The Satin Man: Uncovering The Mystery Of The Missing Beaumont Children (Reviewed by Helen)

30/6/2013

Like most Australians I have always been fascinated with the mystery of what happened to the Beaumont children on Australia Day 1966. How was it possible that three children could be abducted in broad daylight on a crowded beach in Adelaide and simply disappear without a trace? Despite many theories being floated in the almost 50 years since, there has never been any kind of definitive answer.

In his previous book Searching For The Beaumont Children: Australia's Most Famous Unsolved Mystery, author Alan Whiticker examined the case in detail but was left with no real conclusion other than that he believed the children were dead. Following publication of that book he received a phone call that sent him on a new hunt for clues - and this time he believes he gone much further along the road to solving the case.

Alan was skeptical of this new information at first - after all he had received dozens of calls over the years, but this information was much more solid. The son of a prominent and wealthy Adelaide businessman had revealed to his now ex wife that he saw the Beaumont children in his back yard with his father that summer's day. Out of sight in his cubby house, he didn't realise the significance of that sighting until he was older. Upon further investigation Alan Whiticker began to believe this was it - the lead that could finally solve the case once and for all.

Once I started reading this book I found it hard to put it down. Easy to read and meticulously detailed, I was drawn into the trail that Alan and his friend Stuart followed in trying to discover as much information as possible about the wealthy Adelaide resident known as The Satin Man. Long dead and with his son suffering from the effects of alcohol abuse, it was not always an easy investigation. However what they have put together is a solid and very plausible explanation as to what happened on Glenelg Beach in 1966.

After reading this book I can only hope that the information will prompt a Coronial Inquest (as the author hopes) and close the books on one of Australia's greatest mysteries.

Winston Gregory

8/7/2013 12:18:06 pm

I aYet to read the book and will do. BUT in all the past years I have never been interviewed by detectives or other police persons. Mr. Beaumont was in the back of my police patrol car for many hours that night. No-one has asked me what took place during that night. Go figure. I am not accusing Mr. Beaumont of anything just saying no-one asked me.

Stuart

9/7/2013 01:25:26 am

Winston u can email or call me anytime regards Stuart Mullins 0403251411

John

12/7/2013 01:18:16 pm

Winston. As a policeman you would know that evidence and reliable witnesses, rather than innuendos and conspiracy theories are required to solve any crime. In fairness to the Beaumont children's parents, I urge you to go to the police if you have any evidence, rather than feed journalists who often take the liberty to embellish stories and draw conclusions based on untrue facts. Choose a worthy book to read.

Simon McMahon

14/7/2013 11:39:16 am

Hi Stuart,
I have just finished reading the book. A huge credit to you for your hard work, it was fantastic to see someone researching this for the right reasons. Have you thought of giving warwick a video camera and a stand and let him talk to the camera as he feels he is strong enough ? also have you approached the new owners of the family property at Torrens Square, they may be more then happy to cooperate.

Cheers Simon

Lesley sear

29/7/2013 01:05:27 am

I lived in Elizabeth West from 64 - 68 and just before the children went missing I was in a car with my 2 younger brothers in Elizabeth shopping centre. My youngest brother was crying and two men tried to take him from the car. I held on to him and the men eventually left due mainly I think to many people in the car park. This frightened me immensely and can quite clearly remember these men. One was thin and much taller than the other man.

Andrea

12/7/2013 12:53:10 pm

I personally never usually read books, but because I, like so many other people in Australia have an interest in the Beaumont children, I decided I would read this book. This was a book I couldn't put down until I had read the very last page. It took me three and a half hours to read; but I now sit here and wonder why SAPOL and our Government have not investigated these latest claims. For the first time there seems to be a suspect. The evidence given by the satin mans son(Warwick) would indicate he knows a lot more than he has let on. He stated, " he had seen the Beaumont children in his back yard with his father when he was growing up. He also went on to say the children went into the house and he never seen them again. But then the son goes on to tell the author of this book and a detective the children are buried in the pit in the factory in Glenelg which his father had once owned. If Warwick didn't infact see the children again, how would he know this information. Or is there more to the story; is he scared he may be convicted for something his father may have done or maybe have made him do. Either way this should be investigated; the state Government and SAPOL should start a coronial inquest. Time is of the essence with this case. The parents of the Beaumont children are getting older, if this new information is accurate then surely it will give this family some closer before its too late. If SAPOL and the Government leaves this too long they may miss the opportunity to give a family who have suffered too much, the closure they deserve. Surely a coronial inquest would prove or disprove Warwick's allegations. For the first time there is a suspect. surely this is enough with all other information provided to start a coronial inquest.

Stuart Mullins

14/7/2013 07:42:04 am

Dear Andrea , As John above has not left a reply space, if you don't mind I'll use yours?.............and you may find the below of benefit.

John you have stated " As a policeman you would know that evidence and reliable witnesses, rather than innuendos and conspiracy theories are required to solve any crime. In fairness to the Beaumont children's parents, I urge you to go to the police if you have any evidence, rather than feed journalists who often take the liberty to embellish stories and draw conclusions based on untrue facts. Choose a worthy book to read."

I can completely understand your thinking and appreciate your frankness. As discussed with a detective in SAPOL, This case,still after all these years receives the most calls. 99% of them are in-fact wild theories and conspiracy theories, I absolutely agree. .

Right now myself Alan are receiving these types of calls and they do wear thin .I know first hand what the detectives have to put up with, its part of their job of course and we have been lumped in with all of this and can understand. Its the thinking , here we go again another person trying to solve the case.

Do keep in mind John that if SAPOL did not think what we have is credible , why do preliminary ground scans at the factory? We have been informed the concrete has metal bars running through it and there fore the scanner cannot detect anything because the metal causes interference with the scanner.

But we will stick to the facts and the facts only. Each fact by itself means little but as they add up ,they do:

Physical description of the person/perpetrator the book talks about . Stated by around 5 people a who knew this man very well in the 60s; Around 6ft tall, tanned, thin to medium athletic build, swept back hair , parted to one side , high forehead ,longish face.Frequented Glenelg and Somerton beaches.

