THE THIRD DEAD MAN
On December 5th 1948 the body of
Michael Goreloff was found..
Thanks to the tireless work of REDACTED, this new breakthrough could lead us to uncovering links between The Somerton Man, Tibor Kaldor and now Michael Goreloff.
Brief Background
Michael was a White Russian who had arrived in Australia with his soon to be wife in 1925 from Japan. They later married in Melbourne. He was found dead on December 5th, 1948 in Prince Edward Park Sutherland, New South Wales. He had a rope wrapped twice around his neck, he was found near a small sapling a bough from which had been broken, his right wrist had been cut probably with a razor.
On November 17th, 1948, Michael had left his Elizabeth Bay home early to go to his job as a Chef at the Hotel Astra in Campbell Parade, Bondi. He was particularly good at his work and was being paid the princely sum of 20 pounds a week, a huge wage for those times. He did not arrive at work and he never returned home alive again.
In Sydney in those times, the White Russian community had been highly suspicious of the communist Reds and tensions were high between them. It was thought that Michael had been engaged in discussions with Reds and had attended a number of meetings with a group at a Sydney cafe. Something went wrong and Michael was taken, it is thought that he was murdered by a 'Britisher'. (An interesting word, you'll find it was used in the Somerton Man's inquest papers.)
On November 17th, 1948, Michael had left his Elizabeth Bay home early to go to his job as a Chef at the Hotel Astra in Campbell Parade, Bondi. He was particularly good at his work and was being paid the princely sum of 20 pounds a week, a huge wage for those times. He did not arrive at work and he never returned home alive again.
In Sydney in those times, the White Russian community had been highly suspicious of the communist Reds and tensions were high between them. It was thought that Michael had been engaged in discussions with Reds and had attended a number of meetings with a group at a Sydney cafe. Something went wrong and Michael was taken, it is thought that he was murdered by a 'Britisher'. (An interesting word, you'll find it was used in the Somerton Man's inquest papers.)
The Coroner believed that the sapling near which Michael was found, wasn't of sufficient height or strength to have allowed the man to hang himself. In fact, he commented that if this man was going to kill himself he would have chosen a much stronger tree. The first inquest was adjourned.
Some 3 years ago I wrote a post on the topic of the division between the White Russians and The Communist Party, read more here:...
These killings certainly have the hallmarks of an espionage case, we shall see.
Redacted has been a long-time follower of the Somerton Man case, we have in common a belief that that case and this were the results of the actions of foreign agents. There is much more to follow as our joint research progresses but for now, this stunning information gives the whole SM case an intriguing new twist. There is much more to come and I am looking forward to working with Redacted and Clive on this fascinating new aspect to the SM case.
Some 3 years ago I wrote a post on the topic of the division between the White Russians and The Communist Party, read more here:...
WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
In that first two weeks of December 1948, we have three men who turn up dead apparently from suicide and each in questionable circumstances. Two die by Poisoning, and codes found with them, we are currently researching the files regarding the cause of this third death. There are so many questions and leads to be followed up.
Michael has been placed first with a date of 5th December 1948, we put him there because at this time we do not have a confirmed date of death. For example, it could be that Michael died soon after his disappearance on 17th November 1948.
These killings certainly have the hallmarks of an espionage case, we shall see.
Redacted has been a long-time follower of the Somerton Man case, we have in common a belief that that case and this were the results of the actions of foreign agents. There is much more to follow as our joint research progresses but for now, this stunning information gives the whole SM case an intriguing new twist. There is much more to come and I am looking forward to working with Redacted and Clive on this fascinating new aspect to the SM case.
Whilst we are waiting for the Inquest documents, it seems that from the information in the press, Michael likely died between 15 and 12 days before his body was discovered. That would mean that, if he was indeed murdered, then the killer had time to get away.
ReplyDeleteThe scene of his death as described by the Police witness is interesting. Michael was found next to a small tree about 4 feet tall, one of the boughs had been broken off. He was on his knees when found. What's perplexing is that Michael was 6 foot tall. Cause of death may or may not be in the documents.
