Tamam Shud case facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Somerton Man
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A plaster cast of the Somerton Man's head and chest taken by the police in 1949
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| Born | c. 1905 |
| Died | 1 December 1948 |
| Resting place | West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Other names | Unknown Man (police terminology), Somerton Man |
| Known for | Mysterious death |
The Tamam Shud case is also known as the Mystery of the Somerton Man. It is a famous unsolved mystery about an unknown man. He was found dead on a beach in Australia. This happened on December 1, 1948. The beach was called Somerton Beach, near Adelaide, South Australia.
The case got its name from a strange clue. Months after the man was found, police discovered a tiny piece of paper. It was hidden in a secret pocket of his trousers. On this paper were two words: tamám shud. These words are from the Persian language. They mean "ended" or "finished".
This small piece of paper was torn from a very old book. It came from a copy of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. This book is a collection of poems by a poet named Omar Khayyám. The mystery of the Somerton Man has puzzled people for many years.
Contents
The Somerton Man Mystery
The Somerton Man was found early in the morning. He was lying on the sand at Somerton Park beach. He seemed to be sleeping. However, he was not breathing. Police were called to the scene. They quickly realized this was a very unusual case.
The man had no identification on him. There was no wallet, no passport, and no letters. His clothes had all their labels removed. This made it very hard to figure out who he was. It was like he didn't want to be identified.
Clues from the Man's Body
When police examined the man, they found a few things. He was well-dressed in a suit. He had clean shoes. His body showed no signs of a struggle. There were no obvious injuries. This made his death even more puzzling.
Doctors tried to find out how he died. They performed a special examination. But they could not find a clear cause of death. This meant the mystery grew even deeper. How could a healthy-looking man die without any clear reason?
The Mysterious Note
The most famous clue was the tiny piece of paper. It had the words tamám shud on it. This scrap was found in a small, hidden pocket. This pocket is sometimes called a "fob pocket." It is usually used for a watch.
Police searched everywhere for the book the paper came from. They asked the public for help. Eventually, a man found a copy of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. It had a missing page. This book was left in an unlocked car. The car was parked near where the man was found.
Secrets in the Book
The book itself held more secrets. On the back cover, police found some strange writing. It looked like a secret code. There were lines of letters. Some letters were crossed out. It seemed like a message.
Many experts tried to crack this code. They were people who study secret messages. But no one has ever been able to solve it. The code remains a mystery to this day. It is one of the biggest puzzles of the case.
A Suitcase Full of Clues
Police also found a brown suitcase. It was left at the Adelaide railway station. This was a few days before the man was found. The suitcase was linked to the Somerton Man. It contained some clothes and other items.
Inside the suitcase, there were more clothes with labels removed. There were also some tools. These tools were for polishing shoes. There was also a dressing gown. But still, nothing gave a clear name or identity for the man.
What Happened Next?
The police worked very hard on the case. They interviewed many people. They tried to match the man's fingerprints. They even made a plaster cast of his head. This was done to help identify him.
Despite all their efforts, the Somerton Man was never identified. His true name remains unknown. He was buried in a cemetery in Adelaide. His grave simply says "The Unknown Man." The mystery of his death continues to fascinate people around the world.
Images for kids
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Suitcase and effects, found at Adelaide railway station. From left to right are detectives Dave Bartlett, Lionel Leane, and Len Brown
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The handwriting found in the back of a book of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. The text is presumed to be some sort of code.
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Burial of the Somerton Man on 14 June 1949. By his grave site is Salvation Army Captain Em Webb, leading the prayers, attended by reporters and police.
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The simple burial site of the Unknown Man at the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide
See also
In Spanish: Caso Tamam Shud para niños