Living 250 metres to 500 metres from Colley Reserve.and the same to Wenzels Cake shop.

Known to give out pound notes to the sons teenage friends,corroborated. Police, to this day state the Pound note was a pivotal point in this case. Who gave the children a pound note, who would have such money to give?

Father dresses in satin garments/dresses and has his special days where no one is allowed near the home. These garments we found out and corroborated are long and short satin dresses boots and other under garments. Corroborated. If this is done in the privacy of your own home that's your business. When it impinges and another's personal space and privacy it becomes something very different. And impinge he did . Over the last week of so another person has come forward who can clearly describe these Satin Dresses and " other " paraphanalia this man wore , he can also corroborate this. He is a current Glenelg respected business man

The perpetrator sexually abused his son several times a week over 10 years in the early hours of the morning wearing these satin garments. If he was'nt abused why attend , in the 90s Clinics for sexual abuse, one of which was for the very serious cases. All cases are serious but some require more help. He has also never been diagnosed as psychotic. This abuse was very vividly re-lived when I interviewed him over 2 hours and again relived when interviewed by a PD and this mans son had known of this abuse for some time and his dad stating seeing the Beaumont children that day . This man stated he believed his father /grandfather had something to do with the disappearance of the Beaumont children. Why did'nt they go to the police? Who in the heck is going to believe them and over 80% of sexually abused males never talk about their abuse for many well documented reasons. In the sons case it brings back the nightmares and he falls back into the bottle and prescription drugs. and his father had complete control wealth and power , who would believe the son?

The perpetrator had an impecible public life ,so did Peter Liddy, but his private life was very different , The Grandson described his Grand Father as pure evil. In private would tell his grandson to $#@# off you little C&%#

The Father / Perpetrator had a position of wealth ,power and incredible influence . Have a look a statistics on pedophiles, many come from this background .

Many people who knew the son in the late 50s through the 60s and onward stated he hated his father with a passion going further to say it was palatable.

The son mentioned his sexual abuse to a friend in the 90s and discussed with his second wife on numerous occasions

He vividly describes the children in his yard that day and one had a type of should bag. He initially thought they were all girls but later saw the youngest was a boy. He spoke to them briefly before they went into the house. The recording has been listened to by a forensic lie detector investigator , all in book

A close associate of the family stopped taking her two young girls to visit as when this man was dressed in Satin he " COULD NOT HELP HIMSEL

Andrea Spencer

14/7/2013 04:33:21 pm

Stuart Mullins, I definitely didn't mind you writing the above in the reply space and found what you wrote very interesting. In the book you didn't mention Warrick has a brief conversation with the Beaumont children. You obviously have more evidence than you have shared in your book.

I can imagine and also understand why Warrick didn't go to the police when his father was alive. He would of been scared of his father. He was only a young boy himself at the time; people should remember that before they judge him. He too is a victim and suffered at the hands of his father in the most horrible way. Talking about abuse is not an easy thing to do. Its hard to talk about and hard enough to re-live through the bad memories; it never leaves you; it stays with you for life. The fact is this brave man has come forward now with fresh information and the police should be taking this seriously until they prove or disprove the allegations. Have a coronial inquiry. Surely if SAPOL have done preliminary ground scans at the factory then they too must think the information may hold some truth to it; otherwise why would they do this. Lets hope they take this one step further and remove the concrete and medal bars.

I hope this latest information remains in the media for a while. Some how when the media shares information like this to the public it put pressure of the police to do something. Lets hope this is the case this time.

Frank Church

10/8/2013 04:49:32 am

I have not read THIS book but my sister brought it to my attention. This was my reply.
Hi Ann, This is done and dusted. We were involved as Private Investigators when Con Polities had the factory near Glenelg where they were supposed to be buried, excavated and nothing found. There were rumours that there was an underground railway line in this factory and that kids had dug out an underground chamber which had collapsed on the Beaumont children. At the time of the initial search, Con Polites had brought over a psychic from Holland and he was positive that the children were in this factory. Police did an initial search without success but didn’t get too far as the owner had just laid a concrete floor.
About 2000 a new owner took over and was prepared to have sections checked. That is when I was brought in. Managed to find the “Kids” who used to play there and found out the truth, There never was an underground rail and in fact I was able to direct the diggers to the actual rails which were still there, six inches under the floor. Where the underground tunnel was situated was at the base of a huge machine. A pit had been dug to let employees get to controls at the base. The local kids could get in there and they had dug a sort of cave but in never went back into the wall more that two feet and if it had collapsed would have been noticed the following day by the workers.
Anyway, they dug the whole place up. Found some animal bones. We had specialists of all sorts there and some real high tech Cadaver equipment plus cadaver dogs. Naturally The Sceptics Society turned up as well plus the press for the ten days we were there. I got some good publicity at the time 
At the end, NOTHING was found, as I had told them from the beginning.
Personally, I think they are dead and buried and if and only IF the abductor gives a death bed confession, will we ever know the truth.
I have never been interviewd by any writer about this search.
Love Frank

Lisa

11/8/2013 11:47:16 am

Response to Frank's post - Frank, This is why you should read the new book - Alan mentions Con Politis, the Dutch Psychic and the search of the factory in his book and shows that there never was any substantial evidence to conduct the search...as you certainly found out! I agree, the children are long gone and buried somewhere. The new evidence in the book suggest a different burial site based on the fact that the owner (of the site) was more than probably a pedophile who lived within 500 metres of where the children played at the Glenelg beach.

Rose

13/7/2013 08:36:38 am

I grew up in Brighton during this era and the Beaumont case has always been a part of my childhood. I always felt a bit lucky that it wasn't me. My mum was in Glenelg Community hospital at that time having my youngest brother. On the 21st Jan 1966, me aged 7, my older brother aged 8 and my younger brother aged 4 were made to wait in an unlocked car at night whilst our dad went into the hospital..this was only 5 days before this happened.
I always thought that it was a local man and I believe that this new evidence is very compelling and I hope that it is taken seriously by SAPOL.
During the 60's/70's, pedophilia was everywhere, although as children we were innocently unaware.
I have a friend who's brother was molested by a alter boy at St Jude's church Brighton. This perpetrator is now a respected senior policeman. However his victim is a a 200+ kg man who has medicated himself over the years with food etc to escape his pain and shame. He apparently refuses to expose this pedophile because of the ramifications.

