Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-19
PROBING A MURDER MYSTERY
New Hampshire Authorities Investi-
eating Case wherein Fire Fol-
lowed Death OF seven.

PEMBROKE n H., Jan. 1S--The au-
thorities OF Merrimac 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 day
light many of the townspeople visited the
ruins of the farm house at North Penn
broke, which for three years had been oc-
cupied by Charles L. Aver, his immediate
family and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Isaac
Lskeman Following the murder of Mrs.
l-akcman, Mrs. Aver and the FIVE children
OF the latter. the farm buildings were
burned and the bodies incinerated. Be
fore the fire was discovered by the neigh
hors Aver left home Tor the residence OF
his sister, Mrs. 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 as
certain the exact manner In which his
seven relatives met their deaths.
Aver acted in a strange manner after his
arrival at the Bailey house and the county
officials concluded early in the evening.
after hasty investigation, that he had
murdered all seven members OF his family
as they ICY in their beds late Tuesday
night or early yesterday morning. The
ruins had cooled during the night and a
careful search was instituted for the re-
mains Of five of the victims. Two charred
trunks one OF which is supposed to be that
of Mrs. Lakeman and the other that of a
child. were found in the debris.
The authorities believe that Aver used an
axe or some other noiseless weapon as
they have learned that the neighbors heard
no pistol shots or disturbance OF any kind
from the Aver home previous to the fire.
, They do not expect the details of the
actual commission OF the crime will ever
! be known.
In his investigation of Ayers movements
! yesterday County Solicitor Clifford learned
| that Aver had visited Chichester. where
| he sold his team and purchased the re-
| volver with which he ended his life He
made his appearance at the homo of his
sister. Mrs. Bailey. about o'clock in the
! afternoon, An hour later his neghbor
William III. Fowler. arrived and told Aver
of the burning of his home.
Without a word In reply Aver drew tn.
revolver from his pocket and shot him
self in the head. He never regained con
, seriousness and died at $3.50 o clock in tn,
evening. Further Investigations disclosed
the fact that for three monthhs he hac
/ been prooding over fancied financial wrong
in connection with the settlement of tn
estate of his wife's father, Isaac Lakeman
who died three years ago. The widow wa
named as eXecutriX. No final settlemen
of the estate has been made. however
In November last Mrs. Iakeman put u
the farm at auction and 1t was bought b.
one Of her sons, Fayette Lakeman. II
made an arrangement for Aver and hi
wife 20 remain on the place. having thei
rent free In return for boarding Mrs Lake
man, paying the taxes and making re
pairs. Aver. however. insisted that hi
wife should receive the share OF the pu,
chase money that would be hers as an hei
before she signed the deed to the plac.
To this her brother refused to consen
Aver was angry, but his wife mail
signed the deed. The failure TO obtain thi
; ready money to meet his very pressin
financial needs is believed to have unba
anced Aver mentally.
The search of the ruins resulted In III
finding of the five remaining bodies durin
, the forenoon. All were burned horribl
and II was practically impossible to te
one from another. save that a differenc
in size indicated that OF the mother.