1ºMaybe he lived in a walk-up building. I have pretty large calves. Its probably from walking up the 4 flights to my apartment for decades. There have been numerous cases like this. Look up 'The Mystery of Peter Bergmann' on That Chapter. Then there was a famous case in Oslo from "3 June 1995, a young woman is found dead on the bed in Room 2805 of the Oslo Plaza, shot through the forehead with a Browning 9 mm pistol. She checked in as Jennifer Fergate, but the name was false" .. all labels cut from her clothes.. There was also the case of the Isdal Woman also in Norway, also all labels cut-ff.. Though the one at Oslo Plaza is the more puzzling, imo
2ºThe article looks for reasons for his death
They explore a link that includes ballet.
The deceased mans feet/calf muscles drew attention suggesting he wore either pointed shoes and high heels.
Also, his toenails, manicured? Find me a genre of man who pays this attention to his toenails.
In the 1940s if he were gay/transvestite there might be a reason for suicide. The hidden clue from the book, 'the end'. That is an emotional cry and chosen from an existential book. The meaning of life. He was an artistic and intelligent man.
I'm going to suggest he was a trans man involved with someone at a ballet/theatre company who tired of hiding his identity. The American attire could have come from a performer who travelled, or from wardrobe stock in a theatre.(donated clothing have tags removed)
The man who found the book in his car, he is of interest... I believe the stigma of being associated with a trans man in Australia, being in the national press etc, would deter many from volunteering information.
Ironic, if he was tired of not being able to live freely, openly, as he wished, as he has managed to hide his identity very successfully to date.
I would investigate gay bars/venues looking for photographs of transvestite performers from the 40s. We might find a photo of our man.