Another version of plate bracelet found on larger victim. See other version with text. Can you identify it? 

Plate bracelet found on largest boy. This bracelet has only been shown in 2 newspaper articles in more than 50 years and, in one, it was shown upside down. There appears to be 3 small dogs on it - or, 2 small dogs and a sitting rabbit (?) in the middle. See other version. Can anyone identify it?  

(Top) Woman's shoe. (Middle) Child's shoe. (Bottom) Woman's shoe (same shoe, different angle). 

(Top) Child's belt. (Bottom) Child's lunch box. 

(Top) "The Murder Weapon" A Lather's Axe. (Bottom) Pieces Of Flying Helmets 

Photograph of site where skeletons were found. Note 2 vehicles on Park Drive in background and what appears to be skeletons in foreground. Sorry for quality of photograph (a photograph of a 1953 photograph).

(Top) Reservoir Trail near where skeletons were found. (Bottom) Eastern entrance to Reservoir Trail - photographer standing on Pipeline Road (photographs, 2003). 

(Top) Western entrance to Reservoir Trail (near hairpin turn on Park drive). Skeletons were found 50 yards from Reservoir Trail and 100 yards from Park Drive. (Bottom) Near area where skeletons were found (2003 photograph).

The Vancouver Sun, Thursday, January 15, 1953

Two Mystery Skeletons Found By Workman in Stanley Park

Two Children or Woman and Child


Two human skeletons were found by workman in Stanley Park about 10:30 a.m. today.

The workman told The Vancouver Sun they believed the skeletons to be those of two children or a child and a woman.

Near the skeletons was a small rusty hatchet, which looked like a hunter's axe.

The gruesome remains were covered with what appeared to be a woman's raincape and a good deal of earth and leaves.

On the skull of the smaller skeleton was an aviator-type helmet such as a small boy would wear. Nearby was a lunch bucket such as children take with them to school.

Also near the bones was a man's boot.

Found Lying Feet-to-Feet

The skeletons were lying in an almost straight line , with their feet close together.

Actual discovery of the remains was made by Albert Tong, 2510 Eton, a park Board employee for the past 15 years, who was working with a gang clearing brush about 100 yards off the main park driveway and about 500 yards from the causeway.

There were two pairs of shoes near the remains, one pair larger than the other. Both pairs were of the oxford type and had been soled with white rubber.

Tong said the skeletons were covered with leaves and some brush, but he was unable to determine if they had been buried.

Death Cause Probed

Police were on the scene immediately and started a thorough search of the area in an effort to determine the cause of the deaths.

The remains were taken to the city morgue where they will be examined by Dr. T. R. Harmon, coroner's pathologist, detectives and Dr. John Whitbread, coroner.

Police were unable to say how long the bodies had been in the park bush, but they believed
it to have been some time.

Missing persons bureau officers at police headquarters are checking their files in an effort to locate the names of two children or a woman and a child who have been reported missing and never discovered.

Original article in The Vancouver Sun, January 15, 1953 (see text)  

The Vancouver Province, Thursday, January 15, 1953:

Skeletons Hint Murder of Girl, Boy

Stanley Park Scene of Find

Leaves, Coat Covered Bodies of Youngsters, 10 And 12

Murder is suspected by police after the skeletons of a boy and a girl - about 10 and 12 years of age - were found today buried under leaves and an oilskin coat in dense brush in Stanley Park.

Police said foul play was a definite factor as a hole was found in the head of one of the skeletons. Both skeletons were weather-worn.

Bones and remains of clothing were removed from the scene to the police crime laboratory at noon as other officers began a search of missing persons' records. The spot where the skeletons were found is 150 yards from the top of the hairpin bend on the main Park drive, 300 yards short of the junction with the Lion's Gate bridge road.

They were discovered by veteran Park Board forestry man, Albert Amos Tong, of 2510 Eaton.

He said:" I was working over there clearing the brush for tree planting. On Tuesday I walked over the spot and heard a loud crack as my foot went on a bundle of leaves.

"Too Busy"

I went back and told my friends: 'It looks like there is someone buried there.' But I did nothing about it as I was too busy.

"Then this morning I went over and raked at the leaves. I saw a skull with a boy's cap on it, so I went for the police, then helped them bring the rest of the bones to light."

It was easy to identify them as a boy and a girl, he said, because of the clothing. There were quite a few scraps left, together with the shoes.

Head to Foot

The skeletons were lying side by side, with head of one near the feet of the other. Over them was spread what was left of a black oilskin coat. This was covered with about six inches of leaves.

It was impossible to say whether the leaves had been placed there, or just fallen from the trees, said Mr. Tong.

He said the police estimated the children died between one and two years ago. "And they sounded pretty sure it was murder."

Police were puzzled as to how two children could vanish in the park without causing a widespread search. There has apparently been so such search recently.

Co-operation of all persons who may have heard of sudden disappearance or strange absence of children is being sought to aid identification efforts.

Until this morning Vancouver City Police had only one unsolved child murder. That came in October, 1947, when seven-year-old Roddy Moore was brutally murdered in a vacant lot near his home at 3174 East Eighth. Intensive investigation failed to bring a single strong lead in the case.

Original article in The Vancouver Province. January 15, 1953 (read text)