Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-18
DIED WITH HIS SECRET
Man Suspected of Numbering
Seven of His Family
IN NORTH PEMBROKE, N. H.
Details of Horrible Tragedy Enacted
There Yesterday.
SUSPECT COMMITTED SUICIDE
Bodies of the Alleged Victims Were
Incinerated in a Fire Which De-
stroyed Their Home
IN NORTH PEMBROKE, N. H.
SUSPECT COMMITTED SUICIDE

PEMBROKE n. H., January 1s-!The au.
thorities of Merrimack county and of the
town of Pembroke today resumed the in
vestigation OF the grim tragedy. in which
seven persons were victims and an eighth
took his own life yesterday. After daylight
many Of the townspeople visited the ruin
OF the farm house at North Pembroke,
which for three years had been occupied
by Charles f. Aver. his Immediate family
and his mother-in-law. Mrs. Isaac Lake.
man
Following the murder OF Mrs Lakeman.
Mrs. Aver and the five children OF the lat.
ter the farm buildings were burned and the
bodies iacinerated
Before the fire was discovered by the
neighbors Aver left home for the residence
of his sister, RMS. George Bailey, IN the
town OF Chichester six miles distant where
he shot himself after being Informed of the
destruction of the property. Aver died
last night without making a statement,
which would assist the authorities to ascer-
tain the exact manner In which his seven
relatives met their deaths.
Murder Is Suspected.
Aver acted in a strange manner after his
arrival at the Bailey house. and the county
officials concluded early I'm the evening,
murdered all seven members of his family
as they lay In their beds late Tuesday
night or early yesterday morning.
The ruins had cooled during the night
and careful search was instituted for me
remains of five OF the victims. Two charred
trunks. one of which is supposed to be that
or Mrs. Lal1eman and the other that OF q
child, were found in the debris.
Believe Murderer Used an Ak.
Tho
an ak or some other noiseless weapon. an
they have learned that the neighbors heard
no pistol shots disturbance of any kind
from the Aver house previous to the fire
They do not expect the details Of the actual
commission OF the crime ever will become
known.
In his investigation of Ayers movements
Yesterday. County Solicitor Clifford learned
that Aver had visited Chichester, where he
sold his team and presumably purchased
the revolver with which he ended his life.
He made his appearance at the home OF
his sister, Mrs. Bailey. about 3 O'Clock in
the afternoon. An hour later his neighbor.
William II. Fowler, arrived and told Aver
OF the burning OF his home.
Without word in reply Aver drew the
revolver from his pocket and shot himself
in the head. He never regained conscious
ness and died at $50 o'clock in the evening.
Had Brooded Over Fancied Wrong.
Further investigation disclosed the fact
that for three months Aver had been
brooding over fancied financial wrong in
connection with the settlement OF the es-
tate OF his wife's father. Isaac Lakeman.
who died three years ago. The widow was
named as executrix. No final settlement
of the estate has been made, however, In
November last Mrs. Lakeman put up the
farm at auction and it was bought by one
Of her sons, Fayette Lakeman. He made
an arrangement for Aver and his wife to
remain on the place. having their rent free
In return for boarding Mrs. Lakeman. pay
ing the taxes and making repairs.
Aver insisted. however, that his wife
should receive the share of the purchase
money that would be hers as an heir be-
fore she signed the deeds to the place. To
this her brothers refused to consent. Aver
was angry, but his wife finally signed the
deeds. The failure to obtain this ready
money to meet his very pressing financial
needs is believed to have unbalanced Aver
mentally.
The search of the ruins resulted in the
finding of all five of the remaining bodies
during the forenoon. All were burned hor-
ribIy and it was practically impossible 10
tell one from another. save that differ
ence In size indicated that of the mother.