ANNA'S MEMORIAL

In Cairo a collection is being taken for a suitable monument to the murdered girl, Anna Pelley. Anna's older brother, John J. Pelley, published a letter in the Cairo Bulletin which said: "If the people of Cairo wish to give some testimonial to their appreciation of my sister's noble character and life rather than commemorate the manner of her death and what followed it, I would much prefer that they do so by erecting a monument at the cemetery where she lies buried."

In response to Pelley's request, contributions began pouring in from all over the state. Most of the money came in nickels and dimes, but eventually enough was collected to erect a lovely monument which marks Anna Pelley's grave in the cemetery at Anna. Ironically, the cemetery also contains the remains of Henry Salzner who was also a native of Anna.

John J. Pelley, who was eight years older than Anna, was at the time roadmaster for the Illinois Central at McComb City, Miss. Pelley later became a vice-president of the New Haven Railroad and president of the American Association of Railroads, a position he held during World War II.

The murder of Anna had a devastating effect on the Pelley family. Kate Coffman, the sister with whom she lived, and her husband left Cairo and moved to Herrin. Six months after Anna's murder, Kate gave birth to a little girl whom she named Anna Pelley Coffman.

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