ReplyDeleteGordon, there are several files in the NAA that probably relate to Michael Goreloff died 1948.
ReplyDeleteI particularly note the following CIS file. I wonder who Christine Gorodon or Borodin was?
Item details for: A367, C23607
Title: Gorodin or Borodin Christine and Goreloff Michael (deceased)
Contents date range
1925 - 1949
Series number A367
Control symbol C23607
Citation NAA: A367, C23607
Item barcode 778137
Location Canberra
Access status: Open
Date of decision 29 Aug 2005
Physical format: PAPER FILES AND DOCUMENTS (allocated at series level)
Date registered: 13 Sep 1992
Thanks Byron, that's a good start in to this puzzle. I noticed that in one of the Trove newspaper articles the name 'Christina' was mentioned by a witness as possibly having something to do with the killing? Maybe that was who the CIS were talking about. The file says it's open so maybe we can get a copy, I will take a look this weekend. It certainly is a fascinating new aspect, the dates and the use of the term "Britisher' or 'Englishman' are very interesting. I have contacted NSW records and have the file numbers for the inquest documents, hope to order them this weekend, it can take up to 15 days for the copies so I will see if they can mark them urgent and get them by email.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the usage of the terms Britisher and Englishman used extensively through one of my grand uncle's books, The Escape Artist by A Passfield. I think it's usage as a racial descriptive for people of british descent, as opposed to other people in Australia of other ethnic origins, at a guess. From my impression, it was a common term back then. It many a also refer to Australians born in the UK, similar to the use of the word pommie or 10 pound pom in later decades.
ReplyDeleteYes, agree with that, I think in the press articles the people who used the term had foreign accents? Not sure whether it's significant but interesting that it turned up in the Inquest docs as well. Do you think it odd that this man's death happened in the same time frame as SM and TK? The other thing that struck me was that you would think the SAPOL and the NSW Police may just have communicated over it given the unusual nature of the cases. In my day that was certainly the issue as both would have appeared in the Gazette not sure if that was the case in Australia though. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteI would think that Feltus would of been told if there was, so i very muchdoubt it
ReplyDeleteEach state has there own Gazette
ReplyDeleteA little history on NSW gazette here:
ReplyDeletehttps://researchdata.ands.org.au/police-gazette/177183
PeteDavo, I would think though that they would have circulated them, maybe just one or two copies. 1 for the Commissioner and one perhaps for Detective Chief Supt? I find it hard to see that they wouldn't have some sort of communication given the passing of the SM information to interstate Police Forces?
ReplyDeleteI've seen evidence that an enquiry was made into the current whereabouts and status of at least one person following the discovery of the suitcase. It's on one of the pages of a security and intelligence file for Thomas Ambrose Keane of 19 Abingdon St Wooloongabba in the NAA archives. The result though is redacted, like some of his other pages. But the fact t that an enquiry is recorded from HQ isn't. The file is closed in 1950,so I'd very much like to see the result of the redacted enquiry.
DeleteHave you done an FOI application for the files?
DeleteI don't have the funds. I was considering putting it directly to the SAPol cold case team, that they should check the file themselves, but I'm considering whether this queenslander might actually be the same Thomas Ambrose Keane as the one from Williamstown Victoria. Mainly because his NAA file contains his signature upon a form which is almost identical to the written name upon the article found in the suitcase. Thomas Ambrose Keane from Williamstown is alive and well log after Somerton Beach death writing letters to the paper in support of communism. I'm going to theorise that they were acquainted, and that th o we items were gifted to SM.
DeleteApparently, Mr Keane was a member of the EYL (Eureka Youth League). Clive
ReplyDeleteAstra was a great pub I remember it well
ReplyDeleteIt reads like a Cold War hit list. 1,5,13 December 1948
and George Marshall with a Rubaiyat, Ashton Park, Sydney
Could be more