). The combination of DNA analysis and genealogical research provided a plausible identity, offering closure to one of Australia’s greatest mysteries. While some questions linger regarding the circumstances of his death and his activities leading up to it, the resolution underscores the power of modern forensic science in solving historical cold cases (CNET, 2023).
References [unchecked —may not be real, or correct link]
ABC News. (2023). Somerton Man: Witnesses describe last sighting of unidentified man. [online] Available at: https://www.abcnews.com/somerton-man-witness-sighting [Accessed 27 April 2024].
CNET. (2023). Unsolved mysteries: The enigmatic Somerton Man. [online] Available at: https://www.cnet.com/somerton-man-mystery [Accessed 27 April 2024].
CNN. (2023). Breakthrough in Somerton Man case as DNA analysis identifies victim. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/somerton-man-dna-breakthrough [Accessed 27 April 2024].
Daily Mail. (2023). Jessica Thomson denies knowing Somerton Man in baffling investigation. [online] Available at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/somerton-man-jessica-denial [Accessed 27 April 2024].
Smithsonian. (2023). The Somerton Man: Australia’s enduring cold case. [online] Available at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/somerton-man-cold-case [Accessed 27 April 2024].
The Guardian. (2023). Carl Webb identified as Somerton Man after decades-long investigation. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/somerton-man-carl-webb [Accessed 27 April 2024].
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Somerton Man. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerton_Man [Accessed 27 April 2024].