PHYLLIS SYMON'S FATE.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18244, 18 July 1931, Page 2

PHYLLIS SYMON'S FATE.

FAMILY GIVES HISTORY. Staying with Old Lady. LETTER FOUND UNDER BED. WRITTEN BY UNHAPPY GIRL. In connection with the death of Phyllis Avis Symons, the parents say that they were not aware of the girl's full intentions when she left home. She was for a long time the "baby" of the family, said the mother, and was of bright disposition, although highly strung and a "trifle headstrong." She had been warned to discontinue certain associations, and practical steps were taken to put an end to them, which were thought successful. She was fond of her own way, and as she had mentioned her possible intention of going to stay with "an old lady," the family was not desperately worried when the girl went out one Sunday in March, taking nothing with her, and failed to return. Family Not Worried. "The family expected she would come back soon enough," continued the mother, "and we thought that she was just showing her independence. We "were waiting for her to return and the door was left unlocked at night. A few days later, when we received a letter from her saying that she was all right and was staying with an old lady for whom she was working, it fitted in with what she had spoken of before she left. She told us she was getting a position." The family continued to hold the opinion tljat the girl would be glad to come back home in the near future. There had been no address given on her letter, and the family, knowing her, considered it likely that she had left it out in order to prevent them from coming for her. Twice later her smallest sister spoke to her in the street.

Some time, afterwards, continued the mother, an acquaintance of the girl came to the house on Saturday night and asked how she was. They replied that she was not at home. He explained that he had been told she had returned. They were immediately very anxious, and information was finally given to the police. This was the beginning of the search for the girl, which ended on Sunday. In the meantime another man brought a letter -\vbich had been fo"nd under a mattress at the place where the orirl -had been sleeping. She had a habit, said the mother, of writing letters and failing to post them. At all events, this letter was of an entirely different kind from her last. It had been written by an unhappy girl, regretting what she had done and wishing that it could be undone again and she could be back home with her family. The letter, with cyervthing else, was made available to the police.