Date of Discovery: January 5, 1937
Location of Discovery: Wedderburn, Victoria, Australia
Estimated Date of Death: 1936
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Gunshot (homicide)
Physical Description
Estimated Age: 30-35
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Graying brown hair
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks / Features: Small build. Short sature.
Identifiers
Dentals: Available Two natural teeth in upper jaw.
Fingerprints: Unavailable
DNA: Unknown
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Herringbone blue twill coat. Brown fancy striped vest. Dark gray striped tweed trousers marked "555" on back tab. A piece of red rubber bicycle tubing was sewn inside the bottom of the right leg, and a piece of sheepskin inside the bottom of the left leg. Working Triumph shirt with attached collar. Gray flannel. Dark ribbed machine-knitted woolen socks. Black working boots with full Kromhyde soles and metal heel plates, size 8.
Jewelry: None
Additional Personal Items: Small tin of Gibbs Dentrifice dental powder, found in outside left coat pocket. Nail brush stamped "53", wrapped in a piece of The Sun newspaper dated 23 March 1936, found in the outside left coat pocket. Piece of brown soap wrapped in a piece of The Sun newspaper dated 26 March 1936, found in outside right coat pocket. Pyramid handkerchief with blue linen borders and "Murray" printed in marking ink, found in the inside vest pocket. White-handled two-blade pocket knife in the shape of a lady’s leg wearing a shoe, found in the inside vest pocket. Small piece of bootlace, found in left top vest pocket. Two boxes of Bryant and May matches, found in the hip pocket of trousers. Gray felt hat with black band, branded "Best selected fur, Australian made", found inside mineshaft. Two two-pound treacle tins, one containing fat and the other golden syrup, found inside the hat. Four-inch piece of candle. Pair of rimless spectacles in an aluminum spectacle case. Upper set of false teeth, found near the roadway. Envelope addressed to Mrs. Sherlock of Bondi, New South Wales, found near the entrance to the mineshaft. Pair of spectacles in a black spectacle case, found 15 yards northwest of mineshaft. Three billy cans, found 45 yards east of mineshaft. A small black frying pan without a handle, an enamel mug, a frame from a small purse, pieces of razor handles and two razor blades, the metal portion of a razor strop, burnt remnants of a woman’s dress, various buttons, dress fasteners and boot tingles, remnants of burnt hessian or coat lining, and an old boot brush were all recovered from the fire debris.
Circumstances of Discovery
On 5 January 1937, two men looking for gold decided to extend an old mine shaft that they had dug in 1932. The shaft was located about 30 yards from the Calder Highway. While excavating the dirt and debris that had accumulated over time, they discovered the skeletal remains of a man.
An examination of the remains showed that the man had been shot in the head. A search of the surrounding area inside the shaft revealed a bloodstained hat with a corresponding bullet hole. Inside the hat were a half-full treacle tin, a pair of spectacles, and a candle. Not far from the roadway, the remains of a dental plate were discovered, along with additional pieces found nearby. Approximately 30 yards away from the mineshaft, the remnants of a fire were also found. The ashes contained fragments of a woman's silk dress, two razors, and men's boots. Another pair of spectacles and a case were found about 20 yards from the shaft, as well as three billycans. An envelope with the address of Mrs Sherlock of Bondi, NSW, was found near the mine shaft.
Witnesses were interviewed and recalled seeing a man and a woman who passed through the area years prior. They recalled the man as being small and wiry, and having a noticeable cast to his eyes. They described him as being about 40 years old and 5'7" tall, with a thin build and brown hair and eyes. The witnesses also recalled that the man was wearing clothing and carried items similar to those found on and near the remains. In addition, the witnesses stated that the woman was quiet, had a thin build, and had dark features. They also noted that the woman was about 25-30 years old.
Despite an initial police investigation, a coroner's inquest held at Wedderburn on 21 September 1937 could not identify the deceased, although it established that the cause of death was homicide. Subsequent investigations in 1938 and 1941 could not reveal any additional information. As part of this investigation, almost 250 missing men were tracked down, but neither the identity of the man nor the woman was ever found.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Coroner's Court of Victoria
Agency E-mail: flo@courts.vic.gov.au
Agency Phone Number: 1300 309 519
Unidentified Wiki
