The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-09
A CURIOUS CHARACTER.

ROMANTIC TRAGEDY IN THE cATskILLs-A
MAN STRIKES DOWN HIS DAUGHTER, KILLS
THE FAMILY DOG AND SUICIDES.
The strange life and tragic death of a re-
cluse is thus reported in the New York Sun:
In the northern part of Ulster county, on a
southern spur OF the Catskills, is the noun
tain hamle. of Pine Hill. The country
about it is isolated and wild, and there is but
little communication between il and the
more thickly populated portions of the
county, although railroad run
ming from Kingston passes through
the village. Near the summit
of Pine Hill, the high eieva-
ton of ground from which the village is
named, near what is called he Horseshoe"
OF the railroad. sweeping as it does in that
shape about the abrupt curve Of the bill,
lived until a few days since an old man
named Abram Symonds. The spot was
solitary one, and his only human compsu-
ion was daughter who superintendent his
household affairs. Symonds was known 10
his fellow villagers as a quiet and uuas-
Stunning man. He was, in fact, reticent to a
deGree That made the characteristic an &C.
cantricity. Another popularity of his was
the rigorous discipline hs enforced upon his
daughter. About twenty years oiage, of
PREPossEssING PERSONAL APPEARANCE,
and naturally bright and intelligent. she
was calculated to attract to her side this best
of the village youths. Several OF them had
at different times essayed TO court the young
lady, but her father invariably dismissed
them each and all. He had parted with all
his other children, he was wont TO say, and
his last and youngest could never marry.
Hence hs kept her aloof from young society,
and made of her a veritable recluse in fhsir
mn rof hnn pacfA o1s . ,al
eccentric old man had another companion
"a large shepherd dog. Even this was dis
ciplined in ths school of self-denisl. He had
a space allotted to him in the small ward
and beyond that he dare not 60. He
was never tied. but so thoroughly had he
been trained that nothing could induce him
to overstep the limits OF his unenclosed do
main without a sign from his master. SYM
onds liked to exhibit bis autocratic power
over his household, but it is not known that
he was ever cruel. The relations of the
father and daughter were always, so far as
outward appearances went, most cordial and
pleasant. The girl seemed to bow to the
will of her parent without murmur. On
Friday night last, Nathan Peet, son-in.law
of Symonds. called at the house. Seeing no
one about, not even the dog, ne began TO
search about the premises. Entering the
he was horror-stricken TO see Miss
Symonds living on the floor in pool of
blood. An axe lay on a table in the room,
COVERED WITH BLOOD.
Nothing was disturbed, showing that there
had been no struggle of any kind. The
young woman had evidently been stricken
down from behind. Mr.. Peet lifted thu girl
up N his arms. She was not dead, but gave
no signs of consciousness. He removed her
to another room, and summoned aid. A
search was then begun for Synonds, and for
some clue that would unrsyel the mystery
surrounding the terrible sffair. After
short search, Symonds was traced to the
woods near by. His body was found living
across log, with his throat cut from ear 10
ear. Lying near the feet of his dead master
was the old shepherd dog. His jugular
was also severed. From the trail OF blood
that could be seen leading to the log
from spot some twenty feet away, it was
evident that the dogs THROAT had been cut
there, but that be had dragged himself to
the feet OF his old master to die. An inquest
was held, but nothing throwing any light
on the crime was obtained. The jury found
that Symonds had come to his death by his
own hand. Miss Symonds was still living
on Thursday. Her skull is crushed In, and
she has not yet recovered consciousness.
Drs. Loughrsn. Allsbeen, Decker, and Win
ser, who are attending her and have per-
oTmed delicate surgical operation on her
read, say that the chances of her recovery
ire one TO ten.