Andrea Spencer

14/7/2013 12:11:02 pm

I think during the 60's people were not so aware of pedophilia as they are today. Sadly there is more evidence showing it doesn't matter what profession a person is from or how much money they have because people in any profession and even the wealthiest people in our community can be a pedophile. There are a lot of pedophiles which also go un- noticed in society for years. But when new information comes to light as it has with the Beaumont case then every avenue relating to the person (Frederick Hendry Phipps) must be looked at. That's is why it is essential a coronial inquest must be done. Lets hope this is something we see soon

peter

14/7/2013 01:10:25 pm

Why was a coronial inquest not ordered was it just gross incompadence off the police. Or a cover up. In as a lot of the public chant answers.

Rose

15/7/2013 04:41:29 am

I too have read the book last week and found it riveting, I couldn't put it down and finished it in an afternoon.
I applaud anyone who is willing to research, raise awareness and expose these types of people in society, they have hidden behind their so called decent veneers for too long!
Why test on animals when we have paedophiles I say....
Thankyou Stuart for all your hard work in helping bring this story to light...
I have no doubt that the son of this man was abused, he shows all of the symptoms of abuse.
I have nursed for 37 years...hospitals are full of people who are victims of their childhoods...and it manifests in all sorts of self induced illness and addictions, predominately alcohol, drugs, food and self harm.
Mandated child abuse reporting has only been in play since 1993, children of earlier generations did not have the same protection as children do now. This is one reason why we have become more aware of it.
'Warwick' not only had a sexually deviant father who chronically sexually abused him over many years, he also physically, verbally, emotionally and mentally abused him... and to top it off his mother who should of protected him turned a blind eye...its no wonder he has issues with acopia, addiction and trust!
I am hoping for the parents of the Beaumont children that they can get some answers whilst they are still here.
The pain and anguish that they have had to endure over the last 47 years must be indescribable.

Stuart

23/7/2013 02:00:21 pm

Unfortunately Peodophiles are hidden in clear sight. We have received some interesting quality calls coroborationg some of the important information which is heartening and as it builds things will change, Glad you enjoyed the book

Regards Stuart

Rose

15/7/2013 06:04:13 am

I forgot to add whilst reading the book there were a number of disclosures that blew me away but the one that effected me the most was the purse in the cellar...I had to put the book down and go off and do something else for awhile.

Cathy link

16/7/2013 03:09:14 am

I first read about the Beaumont children in a book called Wanted by Timmothy Hall , and became very interested in it over the years,
to the point where i started to collect any news paper clipping or magazine article on them.
I read Searching for the Beaumont and have also read The Satin Man and like everyone else wasn't able to put it down .
It has been 47 harrowing years for their parents , their lives and the lives of their extended family and friends have never been the same .
We have to find what happened to them , because three children can't just disappeare into thin air without an explaination .
I also followed the A Curent affair story on Monday 8th of July which made a lot of sence as to how they could be transported without been seen , if the abductor used the alley ways .
I hope that the detectives who have taken over the case , use the evidence or information and can finally put an end to mystery and bring closer to the parents.

sincerley Cathy

Lisa

19/7/2013 08:00:43 am

Stuart - you and Alan have done a fantastic amount of research and corroborated your evidence as best you can considering nearly 50 years have gone by. The book is a great read. I did not seen the TV summary.

I agree it looks like you've found a credible suspect - however I feel the eye witness evidence which is by far the best type of evidence (along with DNA) is of Warwick seeing the children in his house or garden, but really his recollections might of 3 children might easily be from a different time as after all the years of abuse and fear that he went through, coupled with his alcohol and drug overuse, means his memory would not be very clear after such a long time.

I'm not saying his father wasn't a paedophile, that much is clear and I'm sure more information will come to light about this suspect, now the name has been made public. However, I think it is going to be very hard to link him to the Beaumont children unless SAPOL find enough grounds to start a proper examination the factory area.
Good luck, l hope like Andrea that somehow we will get a coronial Inquest at the very least.

Geoff Brown

23/7/2013 01:45:04 am

The research by Stuart Mullins and Alan Whittacker on this book is to be commended. I was only 6 in 1966 when it happened. My own interest in this case has become more heightened over the years I think due to having three children of my own and trying to imagine the pain and heartache of Jim and Nancy Beaumont in losing all three children on one day. This case needs an answer for Jim and Nancy and SAPOL owe it to them to follow up the facts and information put forward in Satin Man. If the information on Harry Phipps is wrong then SAPOL need to prove it wrong. The book for me provided the most likely answer to the biggest mystery of the case. "How can three children walk out of the cake shop and just disappear into thin air without anyone seeing anything" ?
The close proximity to Harry Phipps house via laneways I think is that answer. I also think the significance of so many separate people to comment about Harry Phipps giving them a pound note ( a lot of money back in 66 ) is extremely important.
The reaction of Phipps second wife Norma to the inquiry about the purse is bizarre and appears to me as a reader to be a panic reaction from somebody caught off guard in the moment. I along with others sincerly hope there is a coronial inquiry into the Beaumont case or that "somebody" in the SAPOL has the same determination and dedication as the authors to seek out the truth and give some closure to jim and Nancy Beaumont.

Stuart

23/7/2013 02:09:39 pm

Very True Lisa really someone has to point to the spot. Did he see the children? he described them perfectly to me he recounted the same story 11 months later and now find he mentioned it over 20 years ago as another phone call comes in with information , the more people come forward even with little bits of information this information builds up to make a picture . Best regards Stuart

David

20/7/2013 01:06:55 am

A great read. I think its likely the children knew the Satin Man. Is there a link between Lincot Linen (the company the father worked for) and Phipps? I am not for a minute suggesting the kid's father was involved - I just wonder if there is a link? This info would be provided by ASIC.

