The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-10-22
HE ACCUSED
WIFE FIRST
Then He Retracted it on His
Deathbed Yesterday
A ST. ALBANS MAN KILLED
Frank Averill Crept to a Neighbor's
House and Said, Josephine Has
Shot Me"-Later He Said She
Didn't Do It at All.

st. Albans, Oct o. Frank Averill, a
peddler, who lived on his farm in the
Tullar district, died at the hospital in
this city last evening at O'Clock from
the effects of shot wound received on
Thursday night. The first known Of
the shooting was when Ayerill appeared
Of the home Of neighbor named Frank
Wells severely wounded and weak from
the loss Of blood. Wells says that
Averill told MIN then that Mrs. Averill,
his wife. had shot him. Later the in
iured man was brought to the hospital
in this city.
Shortly after Averill arrived at the
Wells house Mrs. Averill came, and
neighbors VINO We're present say that
she was very much intoxicated stagger-
ing and falling. The neighbors also say
that the woman, while there, begged
her husband to say that the shooting
was accidental and that the injured
man did tell the doctor that the shoot.
ing was an accident. Until Averill was
brought to the hospital in this city
Mrs. Ayerill remained with him, and no
further statements about the cause Of
the injury were made.
The dead man was about 45 years Of
age He followed his occupation Of ped.
dler, being at home only at nfrequent
intervals. 1t is said that he returned
nome after one of his trips, last Tues
day, and that he stayed about there
till he was injured Thursday. Neigh
bors say that Ayerill was not a drink
ing man but that his wifC Josephine,
was much addicted to the liquor habit,
The couple moved to the Tullar dis
trict only about year ago, and little
is known OF them by their neighbors.
Josephine Has Shot Me"
The authorities have learned that late
Thursday night Averill staggered out Of
his house. clad only in night shirt,
and made his way to the Wells house,
He erept to the steps and aroused Mr..
Wells to whose inquiries he replied:
Josephine has shot me-
The charge of shot that killed Avorill
is supposed TO have passed through a
panel IN their bedroom door, entered the
mans back and come out through his
cheek Beside him in a crib was a three
year.old GIRL their daughter, and as be
fell he struck this crib, bending the
sides and covering the baby with blood.
1t is known that Averill returned
home Thursday with the proceeds of
successful trip, between 500 and $40.
Wells, to whom, it is supposed Averill
gave correct version of the affair, in
ferred yesterday that there had been
quarrel and after the shooting il is
known that Mrs. Ayerilt had the money
in her possession.
From the location of the wound and
the evidences of struggle about the
house, Averill may have fled to the
bedroom and held the door to prevent
his wife from following.
Early Thursday evening, John Bird.
neighbor, with whom the Ayerill family
is intimate. was at the house, and il
is said that general iollidcation took
place Liquor was drunk, it is said, BY
all but Averill. who was a temperate
man, and shortly after the party broke
up the shooting took place.
Mrs Averill was permitted to sit at
her husbands bedside at the hospital
yesterday. She frequently inquired OF
him if he knew her, to which be replied
in the affirmative The last thing he
said before he expired was, Josephine,
I love YOU"
The Ayerills, who have no relatives in
this section, came to this city from sun
apee, n. H., about a year ago. They
lived short time on Fairfield street, (
then bought the Royce Brooks farm in
the Tular district They had paid for
the place with the exception OF 5000,
Averill had been thrice married He
was divorced from his first wife and the /
second one died. A son by a former
is in parts unknown. He was
about As years old and bore good rep
for sobriety and industry His I
wife, slightly his junior, is known 70
have a fondness for intoxicants. and it I
is said that riotous times have taken
place at her home when the husband was
away
Averill seemed to have a strong afrec- !
tion for his wife, but il has also been I
noticed that he, for some reason, was in [
fear of her