Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-18


authorities consider as the most APP
paling tragedy ever recorded i'm NV
Hampshire. was enacted in North Penn
broke today. Following the destruc-
ton of the farm buildings of Charles
+. Aver ana the disappearance of sew
en- members of Ayers household this
forenoon, and the suicide of Aver late
this afternoon at the home q his sis
ter in the town of Chichester, six miles
distant. the announcement was made
tonight by Thomas +. Clifford. county
solicitor of Merrimack county. that
there was little doubt but that the
seven persons had been murdered and
the farmhouse set on fire.
The theory Of the county authorities
is that Aver was the murderer, but up
to late hour they had been unable to
find any evidence to indicate TIE
methods employed to wipe out the
family. Whether the victims We're shot
or killed by other means cannot be
told until the medical referee has made
AN examination of the remains of the
victims. Up to Il late hour but TWO of
the charrcd fragments ri the victims
had been recovered. although persons
who visited the scene of the fire
thought that they observed two other
trunks in the blazing ruins.
Tho victims Of the tragedy We're.
Charles +. Aver. aged 10. killed him
self by shooting.
Mrs. Addic Aver, his wife.
Mrs. Isaac Lakcman, Ayers moth
cr-in-laW.
FloSSjc Aver. aged T..
Alfred Aver. aged 10.
I!crl!icc Aver. aged 6.
Andrew Aver. aged 4: ana a girl
baby, all children OF the Ayers.
County Solicitor Clifford. after in
vt%tia&ting the fire as far as WAS pos
sb!e tonight, stated that Aver had I'M
doubtedly murdered the entire family
and later set fire to the house.
The Gre occurred about ? o'clock This
forenoon. Before the flames were
noticed by the ncighbors who lived
some distance from the farm. Aver
drove to the home Of his sister, Mrs.
George Bailey. who lives on the North
wood Turnpike i'll tho town of ChichCS-
Ter, about six miles northeast of lis
home Aver arrived at his sists S
house just after 10 O'Clock and had dtan-
ncr He remained at Mrs. Bailcv's
place during the afternoon.
At o'clock William Fowler, one Of
Ayers nearest ncighbors, went to the
BAILEY place and informed Aver that
his buildings had been burned.
Aver manifested some agitation. but
made no statement ut to what he would
do. IiS;oad. he drew revolver and
pointing it at his right temple, fired,
and fell unconscious.
AS soon as the members Of the house
hold recovered from the shock. they
sent for a physician but nothing could
be done to save the mans life ana he
expired tonight.
The selectmcn of the town of Penn
broke were notified of the tragic ending
and their chairman. Mr.. Johnson. immc
diately communicated with the authori
ties at Concord.
peculiar incident in correction witt
the affair was the discovery OF the fir
by Henry J. I.akcman while ut work il
Tie corriaSe factory of the Abbott-Down
ing co. in Concord, a distance of tiv,
miles across country. I.akeman is a soi
OF one of the women who persisted in the
fire and was a brother-in-law of Aver.
The Aver place was located on hSi
hill and the smoke was distinctly sccH
in Concord. Lakcman thought that the
fire might be on the Aver farm. which
for many wears had been occupied by ths
Lakcnan family. and as soon as he re
coivcl confirmation of his fears from the
county officials there he went to Nortf
Pembroke.
As soon as Lakeman arrived at TN
ruins he made n careful investigat ton and
found two bodies, both in the ell OF tn