PELLEY MURDER, Part 2

Alexander County, Illinios Genealogy Trails

Contributed by Frank Beasley

OFFICERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE MURDERER OF MISS PELLEY, THE SALES LADY, IN CUSTODY

STRONG TALK OF LYNCHING THE NEGRO WAS HEARD IN CAIRO THIS MORNING

November 10, 1909

News of the horrible murder of Anna Pelley has spread all through Cairo and made banner headlines in newspapers throughout the state.

Bloodhounds from Harrisburg was put on the track, and they too followed the scent to 2415 Poplar St. At 5 p.m. yesterday the police arrested Will "Frog" James, a drayman for the Cairo Coal & Ice Co. James said that he had been out delivering coal on the previous night. But on checking his alibi, the police decided that James' account of his whereabouts between six and seven o'clock, the time when Anna met her death, could not be substantiated.

The sense of outrage has reached a fever pitch and a mob has already gathered, determined to take speedy vengeance upon the accused "Frog" James. Notified that a mob was forming, Police Chief M. S. Egan hurried to the scene and told the crowd that the police were not yet sure they had the right man in custody. James has not confessed to the crime and the police are still searching his house for Anna's pocketbook, the red material and a gold cross which she always wore on a chain around her neck. So far, the only evidence the police have against James is the fact that the bloodhounds had sniffed their way to his house.

FUNERAL MASS FOR MISS PELLEY

November 11, 1909

On Thursday morning, November 11, a funeral mass was held for Anna Pelley at St. Patrick's Church in Cairo. In preaching the sermon, Fr. J. J. Downey gave the mourners some prophetic advice which they chose to ignore: "Unhappy and unfortunate is the community that does not respect the laws of the land, and permit me to tell you," said the priest, "that the laws will not be respected unless they are enforced. Honest judges and honest juries constitute the foundation of the peace and happiness of a people because they have the administration of the law, and when the law is justly administered then it commands respect. Then every citizen bows his head to the majesty of the law."

Following the morning funeral in Cairo, the body was taken to St. Mary's Church in Anna where another funeral was held.

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