John Stonehouse, former British MP, is remembered in history for his politics as well as his complicated personal life. This is the same person who faked his death and that too twice! The first incident was a complete hoax. The incident occurred on November 20, 1974, when Stonehouse’s clothing was found in a pile on Miami Beach. Everyone thought that this British leader drowned in the sea. But this was proven wrong when he was captured in Australia just a month later, on Christmas Eve.
Strange journey from Miami to Australia
Stonehouse was going through many problems at that time when he went to Miami on the pretext of a business trip. Even his family had no idea of his plan to disappear. In the late 1960s, Stonehouse was seen as a rising leader and at the age of 43 he became Postmaster General, but by 1974 his life changed completely. Questions began to be raised on his political image and his financial condition deteriorated due to losses in business deals.
Spy, affair and new identity
In 1969, Stonehouse was accused of spying for communist Czechoslovakia. Apart from this, he also had an affair with his secretary Sheila Buckley. His party Labor Party faced defeat in the general elections of 1970.
Before heading to Miami, Stonehouse stole the identities of two dead men. He first got a passport made in the name of Joseph Arthur Markham, who had recently died in Walsall. He later assumed the new identity of Donald Clive Mildoon, who died in the same area. Along with this, he transferred large amounts of money to several bank accounts to meet the expenses of his new life.
exposing lies
When Stonehouse’s clothes were found in Miami, his wife Barbara considered it a tragic accident. He told the BBC, “I am absolutely certain that it was a drowning accident. “All the evidence we have points to the same.”
However, Stonehouse confessed to his true identity at Melbourne Police Headquarters on Christmas Eve. He called his wife from there and said, “You must have understood now that I was cheating on you. “I’m sorry about that, but in a way I’m glad it’s over.”
Let us tell you that Stonehouse divorced his wife Barbara in 1978 and three years later married his former secretary Sheila Buckley. In 1988, Stonehouse took his last breath, just as he was about to tell his story in a missing persons TV show.
Tags: Local18, Special Project
FIRST PUBLISHED: November 24, 2024, 19:37 IST