Robyn

23/7/2013 03:46:29 pm

I too could not put the book down - had to finish it in one sitting. I feel convinced from my reading of the book that this businessman was involved - there may be others still alive who are harbouring information that could help solve this crime once & for all & for the sake of Jim & Nancy Beaumont I sincerely hope that the police are able to act on this information. I grew up in the Somerton /Glenelg area - went to the same primary school as Jane & Arna. I was 13 when the children vanished without a trace & rode my bike with my girlfriends all around those same streets & alleys in Glenelg during the early 60s never sensing any danger. Worse still we'd go into delis with no money asking for a drink of water & usually some kind man would buy us a soft drink each. My parents would have been horrified as I had been well versed about not getting into cars with strangers or accepting food & drink from anyone I didn't know but with childhood innocence I figured accepting it from over a counter made it ok. Thank God I never ran into one of these pedophiles. I believe there was a pedophile ring very active at the time. Anyone who has read Janet Crease's book A Reason to Live, about the shocking abuse she endured at the hands of her father & his pedophile friends around the Semaphore/Pt Adelaide area would be under no illusion that Adelaide had a dark side & while I lived a truly idyllic childhood with no knowledge of this side of life I struggle with the fact that those who weren't touched by it were so oblivious to the suffering that was happening in a parallel world for those trapped in that world of abuse with no-one to believe or assist them even if they dared to confide in anyone. I hope people's memories from their teen years living in & around the area are jogged by reading the book & possibly more information will surface & be passed on to the police, no matter how insignificant each small piece of information may seem. Thankyou so much for all the hard work & research.

Rick

24/7/2013 02:21:55 pm

I have not read the book but intend to very soon. Does anyone know how much scrutiny Mr Beaumont was subjected to after the disappearance? On face value, him allegedly driving to work in Snowtown in the morning, returning around 3pm because his customers were not available, and his children disappearing in between does seem interesting. Did he have an alibi? Was he even considered a suspect in the early stages of the investigation? Just putting it out there.

Lisa Cortez

26/7/2013 02:43:41 am

The first people the police look to clear in the disappearance of children are the parents (as majority of murdered children are murdered by family member) and the Beaumonts were rules out as suspects long ago. The evidence overwhelmingly points to a stranger pickup in this case, and we must not get distracted from the main objective and that is to look at new evidence - that is the main reason this book was published.

Andrea

29/7/2013 05:17:41 pm

Rick..... you should read the book because it will answer a lot of your questions. The father was ruled out very early in the investigation. The main point to this book is about the new information which has come to light; after reading it you like many other people will be asking your self why the SA police isn't taking this seriously. Surly time is of great essence if they want to give the Beaumont family some closure

Robyn

26/7/2013 01:18:39 pm

Stuart, as I mentioned Janet Crease's book A Reason to Live in my previous post I wonder if she is able to name names. Her father used to take her down to a ship in Pt Adelaide where she was abused but he also took her other places at the weekend where his friends would abuse her - I think this would have been in the 50s rather than the 60s. Like Warwick she has been very damaged mentally by her experiences & may find it too painful to talk about it these days as she's made a very different life for herself now in another state with her highly trained cadaver dogs. It was just a thought though - she may recall some names that would back up some of the other information you have gathered. Like Warwick - her mother either turned a blind eye to what was happening (& not just to her but her brothers as well) or it was just too unthinkable to even suspect what was happening. Spouses of these people were often very timid people, & very afraid of the perpetrator too & while they had a duty of care to protect their children it was not as easy then as it is today- there was little support for wives & children who really needed to leave a marriage.

bob coles

27/7/2013 04:07:18 pm

Gday Simon, How did you come up with Torrens Square? By my calculations the address is in Sturt Street. I am from Melbourne so I dont Know any Adelaide history, but now that the suspect has been identified as Harry Phipps I guess the address would be well known.Am I right Stuart?

robyn

28/7/2013 08:57:57 am

Simon has the right house I'm sure. I happened to park my car right in front of it when I went out to dinner not long after the screening of A Current Affair (before I'd read the book, but after hearing descriptions of the location) - looked up at the big old home alongside where I'd parked & knew straight away this was it (& later confirmed I was right when I read the book). I felt uncomfortable enough to mention to my friend that I was sure this was the house they were talking about. Of course those streets were a lot quieter in the 60s & due to the lack of air conditioning & fewer backyard pools in most homes back then the beaches were usually packed with people on a hot day like that Australia Day. It would have been easy enough once you've won the children's trust to get them to come willingly that short distance to your home - particularly if you think your bus money is missing & this person - who has ceased to be a stranger in the children's eyes once they've become familiar with him , is offering to get you home safely. If you do a bit of a google search the house I'm thinking of, though sold, is still appearing on the real eastate agent's site so you can do a virtual tour of the home. The day after the children went missing I was entrusted at age 13 to travel by bus with my little brother aged 7 in tow across town in what was to be a get on the bus near my place & get off at the stop immediately in front of the home I was visiting & I was to be met at that bus stop. Turns out this bus terninated a few kilometres away from the stop I need to be met at so I went into the nearest shop & explained my plight. I was well versed in not accepting lifts from strangers & was a bright student like Jane - was usuallly at or near the top of my class - one would assume I understood exactly what a stranger is at the age of 13 & be particular wary given what had just transpired. But no - a man driving a MacRobertson's Chocolate van was doing his delivery at this shop & offered to take me & my little brother directly to my destination & you've guessed - I jumped into the front seat with him, my brother on the bench seat beside me. As it happened this man was a decent man helping out a couple of lost kids but I can only look back & see that parents think they know what their children would do, think their children understand certain concepts - but that's not neccessarily the case. To my young eyes, this man was perfectly safe because he drove a professional van that would be easily identified & he looked perfectly trustworthy. ( I suppose I expected a stranger with evil on his mind would look evil, seem creepy, whatever ......

