The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-12
HALE'S HERMIT LIFE.
The End OF Career Biighted by
Crime Committed in Youth.

The end of melancholy and rather ro-
mantle life was brought TO light Friday
afternoon by two Turner's Falls hunters,
who found the dead body OF Sylvester Hale,
"A Montague hermit, who had lived on DRY
Hill" 4 revolver with one chamber empty
and a bullet-hole in his head explained the
lonely mans death. Medical Examiner
Coy was called, and an examination OF the
body resulted in finding watch, about
$50 in cash, and the revolver.
Hale was about fOrty-two years old, and
had lived alone for some time at the old
Pike place, about two and half miles
from Turner's Falls. He was last seen
week ago yesterday, and 1t IL probable
that he had been dead some time. Many
older residents remember the robbery twenty
wears ago, when sylvester Hale and bis
brother Henry, both OF Franklin county.
stole about $1,000 from Ira Kent, Of Gull
ford, W., and disappeared. About two
wears after the robbery they returned 10
their old haunts, and were arrested
one night while asleep on Brushy
Mountain, in Ievorett, by OF
ncer BRYANT, Of Greenfield, and
rhayer Of Montague. They were taken 70
Vermont tried, convicted and sentenced TO
ten years each in the State prison at Wind
sOr. Henry died in about four years, ana
after serving term Of nine years sylvester
was discharged. lie went hack TO bernard.
,tOn, his native place, but soon aiterward
moved TO Montague, always living alone al
various places and working at odd jobs iOi
those who would give him employment.
since his Imprisonment he seemed broken
down and at times had acted strangely.
Ills neighbOrs all speak kindly OF him and
: ~ that he seemed to be honest and con-
scentOus.
Hale was inclined to a religious turn OF
mind. although he never attended church,
~ he said he was good enough without 20
ing to such places" lie refused to eat
meat, but lived mostly on crackers and
cheese. as he fancied and insisted that al
most everything else was "adulterdted' so
that it would poison him. lie bought u
barrel Of flour few weeks ago, but never
opened it, as ne said he found when he got
IL home that IL was adultt rated.
lie would buy many other things
At the stores, carry them home, and then
throw them away without tasting or cook
Ing. TOR the same reason. lie hardly ever
could be persuaded to eat with any OF the
people for whom he worked, always prefer
ring his own simple diet OF crackers and
cheese. When the influenza was prevalent
last winter he fancied that an Englishman
.ame through that town sowing grip
seeds" which caused the epidemic.
n ale had carried revolver for years,
md when at work in hayng, or at other
business which required only light cloth
ing, he was always careful to keep his vest,
in which he carried it, close at hand, and
would never 90 from one part OF the held u
another without il. He took home new
revolver short time ago, which he had
bought in Greenfield, and he remarked that
he came very near using 1t before
ne got home. lie told one OF the
neighbors few days ago that he
came pretty near popping or Burnham
STATE, another of the nelghbors. ON account
Of little argument on the subject o
ldulteration, Hale claiming that certain
articles were adulterated and Slate insist
ing that they were not. Hale seemed =
grow more and more peculiar during TN
past summer. and the sudden termination
of his lie in this tragic manner was moi
altogether unexpected by his neighbors an'
friends. lie seemed at times quite de
spondent, and imagined that he had 81
friends, and that every one was trying U
poison him. Although without family
Hale left relatives in Notwithstanding
field Republican.