The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-01-18
SUICIDE FOLLOWED
BURNING OF HOUSE
Charles Aver, His wife, His
Mother in Law, And Five
Children Are Dead And
The First Named Is Thought
To Have Been Murderer.

Pembroke, M H. Jan, 1s. The bodies
Of fve more victims oi the Ayers hag-
edy, in which Chatles Aver killed his
entire household and then set fire to
the home yesterday, ending the blood
she'd with bis own suicide, we're recoy
cred from the ruins of the farm house
this morning. They we're badly ehaned
That Aver cut the throats 81 his seven
victims with razor while they we're
asleep is the opinion OF tile authorities
here.
Following the destruction Of the farm
buildings ard the disappearance u seven
members of the household in The fore.
noon, and the suicide Of Aver late nj the
afternoon at the home Of his sister IN
The town Of Chichester, six miles distant,
the announcement was made last night
by Thomas +. Clifford. county solicitor
OF Merrimue comfy. that there was lit
tie doubt but that the seven persons
had becu murdered and the farm house
het on fire
Fhe theory Of the county authorities
Is that Aver was the murderer but they
are uusile 10 fnlI any evidence 10 iHdi
cate the methods employed to wipe ont
tie family.
Fire Discovered by Neighbor.
The circumstances of the ire seem
shrouded II mystery. fhe last sign Of
life noticed about tic house was az eey-
cn O'Clock last night, when i light was
seen moving about Mrs. I.aEemau was
not feeble woman. and her relatives
think Il strange that she vas unable
to make her e.e8pe from the burning
house. The FIRE WAS discovered BY a
neighbof but It's hcadwaY was then 80
great that nothing could he done to save
the buildings and they burned very rap
idly.
For inc Il was thought that Aver
had persisted in the flames, but last night
word was received that he had been
found IN the town Of Chichester. six
miles northeast Of his home, He had
shot himself twice III tie bead late IN
the afternoon, one 81 the bullets passing
through the right temple. Il Il said
that shortly before tlie shooting Aver
had sold tie team with which he drove
from Pembroke.
Victims of the Tragedy.
The victims of the tragedy were;
Charles I. Aver aged So, kjllcd him.
sell BY shooting
Mrs. Adlie Aver hls WIFE,
Mrs. isaac Lakeman, Ayers mother
in-lan.
Fiossie Aver, aged IL.
Alfred Aver, AGED 10.
Bernice Aver, aged g.
AndleN Aver. aged 4, aEd o Girl baby.
all children Of the ayers
County Solicitor Clifford after intesG.
eating the trr as 4sr as WAS possible.
last night. stated That Aver had in
dou5tcaly murdered the entire fainilyI
and later set fire 81 The house
The First Suspicion.
AZ first there were no suspicious that
murder had been committed, but when
news TINT AVER had shot himself was
received, sheriff kimhall was notified
aud he, together with Chief of Police
james u. Rand of Concord. County So
lieituI Clifford ard other Officials hasten
Ell to the sccne,
The official lealned that none of the
occupant OF the Aver house, With Tic
execution OF Ayer himself. had becn seen
BY tho reighbofs since Monday night
The nearest ncieEher however, Edward
Glidden. lives several hundred yards dis
tant. Gliddcn -tated thai he saw a
HIGHT III the house at eleven o'clock tues
day night Persons who paced the
aver farm before the fire yesterday
morning say that the curtains of the
house wcse drawn. an unusual circlmr
stance, and that there were no signs
of tie about the premises.
Cliddrn says that about . a. M. yes.
terday hc saw team drive out cf the
ward lwit single occupant ne thought
fhat the 8tiycr was Aver although tlid
den said last night HAT ID WAS not
absolutely ceftsm Oh this point. Short
IL after tbe team left The premises.
SMOKE was seen to issue from the fa1n
house.
SAID Re Was in Trouble.
II a6s ioaned that whcn Aye 81
rived 4 thc home af Mrs, george Halley,
his sistci. hc said te lici' husband
5s All III with ine, George
When Bailey asked us byotherinlew
what De ncanl Aver vephcdi 'c, ne
had trouble
BE refused 70 make amy explanation.
The Bailoys cay that his msnaer was
somewhat strange from the ting of his