You're listening to the mens rea podcast and this is the story of John George Haig. Oh, On September 9th, 1944, William McSwan met a friend at a pub called The Goat in Kensington, London.

After that, his parents were informed that William had run away to Scotland in order to avoid military duty and was never seen again.

Fast forward to the 2nd of July 1945 and the McSwan's Donald and Amy the parents of

William disappeared. Their landlady was told that they had decided to take an extended trip to America.

In February of 1948, Dr. Archibald Henderson left the Metropole Hotel in Brighton, followed sometime later by his wife

Rose. Their hotel bill was paid, but they were never seen again.

Rose's brother did receive a letter that said Dr. Henderson had performed an abortion, illegal

at the time, and had fled with his wife to South Africa in order to avoid any legal

repercussions.

The next year on February 18th, 1949, 69-year-old widow, Olive Durand-deacon left her home in the Anslow Court

Hotel in South Kensington in London, accompanied by another resident. She was a wealthy 69-year-old widow and had lived in the hotel for a number of years.

She left with a younger man named John George Haig. He was a salesman and an engineer who had been

developing an idea with her for false fingernails.

Olive Durand deacon never returned.

The next day one of her fellow residents at the hotel and friend Constance Lane became worried

about her disappearance. She had not been seen at dinner the night before and was now not present at breakfast. It was unlike Olive to be away overnight without telling her.

John George Haig approached her to inquire what had happened to Olive.

She was shocked.

Surely he would have a better idea as they had been to the factory together the afternoon before.

He stated that Olive had changed their plans and that he was to finish his lunch before meeting her at a nearby shop to travel to Crawley,

but she hadn't turned up in order to go with him to his workshop to inspect materials that might be suitable for the production of false nails.

John said he was worried and helped Miss Lane in her inquiries to try and find Olive.

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