Abbott has discovered that Webb had a brother-in-law named Thomas Keane who lived in Brunswick, and believes that the sharp objects were probably used in his work as an instrument maker.
Somerton Man’s deadly mask.
A poem and Persian letters that appeared to form a code have puzzled amateur detectives for decades after the man’s death, leading to speculation that he may have been a spy. Abbott has found documents that Webb wrote poetry and enjoyed horse racing, and Abbott surmises that the letters may be related to gambling.
“I suspected from the beginning of this case, because a lot of the espionage theories came out in the 1940s, I thought, ‘That’s all very well, but it’s more likely to be something trivial, really.'” that’s what it turned out to be, all pretty pedestrian,” Abbott said.
Somerton Man’s body was exhumed by police from Adelaide’s West Terrace Cemetery last year in the hope of identifying him. However, Abbott says the man’s cause of death remains a mystery and, if not resolved, would continue to cause speculation, including unproven theories that he was poisoned.
“If it is too late after so many years to find out anything. Who knows? People will continue to speculate for years to come, I’m sure,” Abbott said.
“My great hope is that now the public will have his name… [they] she will remember that name and search her garden sheds for any family items she can find anything about this boy.
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