South Yorkshire Times, January 18, 1958

Police Drag the Canal in Vain

Walking  over the canal bridge at Kilnhurst on Sunday afternoon, five year old Arthur Dennedy  of 28 Springfield Road, Kilnhurst saw a boy about his own age throwing sticks into the canal.

Arthur shouted to the boy that it was dangerous, and because the boy took no notice Arthur walked into nearby  Glasshouse Road to warn him, but when he reached the spot where he had seen the boy. there was no one there.

Saw Bubbles

Arthur told a “South Yorkshire Tittles” reporter this week that when he reached the canal bank he saw bubbles rising to the surface of the water, so he immediately told passers- by.

“I told two men about the boy, but they didn’t believe me, and then I told another man. He said. “Don’t believe him he’s only a kid.”

I came home.” Arthur said. Arthur told his grandparents. Mr. and Mrs Arthur Myers and a 999 call brought the police to the scene.

Throughout Sunday afternoon police dragged the canal without finding anything while other officers in a patrol car toured the streets asking through loud speaker if any child was missing from home.

Dragging operations were not resumed on Monday. and a police cer said. “It is probable that the other boy left by another route while Arthur was going round to reach the canal bank.” There have been no reports of a child missing from his home in the surrounding district.

Arthur who attends Kilnhurst National School told a reporter that the boy he saw wore a long overcoat and was just a shade taller than he was himself.