Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-12
Only Circumstantial Evidence
Presented of How Promo
ter Met Death.
AERBACH ALONE WITH HIM
Rifle Could Not Have Been Dis.
charged in Way Described
Motive in Friendship for
Mrs. Fisher.

Baldwin, Mlich.. Dec S-A Jury in tbo
circuit court to-day declared O. Nj. Aer.
bach guilty of first degree murder for the
shooting of his partner. Harry Fisher, a
thicaso business man and promoter
L isHer was killed in the woods near mere
last September while tho two men were
on hunting trip. The case was given to
the jury saturday evening and the verdict
was announced at $50 this morning. Aer-
oach heard the verdict in silence. Sentence
VIII b" pronounced Munday A.rbachs
counsel gave notice OF appeal to the su.
prcme court.
The tria! began last Monday, covering
only six days. All the en1d~".e intro
duccd by the State was circumstantial.
there being no witnesses of the shooting
Fisher, his wife and children and Aerbach
came here late last summer.
on the morning of September 10.
taking with them only a high power
rifle, the two men went into the woods
TO hunt partridge. a short time after
wards. Aerbach rushed into n nearby
farmhouse and reported that Fisher
nal been accidentally shot. Tae dead
mans body was carried to an undar
takers establishment ana, accor ling
to evidence given at the trial. both
Mrs. Fisher and Aerbqch endeavorad
10 have it shipped to Iowa without the
formality of Il coroner's inquest The
inquest was held however, and Aer.
bach was held responsible for the
Isdooting.
AERBACH'S STORY OF SHOOTING
Accor ling to Acrbach's story. while
CT I,.
to roll a cigarette. standing the rifle
against stump. The weapon acct
dentally fell and was discharged. ths
bullet passing through Fishers body.
| Evidence at the trial tended to disprove
this contention. il being shown the bullet
passed through the body in n direction
different from that which would be taken
by missile fired by "A rifle lying on the
ground. 1t also was demonstra ted that
the weapon could not be discharged in
the manner claimed by Aerbach
Fishers life was insured for about
| s200,G0. the policies being made PAYABLE
to his widow. 1t was the theory Of the
prosecution that friendship between
Acrbach and Mrs. Fisher was the motive
for the murder.
FISHER HAD NET REVERSES.
| Chicago. Dec. >.--Tiarry w Fisher was
a promoter here, but had suffered bust
| ness reverses and so far as is known
| here the 240-acre fruit farm tract in Lake
! county. Michigan where he was killed
was the last of his enterprises that he
was active in. AZ the time of his death
comment was made that he carried $40
on life insurance in three companies, al
n M bp tr
in financial difficulties. Representatives
of the companies. however declared that
the policies We're incontestable and that
they would he paid to his estate.
Auerbachor Aerbach. as he also was
known. was in the employ OF Il railroad
here until he left it to become manager
Of Fishers farm He is a son of NJ. Auer-
bach of Washington, d. G., former
director of the Great Northern railroad.
Auerbach formerly lived with his par
ents in st. Paul lie is % years old and a
graduate of Princeton University, %.
DAUGHTER OF MILLIONAIRE.
Mrs Fisher is a daughter of Martin q.
Pattison Of Superior. Wis, farmer sheriff
of the county and former mayor of SUI
pcrior. He is reputcd to be a millionaire
ana has extensive interests in copper and
lumber in the Northwest Mrs. Fisher
has a son nine years old and a daughter
aged five years.
Fisher lived here in expensive style in
handsome apartment in fashionable
ncighborhOod, where Mrs. Fisher contln-
ued to reside after his death. Mr.. Patti
son then came to live with her and took
charge OF her affairs.
several years ago Fisher lost his left
arm in the Academia, discharge Of a shot
gun when he was on a shooting trip in the
Northwest He was paid $500 for this
on $1,000 policy he carried In an acct
dent insurance company.