Simon McMahon

12/8/2013 03:25:06 am

Hi Bob,

From reading the book I narrowed the area down and also from ACA's programme. I then did a real estate search around the area and found that house was the only one sold in the timeframe. Google earth also shows a pool in the backyard. To think the Phipps family home was directly opposite the church is a little spooky. the house itself is a spooky house that seems to be designed with a huge amount of privacy in mind. I wonder if Stuart has approached the new owner of the property? I have only driven past to see the house myself and defiantly would not stop or get out of the car to have a look as the new owners of the house do not need the spotlight on them. This investigation has seemed to have gone cold? I believe it should stay well publicised to amount pressure on anyone with any information to come forward.

Simon McMahon

12/8/2013 03:43:38 am

the Castalloy property is now owned by the state government. purchest back in 2006 of 8 mill

Bob coles

29/7/2013 08:02:45 am

Hello Robyn. Thank you for your prompt and informative post.It is so lucidly outlined the fact that you were a bright student comes as no surprise.With apologies to Simon I am a bit confused as to which house it is. The plight of the Beaumont kids has always fascinated me and this latest revelation is by far the most likely answer to the riddle, yet to surface. If you could tell me the name of the estate agent I would love to do that virtual tour.l thank you again and hope to hear from you soon.Regards Bob.

robyn

29/7/2013 11:40:39 am

Hi Bob - I feel a bit uncomfortable identifying the house so publicly when some innocent person has bought the place without being aware of it's sinister history, & I don't want to make things difficult for the authors because they have been very careful not to publicly identify this suspect, or the exact location of the house for the sake of other family members - it was a television program that actually named the suspect - which I think was wrong - even though I had a great interest in finding out who it was. The real estate agent is well known in the area - Ray McGrath - someone has just forgotten to remove the advertisement. I'm pretty sure that I have the right house though - bordered both sides by an alley/street, sandstone with high concrete fences either side. A google map would make it easy enough to identify

bob coles

29/7/2013 04:26:44 pm

Hi Robyn. Thanks for the info. I have been burning the midnight oil, to little or no avail, trying to find the house in question. Without wanting to put you on the spot, could you tell me which street the house,s address is? Is it Sussex st? Regards Bob.

robyn

30/7/2013 01:07:59 am

No - definitely listed as Torrens Square - I also saw it under 'sold' on Domain.com which then directs you to the agent. Says it was sold by 'private treaty' whatever that means. Of course while I feel certain it's the right house I could be wrong , but it answers the description. I want the police to investigate this & give those poor parents answers if that is what they want at this stage in their lives so I don't want any of our discussions to compromise an investigation. As we're all aware cases can be compromised by too much discussion on the internet. The alleged perpetrator has taken any secrets he had to his grave so I guess it's only for the sake of the children themselves & their parents that we want an investigation into the new evidence. As a parent myself I imagine Jim & Nancy would like answers but at the same time this could be very very painful to be confronted with what actually did take place. Because I was a child myself at the time I just accepted eventually that they must be dead but until now - & even now, I've never allowed myself to imagine what may have been done to them - it is just too unbearable to think about what really took place between the perpetrator (or perpetrators) & these beautiful, happy, innocent children & their parents may well feel - yes to know where they are resting, maybe have a private Christian burial would give some closure but may not want to know any details of what happened. I suspect I just would not want more than that if they were my children - it would be just too painful, too confronting & Jim & Nancy have suffered a lifetime of unimaginable loss & pain already. It's really in the hands of SAPOL now, & whatever the parents themselves want.

bob coles

30/7/2013 03:49:36 pm

Thanks Robyn, I agree with your sentiments entirely.

Andrew link

31/7/2013 06:04:35 am

I read the book and saw the TV program. Congratulations Stuart and Alan. I was a young child living in Adelaide at the time, my mother grew up in Brighton and my parents moved to Glenelg when married. I was much more affected by the Adelaide Oval abduction in 1973 as I was much older then. I was too young to be aware of the Beaumont case at the time. It seems to me after reading the book, this blog, and the TV program that two key questions need to be asked: The issue of Freemasonry and the issue of did the Children know Phipps through their fathers connection. Re freemasonry, Mr Phipps was a Freemason. Freemasons protect their own and are strongly represented in positions of power such as political legal and law enforcement senior positions. It is very likely the finger pointed to Phipps as a suspect at the time but that Phipps was protected at he time, as is still being protected (in death) by highly placed Freemasons, who are also protecting any cover up they did. This could explain why a case which looks fundamentally simple to solve was not solved. The killer had an Identikit sketch, he was a local, he stole the kids purse which later turned up in his house, he gave the kids a pound note thereby creating an obligation to visit his nearby house either to give him the change or get a ride home. Re the connection with their Dad. If the kids knew Phipps it was the easiest thing in the world for him to get their trust, and they would have had no fear of going to Phipps house from the cakeshop to give him his change from the pound note and/or accept a ride home in Phipps car. I try not to think about what happened to those kids. I had nightmares after the Adelaide oval abduction, "Stranger danger" was rather laxly drilled into us kids in the late 1960s and 1970s but glad to say in this era there is much more awareness of these evil pedophiles.

