Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-18
CHAS, F. AVER SUPPOSED MURDERER,
When Informed Of Buildings Burn
ing His Reply Was to Send Bull
let Into His Own Brain.

farmhouse. Both were so di<iisurcd that
Identification was impossible. The re
mains of one person was That of an adult
and the other that of child. The ruins
OF the main house We're 50 hot 1T a late
hour tonight that the authorities decided
to abandon an attempt to inspect the
debris until daylight tomorrow.
At first there was no suspicion that
murder had been committed, but when
news that Aver had shot himself was re-
Eimball, was notified, and he, together
with Chief OF Police James f.. Rand of
Concord. County Solicitor Clifford and
other officials. FASTENED to the scene
The officials learned that none of the
occupants of the Aver house, with the OK
ccptiOn of Aver himself, had been seen
by the nciGhbors since Monday night Tho
nearest ncighbor, however, Edward Gid
don, who is Il brother of Mrs. I.akcman.
| dred yards distant.
Gliddon states that he saw light in the
house at II o'clock last night Persons
who passed the Aver farm before the fire
this morning say that tho curtains Of the
house were drawn, an unusual circum-
| stance, ana that there were no signs Of
| life about the premises.
Glidden says that about I? a. NJ he
saw team drive out OF tn" yard with
| a single occupant. He thought that the
driver was Aver. although Gliddon said
| tonight that he was not absolutely Ger
| tain on this point. shortly after tn"
! team left the premises smoke was seen
10 issue from the farmhouse, and
| within Il quarter Of an hour the build
| jig was ablaZc Throughout. The
| flames extended from the main house
| to an al and apparently from the ell
Ia a shed ana barn.
| Most of the abb bodied men who live
| in that section are absent from home
| during the day time, and at the time Of
| the fire there was no one ut the farm
houses near the Sccnc except old and
! ipfirm men and women and children.
| Two or three of the old men went to
| the fire. but when thCy reached the
| scene. the ilamcS had attained such
| Roadway that no one could enter the
! house OF make an attempt to rescue
those vino were supposed to be i'll the
| dwelling. The contents Of the barn
|
| farmhouse were destroyed.
Tie Aver place is located in a sec
| tIGn 50 remote from tho center of the
| town that it was late in the afternoon
| before tho authorities knew Of the trhG-
| cdv Even then they did not realize
| the possibility Of a crime until the re-
ccipt Of the news that Aver had shot
| himself Henry I.akeman reached the
ruins during the afternoon and just be-
fore dark the Concord officials took up
| al investigation.
| From what they could learn in tho
darkness they think it probable that
| the inmates of the house died several
| hours before the fire was seen. The re-
port that the curtains had not been
raised in the morning led to tho theory
| that the seven members of the house
| hold were killed some time before day
| light. possibly many hours before.
| Whether the victims were shot or killed
by other means could not he learned to-
night. but there is no doubt in the mind
of the county officials but that horri-
BILE crime was committed.
Aver had not been held in high esteem
| by his neiGhbors since he moved to
North Pembroke from EPSON about three
| years ago. Ayers fathcr-in-law. Isaac
| Lakeman. died just before his removal
The Lakemans had occupied the farm foi
| many years. The Aver family had not
| been in prosperous circumstances in Ep-
som and Mrs. Lakeman. who was admin
istratrix of the estate. invited him to live
| with her and take charge of the farm.
subsequently the property was sold t.
Lafayette Lakeman. one Of Mrs. Lake
mans sons, for 5000. Lafayette Lakeman
however. had not taken possession Of thu
Mace Aver. it appears. did not favor tho
| change and is said to have urged hi:
mother-in-law before the sale to dvid'
the property among her children.
Soon after his marriage to Mrs. Lake
mans daughter. Aver found himself ir
straightened circumstances and wa:
4 obliged to rely upon his wifc's relative
for support. He was a well-educated ma,
, and possessed many talents. but he sci
dom engaged in any regular occupation
Since his removal to North Pembroke h
,,,d received aid from the town. HIS chill
i Continued on Page Two.)