J.B. CLELAND, PATHOLOGIST
For some time now it has been thought that the notes made by JB Cleland, the pathologist in the Somerton Man case had been lost.
However, a sharp-eyed member of the big footy forum on the Tamam Shud case, BlueE, dug really deep and found a reference to the notes in an Adelaide Library. Clive was able to get access to the Notes yesterday and has forwarded them to me earlier today.
There are some extremely interesting issues raised in this set of notes including the fact that there were bloodstains on the back of the mans neck and shirt, Cleland questioned whether it could have come from the mortuary slab and wondered who would have undressed the man.
He also thought it unusual that a man should choose a fairly busy location at the foot of the steps to quietly end his life. A very good point.
However, a sharp-eyed member of the big footy forum on the Tamam Shud case, BlueE, dug really deep and found a reference to the notes in an Adelaide Library. Clive was able to get access to the Notes yesterday and has forwarded them to me earlier today.
There are some extremely interesting issues raised in this set of notes including the fact that there were bloodstains on the back of the mans neck and shirt, Cleland questioned whether it could have come from the mortuary slab and wondered who would have undressed the man.
He also thought it unusual that a man should choose a fairly busy location at the foot of the steps to quietly end his life. A very good point.
I have included copies of the notes in this post below:
Will be spending more time on the notes to see whether we can decipher a little more :) All input appreciated.
Lots of good information in here, these are Cleland's notes. First published here in 2019. The document includes the microscopic examination of the Barbour's thread with the correct description of the thread colour plus the bloodstains on the neck and collar with thoughts on where they my have come from.
ReplyDeleteThese notes were first revealed on the original Adelaide University Facebook page about 11 plus years ago.
Amusingly a certain commenter on another blog has tried to put his name to the 'discovery' of these notes as is his wont. Strange chappie really. Takes all sorts :)Discovered in 2009 I think on the old Adelaide Uni FB page. To my knowledge this was the first time they have been published.
ReplyDeleteJust read of the exciting new information found on the troll haven blog. Yes, they now know about Clelands notes. You posted this 4 years ago and I noticed that you credited the source. No such professionalism found on troll haven.
ReplyDeleteYes saw that. One of their esteemed members, Behrooz? Provided a link to my google drive account where I have that document stored. Note that I didn’t provide that link in this post. I will review that situation.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that a few have become aware of Cleland's Notes, a good thing. Posted first here sometime ago, the notes have been the subject of speculation for the last week or so.
ReplyDeleteSome objective thoughts or rather questions that might be asked about them:
1. When were the notes first discovered?
2. Who discovered them?
3. Where were they found?
4. When were they written? (Note dates of 31st May and another date of 5.5.70 which might refer to Littlemore interview hence the question mark)
5. Are the notes complete or could there be parts missing and how would you know? (Note base of page 2, point 9 is missing?)
6. How can it be confirmed that all the notes were written by Cleland? ( Note difference in handwriting on the last page)
7. How do these notes compare to Clelands submission to the coroners inquest in 1949?
It would appear that what we have is a collection of notes over a period of time and not one single set of notes.
A thought that may help in relation to the torn slip and its hiding place in the fob pocket.
ReplyDeleteIf you imagine that the Somerton Man was standing facing you and he was wearing his white shirt and tie, the trousers he was wearing when his body was found, the woolen socks (with the well darned heel) and his stockman's tan coloured shoes.
Would you be able to see the opening of the fob pocket that contained the hidden torn slip in his trousers?
By way of response, the next step in addressing the issue of the torn slip and the concealed, secret pocket would be this. If you were now to imagine that the man was no longer part of the picture and just his trousers were standing there empty. Turn the trousers around so that you are looking at the now empty trousers from the rear. You will see the waistband but you most likely would not be able to make out the opening for the fob or money pocket but, according to Cleland it was there just to the right of the fly but hard to find. Here's a link that might be of interest, a short article about money missing its target:
ReplyDeletehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/186179149?searchTerm=trousers%20waistband%20money
Within the question first raised, there was another 'clue' but not related to the pocket. It was the issue of the 'well darned sock'. Someone had repaired it but was darned and there was no mention of the Barbours thread. Darning a sock is something I have experience of going back many years. The hole in a sock is not drawn together and stitched, it's actually darned/woven. To do that you need a few items, the professional might have a wooden 'mushroom' but I used a light bulb for the purpose, then you would need some woolen yarn and then a darning needle. I wonder if he had the sock repaired for him because there were no such items found amongst his possessions. Just a minor detail not sure that it will lead anywhere, but who knows, a loose end tied up perhaps.
ReplyDelete