Andrew

1/8/2013 02:14:45 am

It seems that the circumstantial evidence very much points to Phipps doing the Adelaide Oval kidnapping. He was a young fit looking 48 year old when the Beaumont Children were taken. It was a very risky brazen act to kidnap 3 children in his local neighborhood, and understandably he would lay low for a long time before trying anything like that again. The Adelaide Oval kidnapping was almost 8 years later (late 1973) by which time he would have been 56 or so. The main circumstantial evidence is:
1. The identikit picture does indeed look like Phipps 8 years older than in 1966.
2. I read somewhere in your book that Phipps son said he looked young in his 40s but aged fast in his 50s.
3. It matches his Beaumont modus opperandi. Brazen daylight snatch hiding in plain sight. He made a small effort at a disguise, the brown hat, and he seems from Beaumont case to be very good at charming children and charming onlookers and manifesting charming (rather than sinister) disposition. Many people saw him with the Beaumont kids and did nothing, many people saw him walk the kids out of Adelaide oval and did nothing .
4. Only one other known suspect could have done it, the old man from Townsville. This seems a stretch.
5. He walked with a stoop. He was carrying a 4 year old child quite a long distance and was being harried by an 11 year old. A 56 year old man carrying a child such a long way could well expect to walk with a stoop. It seems he only planned to nab the 4 year old but the 11 year old was trying to rescue her friend and followed him and so he got the 111 year old as a “bonus”. How utterly awful is that thought.
One could surmise that after Beaumont he lay low for a while and hatched the Adelaide Oval plan probably some time before he succeeded. He may have lurked at the Oval during games for months or even years before getting lucky, the kids were in the wrong place at the wrong time, the cat under the car ruse worked, enabling the perfect crime.
It is a salutary lesson to all of us parents (I am a parent myself), if in doubt intervene. A few people said they nearly intervened at Adelaide Oval. Had they caught him then they would have also solved the Beaumont case because in 1973 everyone was young enough and evidence untainted enough for it all to stick.

Harry

1/8/2013 03:14:41 am

The more I read about the going on's in Adelaide of that era the more I am convinced that there is more than 1 involved .The fact that the kidnapper was seen etc and cops got no where -smells of negligence or a rat. Knowing possibly some members related to them tells me this fits.
I want to know -seeing the today Tonight story if the two retired cops saw possible evidence(The purse in the basement) Then why wanst a search warrant issued on the property ? . I have yet to read Stuarts book, will get hold of it soon enough .Is this Phipps wife still alive ?What is Stuarts email? .
I have heard about this case since I was a kid I am 50 now .Its a horrible thought but I would love these kids souls to rest in peace and for their parents.Just a footnote..once and only once I have left my children alone when I was caught up holding 3 surfboards I bought with a mate .My kids wanted to go to the toilet badly - it was with in my sight so Iet them go to it...my kids ran back saying a man grabbed at them ..I saw no one come in or out of the toilets but realised when I ran in that there was another entrance.I found no body got hold of security guard but he did stuff all .I have lived in fear ever since of a repetition of that and have never left my kids out of sight.I know back in our day we all lived what we thought was a safe world .I can remember been 10 years of age running off to the parks going to the footy with out parents .roamed and played in the streets.You can not do that now .I dont blame the Beaumonts although its easy to point the finger .My parents probably wouldve gave me the same freedom.It would have to be the worst feeling to lose kids like this and not one but three of them .

Andrew

1/8/2013 03:42:45 am

Stuart and Alan, having read your book I am well aware of how many wacky theories and spurious information hampered the original investigation, and your own investigations. I imagine my mention of the Freemasons immediately put me in the nutty camp. I am also acutely aware of not saying anything here that could compromise an inquest. Out of respect for the original detectives who are so faithfully helping you now I think I need to clarify what I meant. I am not for one moment suggesting that the hard-working detectives on the case were Freemasons protecting Phipps. However, when such vast quantities of information was pouring through, and with even a small number of Freemasons high up the chain of command (certainly there would have been) in police or political circles, it would have been very easy for a high placed Freemason to ensure that Phipps was discounted as a suspect if his name had come up, using the argument that he was a pillar of the community, and it was a ridiculous suggestion, and that the detectives needed to focus their efforts on real leads. I do note that in your book it says a local who looked like the identikit picture of the suspect who had 3 times been identified as looking similar voluntarily went to the police to clear his name. Was that Phipps? Equally one could imagine a scenario where Phipps confides to a senior Freemason colleague in the police or Government that Phipps is concerned that he is a local who looks like the suspect, and that of course the prospect that he a pillar of the community is the kidnapper is ridiculous, so please ensure that I and my family are not bothered, and thereby protected himself perfectly. Maybe he also changed his distinctive hairstyle shortly after the kidnapping. As a local who looked like the suspect it would be surprising if he wasn't fingered at least once.

Geoff Brown

1/8/2013 01:26:16 pm

Andrew. In addition to what you have written I believe that if it was a local person and very likely to have been Phipps I think it might also explain as to why the 3 children went into Wenzels Cake shop by themselves with the pound note given to them by the man who had been seen with them . A local such as Phipps was possibly and probably known to the staff of Wenzels which is why he did not go into the shop with them.

Roger

2/8/2013 11:01:18 am

Did Mr Phipps know Mr Beaumont..?? ( did they work together..? )
Did Mr Phipps know Bevan Spencer von Einem..??

just curious....

Marie Petra

3/8/2013 01:43:27 pm

Haven't read the book but have seen the stories on Today tonight and A Current Affair and with all this evidence what are the waiting for!! (SAPOL) I don't think we need and inquiry I think the site needs to be excavated ,how hard is that????? They are doing it in Cooper Pedy.

Andrea

3/8/2013 04:25:56 pm

I find it interesting we have all this new evidence and after all these weeks nothing have been done to excavate the site yet we see on the news they have dug up all mine shafts looking for a young girl who was sadly murdered 20 years ago. The Beaumont's have been missing for a lot longer shouldn't this take a priority? Well lets hope in the future this will happen before the parents of the Beaumont children are no longer with us. What a shame Con Polities isn't here he would have done something about having this new evidence looked at. He too also have a strong interest in this case.

Andrew

4/8/2013 06:57:56 am

Yes indeed the Castalloy site should be excavated, Warwick would be invaluable in guiding such an excavation, though it would seem his assistance is not essential. I understand the inertia against excavation, the obvious will be given of the fruitless excavations in the past, and the question of will the Government be willing to pay the financial cost to solve this crime. But we must remember that past excavations were spurious. They were NOT supported by ANY evidence just the hearsay of a clairvoyant. Past clairvoyant excavations are irrelevant to the present situation. Moreover, there is a strong possibility that not only the Beaumont childrens remains will be found at the Castalloy site, but also the Adelaide Oval children, and who knows who else. The evidence justifying an excavation is very compelling.

