Tragic Fate of Small Boy Who Went Missing

Chronicle (Levin), 12 February 1948, Page 6

Tragic Fate of Small Boy Who Went Missing

Pr€ss Association J

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1 CHRISTGHUKCH, Eeb. 11. ; The body of Leslie James Boswell, aged- 34 years, who went missing on Monday afternoon, was foimd at, 11.30 a.m. today among dense scrub beldw Clifton Terrace, Sumner; " The child had suffered severe head injuries-. A bloodstained Stone was foulid near where the body was lying. When it was reported to. the polica. yesterday niorning. that the boy was missing, search parties of deteetives and uniformed polic'e were organisedw The areas at and near Sumner- were searched 'but particular attention was directed to the locality when a cliild 's sun hat was fbund in 'a eulvert uif Clifton Terrace last evening. • Tlie search was interrupted by darkiiess but when it was resumed this niorning, the searchers concentrated on a large patch of gorse and^ lupins. While they were cjitting tlieir way th rough this scrub with axes and slashers, Constable E. Dwen came upon the body of a child lying close to a fence about 25 feet from the side of the road and down the face of a steep bank. After the coroner and patholog'ist had viewed the body and the area was thoroughly searched by the police, the bodv was removed to the jmblic mortuary at Christchurch where a post-mortem examination is to be made by Dr. Stewart. AVhen Constable Dwen found the body it was lying face downward. A trail of blood extended from a few feet below the level of the road tc where the body was found. The qhild's stpp-father, Hr. W. E. Cooper, said in a statement to the police today, that he and his wife took the boy to Sumner on hlonday. He took the boy towards the slrops at the tram terminus at Scarborough and about 4.30 p.m. the boy left liim to return to Mrs. Cooper who was sitting on the beach 40(\ or 5(10 yards: awhy. It was yesterday morning that the police were notifled that the boy was missing and after hearing Mrs. Qooper's statement, Senior Sergeant J. J.iKearns immediatelv instituted inquiries.