Evening star., 1932-08-13
TRAGIC FUTILITY MARKS LIFE
OF WILD MAN, IN NATCHEZ CASE
Son of Clergyman Began Aristocratic
Career With High Promise-Now
Faces Murder Charge.

NATCHEZ. Miss, August 13 (N.AN.
A.).-The story of Richard Dana Is a
human document of tragic futility. 1t
reveals the "evil days" in which the
aristocratic scion Of one Of the leading
families of the old South has fallen
and the strange turn of destiny which
entangled his life in mesh Of circum-
stances which have brought him to
Jail on q charge Of murder.
Not always was the shaggy and un-
kempt wild man OF the woods looked
upon as today. In the white glare Of
publicity following the bizarre murder
of Miss Jane Surget Merrill. wealthy
Of distinguished minister OF the Epis-
copal Church, member Of the fam
lily Of the great Charles Dana. the
Journalist, and distant relative OF
the famous artist, Charles Dana Glib
son-and his guardian, Miss Octavia
Dockery. THE goat woman" as the
daughter of Brig. Gen. T. p. Dockery.
DISTINGUISHED officer of the Confed-
crate Army in the war between the
States.
Search of the musty old structure
known locally as goat castle" which
Dana and Miss Dockery inhabited in
common with herd OF goats. ducks,
chickens and pigs. has in large meas
ure confirmed his personal story OF his
life. Regarding his history, Dana said:
Born In Rectory. s-e r.
"I was born in Natchez, December
is, 1870. in the Episcopal rectory. My
father was Rev. Charles Bacus Dana,
rector of Trinity Church from 1866 to
1873 In growing up I attended the
local schools of Natchez, was graduated
from the Chamberlain Hunt Academy
at Port Gibson. and attended Wander
bilt University at Nashville, Tenn, for
two years.
For a time studied music in New
York and sang in the choir of Christ
Church Before my hand was injured
by falling window. I had considerable
reputation as a pianist. In my young
days my musical ability made me So
cial favorite I was much sought after
because I could entertain In draw
ing rooms. / was fond of society,
prided myself on my appearance, and
considered myself a man of parts. I
did not shun social contacts in those
days+I sought them; for it was i'm
pressed upon my mind that no true
Southern gentleman could be stick. !"
When asked regarding rumor that
disappointment In love affair had
caused him to let his hair and beard
go uncut, he hinted at romance in
the mountains of New England but de-
clared that his sweetheart had died. and
indicated that brooding over this and
the injury which manned his hand and
ruined his career as musical artist
had caused him to seek the seclusion
of the woods of Glenwood. his country
home, which adjoins the estates Of Miss
Jane Surget Merrill, known as Glen
burney.
Denies Shock Was Cause.
Dana denies that his eccentricities
developed following shock. which,
according to the legends of NatcheZ,
caused him to climb to the top of the
two-story antebellum mansion or
Glenwood. now tumble-down struc-
ture, known as Goat Castle. and to
remain upon the roof of the building
for two days and two nights. This
story he attributes to a practical JOKE
when a party of friends 'waylaid" him
and by the firing of pistols In mock
hold-up caused him to run through
the woods
For years past 1t has been the GUS
tom Of Dana to disappear for long IN
tervals of time, and. while he kept In
touch with his guardian, Miss Dockery,
at Goat Castle, hunters were the only
ones who encountered him In the
woods. Quite often his only attire was
q gunnysack, and this, with his habit
Of lodging behind q tree to avoid OBJ
servation, and his long hair and beard,
caused him in time to be known as
"the wild man."
Sometimes, when he could not elude
the hunters, they asked him:
"Dick Dana, why are you hiding?"
Would Deny Identity.
His invariable reply would be:
This is not Dick Dana, Dick has
gone to New York to sing in the choir
Of Christ Church"
Dana SAYS that Miss Dockery, his
guardian, came into his life in 1892,
when her sister, whom he held in high
esteem and close friendship, passed
away. He declares that he swore to
the sister on her death-bed that he
would protect Miss Dockery, even at the
loss of his life. and would exact ven-
geance upon any one who harmed or
injured her in any way.
The wild man" denies that there
ever was any romantic attachment be-
tween himself and the goat woman,
who Is now go years old.
At Glenwood. or Goat Castle, the
chief occupation of Miss Dockery was
caring for a large herd Of goats, which
had free run of the place. even to oc-
cupying the large hallway OF the struc-
ture, or climbing the winding stairway
to frolic on the porch OF the upper
gallery.
Goats Caused Friction.
Depredations of the goats on Glen
burney. the estate of Miss Merrill, and
the occasional shooting Of an animal
by Miss Merrill with the rifle she used
with unusual skill, kept the recluse, who
was the daughter Of former Ambas-
sador to Belgium, continually engaged
in strife with the goat woman" Liti-
CATION over the goats caused almost the
only known public appearances of Miss
Merrill. and 1t was due to an unusually
bitter clash over b ats few days before
the tragedy as weH as an old Army coat
AA nf tha uhaPo