Geoff Brown

4/8/2013 03:45:44 am

I don't want to sound too critical here or trying to be a moderator of this blog but could I suggest that people "READ THE BOOK " before commenting on the Satin Man discussion.

Harry

5/8/2013 02:56:50 am

Ive actually been looking for an E- book version cant seem to spot one.

andrew

5/8/2013 01:17:58 pm

I bought it online via ABC Bookshop. Its the first book I have read in quite a few of years that I found hard to put down, I am more of a DVD man but this book was a great read. Gives a lot of closure on this shocking abduction.
http://shop.abc.net.au/products/satin-man-the-pbk

Andrew

12/8/2013 08:52:57 am

Stuart, if you are reading this, as I mentioned in an earlier post before, I was a young child living in Adelaide in 1966, my mother grew up in Brighton and my parents moved to Glenelg when married. I had a large extended family living in the Glenelg Brighton Plympton area in the post war era 1940s until 1980s. I have just discussed your book with my mother who grew up and lived in the Brighton Glenelg area in the 1940s to 1960s and she told me two of my great uncles worked at Castalloy, the wife of one is still alive, and also apparently I have a relative whose home was very close to the Castalloy plant. Perhaps some of my still living relatives had met "the Satin Man", owner of Castalloy. Interestingly the satin man is exactly the same age as my Grandmother, born 1917. They are contemporaries. It is such a shame that so many years have now gone by and so few people are still alive that can shed light on this awful mystery.

Bob

13/8/2013 02:09:36 am

Gday Simon. With Robyn,s able assistance I was able to locate the family home and yes, it is spookey! In my opinion what needs to happen now is that "Warwick" ,with a full no blame guarantee,and with appropriate sensitivity,is persuaded to tell everything he knows, and in particular, to lead investigators to the exact burial site. Memo, S.A.Govt, If for no other reason, think what a vote winner it would be to finally draw the curtain on this horrific crime. Not to mention two old people who could come to some understanding of what happened to their beloved children.They, and the rest of us ,would be grateful for that.

simon

14/8/2013 04:15:48 pm

Well said Bob,
I fear that this has gone cold now. No media no new storys . People have forgotten. Has Stuart approached someone like a nick Xenophon? Anything he does will spark a media frenzy.

Stuart Mullins co author Satin Man

18/8/2013 12:05:20 pm

Thank you for your comments . The book is in fourth reprint and a backlog of orders . what may seem quiet is quite loud behind the scenes ? Have a little faith

Email contact esirecruit@bigpond.com

Kevin

19/8/2013 04:14:57 pm

Excellent to hear Stuart. ..haven't read the book yet.. but certainly want to

Harry

20/8/2013 02:45:04 am

Read the book and it was a good read .Read it in one hit.All's fine with this Warwicks admission . What evidence can support his knowledge of where the children are buried? .Wow if there is a bit of conspiracy /cover up behind it as suggested in some websites and shame on those that have .

Ian

20/8/2013 12:38:09 pm

Great read and well researched. As the Satin Man was outed, can anybody identify the other man (his friend / accomplice) who's son also suffered?
I think this is a line of inquiry that deserves more follow-up.

Stuart are you able to update us on what further information (with due anonymity) the publicity from your book has unlocked?

Kevin

22/8/2013 10:51:16 am

I fear that a family connection may gag this?

Tony

22/8/2013 04:22:15 pm

Yes Ian. I can identify the supposed accomplice who always went to Victor Harbor with Harry. He lived in a two story white house across the highway, as stated in the book. He and his wife had no children. This is only one of several examples why SAPOL Major Crime, after investigating the allegations, have found them unsubstantiated.

Haydn

25/8/2013 07:17:21 pm

Ouch.

26/8/2013 05:27:20 pm

I would have to assume that given the book discusses events of 40 plus years ago there are likely to be some inaccuracies. However If I assess the weight of all the corroboratted information re the alleged abductor it seems a very plausible theory. Having said that the abduction of the children seems at odds with the modus operandi of the accused man, given by all accounts he was a predator of young males yet on the other hand his violent behaviour toward his wife and son as depicted in the book could suggest he was driven by cruelty if not his pedophillia. Also Warwick's account of the events of that day are sketchy at best and don't add up. While I tend to believe him I don't think it is the whole truth as he knows it.

Rose

22/8/2013 11:12:22 am

Just an observation and I have read both books by Alan Whiticker and Stuart. Everyone assumes that the pie that Jane bought from the bakery was for the 'man' as this was not her usual order. ( she apparently bought 3 pasties and 1 pie). But I have wondered, her mother Nancy asked her to bring back a pasty for her on the 12 o'clock bus. If we are to assume that the pasties were for the children and the pie was for 'the man' then why didn't she buy one for her mum? ...a bit trivial but it made me wonder.
The comments re the Freemasons are interesting...if you research 'jack the Ripper' you will find some interesting disclosures there.

Craig

24/8/2013 02:18:47 am

I have read both books too and as far as I can see the children purchased "pies and pasties" an "another lunch in a separate bag". I doesn't actually say how many so they may have purchased enough for the man and their mum. Having missed the midday bus if they did purchase one for their mum they must have been expecting a lift from the man as the next bus was not until 2pm by which time Mrs Beaumont would not have been waiting for her lunch you wouldn't think. Just my thoughts.

Craig

24/8/2013 03:05:02 am

Having read both books It's also interesting that the children appear to have waited for the man to get the pound note on the corner of Augustus St and Colley reserve. They were seen waiting for him there and were not seen with him again. It's not a stretch of the imagination to think that he told them to wait while he got changed, met them and gave them the pound (they had their money "stolen") then asked them to get him a pie and meet him back at his place (which is 2 minutes from where they were waiting) where he would give them a ride home.They were not seen with him at the cake shop, a local such as The Satin Man would have avoided going there with them and risking potentially being identified, a stranger to the area wouldn't have cared. The only place he was seen with them was the quiet part of the reserve where there was less chance of being seen with them, in my opinion he deliberately then let them go alone, thus allowing him an alibi ("I didn't leave the beach with the children") if he had been seen with them (which he wasn't) and just waited for them to arrive at his house via the secluded back entrance.

