Threads, updated …or a series of dubious conclusions about what really happened in the Somerton Man case

The working theory here is that Prosper Thomson and SM knew each other when they were both living and working in Melbourne and they kept in contact after PT moved to Adelaide with Jessica. Going on from there we can assume PT became aware of SM’s intentions to leave his wife and travel to Adelaide.

And the remote possibility exists that SM might have been holding a large amount of cash, possibly stolen from the Lonsdale street baccarat school where he was identified as being an employee, remembering that such establishments tended to bypass any police assistance in such matters and deal with it themselves, even if it meant paying off various authorities along the way. This might be the reason for some individuals in authority for failing to satisfy basic procedures, as in not fingerprinting any items in the suitcase, not photographing the Rubaiyat then losing it, not interviewing PT, not deposing several crucial witnesses after the inquest was adjourned, Jessica in particular, who in the opinion of both both those observing her viewing the bust and cold case investigator Gerry Feltus after interviewing her, felt sure she knew the man found dead not 200 yards from her home.

Melbourne, early 1949 – Two prominent Melbourne baccarat players who desire to remain anonymous, believe they knew the unknown man in the “Somerton beach body mystery.” They saw the man’s picture in a Melbourne newspaper and said they thought they recognised him as a “nitkeeper” who worked at a Lonsdale street baccarat school about four years ago. They could not recall his name.

They said the man talked to few people. He was employed at the baccarat school for about 10 weeks, then left without saying why or where he was going. ###

Lifted from Nick Pelling’s Cipher Mysteries

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THOMSON PROSPER MCTAGGART : Service Number – VX67088 : Date of birth – 26 Oct 1912 : Place of birth – CHARTERS TOWERS QLD : Place of enlistment – CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin – THOMSON QUEENIE

PT was signed up on Dec 29, 1940 and immediately took Leave Without Pay until Jan 6, 1941.

Transferred to Puckapunyal Training Camp in Victoria 12 Jan 1941.

Vic – Found to be suffering from Haemoptysis on 23 Jan 1941.

Vic – Submitted for a Chest Investigation on 2 Feb 1941.

Vic – Admitted for Haemoptysis 19 Feb 1941. 

Vic – Discharged fit 24 Feb 1941.

Vic – Granted leave without pay to go fruit picking 26 Feb 1941.

Transferred to Sydney from Puckapunyal,  B Section Corps Workshops 4 May 1941.

Syd – Temporarily discharged from duties due to Pneumonia 10 July 1941.

Syd – Diagnosed with a mild case of Asthma 11 Aug1941.

Syd – Returned to duties 18 Aug 1941.

Vic – Admitted for Asthma and Sinusitis 29 Aug 1941.

Vic – admitted for Bronchitis and Sinusitis 28 Jun 1943.

Vic – Diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome 13 Sep 1943.

Vic – Discharged from service 26 Sep.

Thomson spent two years and nine months in uniform.

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The gun ads (below) placed by PT may have been on behalf of somebody else particularly given his stay-at-home war service record (above) and consequent lack of firearms experience. Or perhaps the someone was SM, suspecting a visit from his former Melbourne employers.

Mar 47 – Wanted .22 rifle (This ad place three times this month). Hindley St.

Mar 47 – WANTED .22 auto or repeater – cash or exchange Healing Cycle. Thomson.

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The following ad could have been the price PT was asking for someone (SM?) to buy a share of his business.

Mar 47 – WANTED. Partner for used car business – £500 to £1000. City premises. Box 1009j ($1,000 in 1947 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $40,912 today) ##

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April 47 – CARL WEBB DESERTS WIFE.

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May 47 – WANTED. Employment of any kind. Good refs Thomson. Box 953H.

The above ad suggests Thomson was looking for work for an acquaintance (SM?) and was willing to give him good references.

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May 47 – WANTED. URGENTLY. Car any type, spot cash. Thomson. Box 953H

May 47 – WANTED DESPERATELY. Car, any type, pay cash. Box 953H. £75 to £200 (£200 is $8,182 aud today).

May 47 – WANTED. Any make car, cash or takeover terms. Thomson. £150 ($6,137 aud today). Box 953H

These ads might lead you to believe PT was in a hurry to buy a car for someone else. (SM?) 

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May 47 – WANTED. Building suit workshop – pay ingoing or buy plant. URGENT. Thomson. Box 953H.

This ad doesn’t appear to be for premises a car dealer might use as most dealerships have onsite facilities for legal mechanical work. Illegal work on stolen cars on the other hand, like erasing the correct engine and chassis numbers by substituting fake numbers and swapping registration plates, winding back odometers or respraying stolen cars would be best done out of sight.

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27 Nov 1948 – Wanted bungalow, pay cash to £1,500 (equivalent is $61,367 aud today.) Can give tenancy maisonette, all mod cons, rent 22/6, Glenelg. Phone Thomson X3239.

## If SM had declined to part with the price of joining Thomson in business, he may have considered this offer to buy his house. Either way, it seems that PT was more than anxious to get his hands on a large amount of cash.

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1 December 1948 – Man thought to be Carl Webb found dead in mysterious circumstances on a beach a couple of hundred yards from the home PT shared with Jessica and her young son.

*** Which leads to the outlandish proposition that SM did steal the baccarat school’s money, did a fast bunk only to have a couple of Melbourne heavies follow him to Adelaide and that’s all she wrote.