Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-09-11
A TRAGEDY I'm TIL ECAT-
SKILI4S.
Strange Life OF a Reclusc
Numbering his Daughter
and killing Himself.

0Ahu AA6 AAhASGn
In the northern part Of Ulster coun-
ty, New York, on southern spur of
the Catskills, is the mountain of Pine
Hill. The country about it is isolated
and wild, and there is but little COM
munication between it and the more
thickly populated portions Of the coun-
ty, although a railroad running from
Kingston passes through the village.
Near the summit of Pine Hill, the
high elevation of ground from which the
village is named, near what is called the
"horse.shoe" of the railroad, sweeping
as it does 10 that shape about the abb
rupt curve Of the hill, lived until a few
days since an old man named Abram
Symonds The spot was solitary one,
and his only human companion was a
daughter, who superintendent his house,
hold affairs. Symonds was known to
his fellow villagers as quiet and uEas-
suming man. He was, in fact, reticent
to a degree that made the characteristic
an ecccntricity. Another popularity Of
his was the rigorous discipline he en-
forced upon his daughter. About TWEEN
ty years Of age, of progressing person.
al appearance, and naturally bright and
intelligent, she was calculated to attract
to her side the 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
children, he was won't to say, and his
last and youngest could never mary.
Hence he kept her aloof from young So
ciety, and made Of her vcritable recluse
in their mountain home.
Besides the daughter the eccentric old
man had another companion--a large
shepherd dog. Even this was disciplin-
ed in the school of self-deuial. He had
space allotted to him in the small yard,
and beyond that be dared not go. He
was never tied, but so thoroughly had
he been trained that nothing could in
duce him to overstep the limits of his
unenclosed domain without a sign from
bis master. Symonds lived to exhibit
his autocratic power over his household,
but it is not known that he was ever
cruel.
The relations of the father and daugh-
ter were always, so far as outward APP
pearances went, most cordial and pleas
ant The girl seemed to bow to the will
Of her parent without murmnr.
On Friday night last, Nathan Pect, a
son-iu-law of Symonds, called at the
house. Seeing no one about, not even
the dog he began to search about the
premises. Entering the kitchen, he was
horror stricken to see Miss Symonds ly-
ing on the heor in pool Of blood. An
axe lay on 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 the girl up in bis arms. She was
not dead, but gave no signs Of concious-
ness. He removed her to anothsr room,
and summoned aid. A search vas then
begun for Symonds, and for some clue
that would unrayel the mystery sur
rounded the t,rrible affair. After a
short seach, Symonds was traced to the
woods near by His body was found
lying across log, with his throat cut
from ear to ear Lying near the feet
of his lead master was the old shep-
herd dog His jngular was also severed.
From the trail Of blood that could be
seen leading to the log from spot some
twenty feet away. 1t was evident that
the dogs throat had been cut there, but
that he had dragged himself to the feet
of bis old master to die.
An inquest was held, bat nothing
throwing any light on the crime was
obtained The jury found that Symonds
had come to bis death by his own hands
Miss s., monds was still living on
Thursday. Her skull is crushed in. and
she has not yet recovered consciousness.
Drs. Loughran, Allabeen, Decker, and
Winter, who are attending her and have
performed delicate surgical operation
on her head, say that the chances Of her
recovery are one to ten.
Symonds was 65 wears old