DOG'S HELP VAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22917, 21 December 1937, Page 10

DOG'S HELP VAIN

ILITTLE boy drowned CLOTHES TORN OFF i MOTHER'S TRAGIC DISCOVERY [from OUR OWN correspondent] '' SYDNEY. Dec. 17 Investigations by detectives into the causes of the death of a three-year-old boy, found dead on the bank of Lane Cove River, Sydney, led to the conclusion that his fox-terrier pet had made frantic efforts to save him from drowning. The boy, Michael Hardy Corfeett, had been seen crossing the road to an area of bush directly opposite his home and stretching down to the river. He had his scooter and was accompanied by Dinkie, his fox terrier. After he had been absent for some time the child's mother became alarmed. She could not find him or the dog in the usual places where they played. She sought the assistance of Mrs. Williams, her neighbour. They bad not been looking long when Mrs. Corbett, peering over a ledge of rock toward a narrow cave which overlooks the river, exclaimed: "There he is, down there on the rocks, but he is naked." Mrs. "Williams climbed down to where the body was and found his clothes torn in shreds on a rock some distance away. He was dead.

Puzzling Features "The fox , terrier bounded up from where the body was, as if to direct me to where the child was~ lying," she said. At first the police were puzzled by several features which suggested that the child had been attacked and then thrown over a'cliff into the river. The bov's naked body was covered with incisions, and the fact that his clothes were found torn to shreds and covered with seaweed on a rock near his body excited suspicion. These injuries led a doctor who first examined the body to believe that they had been caused by a maniac. A post-mortem examination enabled the police to abandon a possible theory that the boy had been attacked and then murdered. The Tragedy Reconstructed The police reconstructed the tragedy. They believe that the little boy ivas playing on the banks of the river when he slipped and fell into the water. His dog jumped in after him, and tried to tow him to safety. The dog, however, was unable to grasp his master, and tried to tow him by his clothes. These were ripped and torn off. They drifted to the edge of the water where they were left by the falling tide. The dog's frantic efforts to seize the boy were indicated by the great number of teeth marks all over his body. The boy was drowned before the dog succeeded in dragging him ashore, v here his barks attracted the attention of the searchers.