Alexander County IL Archives News.....Phyllis GRAMMAR Taken From River June 3, 1911
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Karima Allison quest@insightbb.com July 8, 2006, 2:32 am

The Republican Newspaper, Cape Girardeau, MO June 3, 1911
Phyllis GRAMMAR, the woman who disappeared from the levee front house some few

days ago, was taken from the river at Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, Ill.,

Friday.  The body was in such condition that there is an apparent difference

between the description furnished by the ferryman who found it and the

description known by the acquaintances of the woman in this city.



The one difference which at first seemed to indicate that the body was not that

of Mrs. GRAMMAR was the age.  Those who took the body from the water estimated

that the woman had been about 25 years of age. Mrs. GRAMMAR is known to have

been at least 40 and possibly 45 years of age, although she looked younger.  The

influence of the water in puffing the face and making it look younger is

believed to have led the Mississippi County authorities in deciding that she was

about 25.



In all other respects, the identification marks tally with those of Mrs.

GRAMMAR.  The body had long black hair, a shirt waist, a black calico skirt,

stockings but no shoes.  These particulars coincide with those of Mrs. GRAMMAR

the day she disappeared.  She had raven black hair which was long and flowing. 

The waist and the skirt she wore around the house were like those in the

description and her stockings were missing from the room, but her shoes were

found at the bed side.



Mrs. GRAMMAR moved into the two-room apartment at the read of the third floor

building, 107 Water Street several weeks ago and her son Robert lived with her.

 Shortly after moving there, she became ill and was confined to her bed. Two

other families living on the third floor saw her frequently and knew that she

was suffering and that she was keeping to her bed most of the time.   She had a

slight attack of dropsy, from which she had suffered before at times.  Then her

son was taken down ill and was forced to stay in bed for several days.  She got

up at times and waited on him.



The family was apparently in very unfortunate circumstances and the woman

grieved considerably.  The neighbors knew that she was despondent and after she

disappeared, her son, in speaking about her, said that she had told him

frequently that she felt like going to the river and jumping in and ending her

suffering.



Her threat was no idle vaporing of the half-ill or slightly afflicted, but the

neighbors say that they believe she was sincere when she made it and really

believe she was contemplating taking her life for sometime.  They are convinced

that the body taken from the river opposite Cairo was that of Mrs. GRAMMAR.



The morning she disappeared an inspection of her room was made by her son.  It

was remarked then that the shoes were at the bedside while all her other

daily-worn clothing was gone.  That seemed peculiar but the son made no comment

to his neighbors of any fear that his mother had jumped in the river.   He said

that she had never gone off and left him before in that manner and he could not

understand her disappearance. No one thought at that time that she had jumped

into the river.  No one saw her leaving the place but she is known to have been

in the place as late as 4 o'clock in the morning.  That was about two weeks ago.



The body was taken from the river Friday by B. F. Bennett, a ferryman at Bird's

Point.  He heard at Cairo that a woman was missing from this city and wrote to

the police here, giving the description of the body.  he said that the body had

been buried on the bank near where it was taken from the water.



Mrs. GRAMMER was born and raised on the north of the county on Indian Creek and

later moved to Jackson and then to this city.  She wandered around at times,

living in one place and then another.  Since her disappearance, her son is

supposed to have gone to Caruthersville.  A daughter is the wife of Quincy GRAY

of Illinois, formerly a policeman of this city.

Additional Comments:
Phyllis Ann (nee McCLARD) GRAMMAR was the daughter of William G. R. McCLARD

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/alexander/newspapers/phyllisg6nnw.txt

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