Rose

24/8/2013 08:23:07 am

I don't know if anyone else remembers this from 2007 but there was a program on TV hosted by Steve Liebman about a family who said that their father was involved in the Beaumont children's demise. It was stated by the daughter that her father was a pedophile and belonged to a pedophile ring operating in the vicinity of the Glenelg area. She also stated that she saw the 3 Beaumont children in the boot of her fathers car after her father had received a phone call from a friend earlier in the day and dashed off to meet his friend. If my memory serves me correctly and I apologise if I've got this bit wrong but I think I remember her saying that the children were 'dressed up' and had makeup on. Quite disturbing if you tie it into the revelations of the satin man and his cross dressing fetish.
The story was apparently investigated but no evidence uncovered..so nothing more was heard about it.

elizabeth swaine

25/8/2013 03:44:19 am

Will you people never stop? This book is an obscenity, just like Whiticker's previous book on this terrible tragic case. Mr Whiticker has no thought for the lives he intrudes into and tramples on in his quest for profiting from this appalling tragedy. Mr Whiticker trampled on my life in his previous book and the effects continue to resonate through the years. Let the police do their work and for pity's sake stop exploiting this tragedy. Please stop. I beg you.

Rose

26/8/2013 01:24:18 pm

You can't be serious Elizabeth..this book is hardly an obscenity..and I don't think the intent was or is to profit from the tragedy of the Beaumont children.
A person or persons were responsibible for this terrible crime and if new credible information is bought to light it should be investigated despite the uncomfortable feelings it may bring up in some people.
It is our duty as a society to be an advocate for these poor innocent children who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This whole tragedy changed life as we knew it.

Judith Beaumont

26/8/2013 05:54:47 pm

"Major Crime detectives have formally admitted Harry Phipps was not a suspect in the case and allegations implicating him had been investigated and discounted."
Adelaide Now, 24/8/13.

Alan Whiticker’s states,
“ I’m not an investigator. I’m just a writer.”

Respectable writers of true crime need a judicious researcher who is capable of finding the truth, one without intent on crucifying the dead who cannot speak from their graves. They need a private detective who’s experienced in Major Crime; one who knows the differences between suppositions, disgruntled rumors, conspiracy theories and core evidence.

It is a despicable act to hear another deceptive account based on hearsay and inferences of what appears to be a small revengeful group with rancorous scruples. The smear campaign is a great tragedy, not only for Harry Phipps and many of his family members who cannot speak from their graves, but more importantly for Grant and Nancy Beaumont. They have endured years of pain and tolerated too many hoax stories from people who don’t have a moral compass and conscience. I believe the exploitation, media attention and writings by Alan Whiticker and researcher, Stuart Mullins to be contemptible. Book sales of crime, void of substance and core evidence, should never exceed the importance of falsely accusing and incriminating innocent people. Shame on all involved in rumours, innuendos and lies. Authenticity and integrity shall always triumph over repugnant fabrications.

Andrew

27/8/2013 02:17:39 am

Yes Elizabeth lets just bury the whole case and let the evil killer get away with his evil deed and never be exposed for what he did. The SAPOL organisation seem to be floundering with this case, it has been 47 years and they have got nowhere so if we leave it to them we will indeed bury the case and justice will never be done. Is that what you want? I don't think it is what Australia wants. Is Alan profiting? I know a thing or two about book royalties and I would be surprised if his royalties from this book amounted to even a years average Australian wages. A hell of a way to earn a living. It seems to me that Alan and Stuart are motivated by a desire to give Australia closure on this terrible case, not profit, and I think you will find that most Adelaide residents and Australians in general are cheering them on for doing it.

27/8/2013 05:02:34 am

I'm sorry you feel this way. This tragedy has no doubt affected many people outside of the immediate Beaumont family particularly those who have poured considerable time, effort and emotion into solving this crime. They should all be commended for trying to find peace and justice for the family and for the wider community. Maybe some interest in the case is profit seeking or for entertainment. However I believe the majority of people want justice and that to do or say nothing is an affront to the memory of these innocent victims. I know that personally I think it important to know that credible information is being investigated and that budget cuts are not getting in the way of this. Unfortunately the recent article on the Adelaide oval abductions where the sister of Joanne Ratcliffe has felt she had to go public to get SAPOL to engage with her on certain aspects of the investigation suggests that their are shortcomings. I applaud those who seek the truth; we must be vigilant and we must never give up on justice

Eleanor

26/8/2013 04:35:23 pm

I find Rose’s comments particularly illuminating, she goes from speculating on pies to deciding that the children went from the boot of a car several suburbs from Glenelg to the boot of another in Glenelg (or maybe vice-versa). Both men, supposedly engaged in a heinous crime, were apparently careless enough to allow themselves to be seen by 3 individuals, 6 in total who all happened to remember the event some 40 odd years later.

I have been looking at this site on and off since the story first broke. I also read the story from 2007. Do you people seriously believe these allegations haven’t been thoroughly investigated by SAPOL? Both stories have been fully investigated by the police and they have made statements saying they found no basis of fact in them.

The book The Satin Man does not contain evidence, it is a collection of statements from disgruntled individuals. Evidence would have uncovered the fact (I know it is fact) mentioned by Tony, that the man identified as being Harry Phipps’ friend, whose son was abused had been dead for at least 20 years and was childless. The book is sensationalist claptrap designed to appeal to the gullible.

Simone

8/9/2013 10:43:58 am

Wow, I can't believe the amount of views and comments this particular review has attracted. Feelings obviously are still running very high about this famous mystery and unfortunately the comments and replies have started to contain some abusive and personal messages. For this reason I have closed the comments for this review and will no longer post any replies received. Sorry to those who just want to have their say, but I feel like I just need to close this particular debate. After all this is a book blog and this review is just an opinion from a reader. Thanks for your interest.

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