New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-01
NOISE SO DEADENED,
SON DOESN'T AWAKE
No Sound Reaches Next
Room When the Fatal
Shots Are Fired.
BOY FINDS BODIES
AND FATHERS NOTE
Realty Man Said to Have Been
Unbalanced by Reverses-Was
Formerly Well.to-Do.

The use Of Maxim silcuccr on a
frearm as an aid to uninterrupted
murder was featured in a play that
was the biggest hit on Broadway about
a year ago. That drama Of the stage
was adapted successfully TO life yes
terday morning, when Herman Auer.
bach shot and killed his wife, his two
daughters and himself with a silcncer
equipped rife, which destroyed its vic
Tins so quietly that Auerbach's son
and a servant, in rooms close By, slept
peacefully through the action Of the
tragedy.
Not person in the nine story f.
beron Hall apartment, at 3S5 Central
Park West, knew Of the quadruple
killing until at leas, two hours after
Auerbach had sat himself in bed near
his dead wife and put bullet throug
the roof Of his mouth. He bought the
rife nine days before.
He was forty-nine years old. Until
a year and half ago he was wealthy.
He had accumulated a fortune in the
candy business, in which he had been
associated with his father and brother.
He lost that fortune speculating in
real estate
Spared Only His Son.
His wife, Claire, Sas thirty-four
years old. She had been his wife for
six years. His first wife, who was the
mother of his children Beatrice.
eighteen; Daisy, sixteen, and Lester.
fourteen years old, died ten years ago.
In the assumption that he believed
Lester could get along because he was
a boy lies the only reasonable expla-
nation OF the fact that Auerbach
spared his sons life.
The Auerbachs occupied the north
apartment of eight rooms on the sew
enth floor of the Elberon. Up to
eighteen months ago Auerbach owned
that building and several other pieces
of property, in partnership with his
wife and his father, David. He had
made the money enabling him to estab-
lish the Auerbach Realty Company from
his connection with the candy concern
of d. Auerbach & Sons, of 63G Eleventh
av. That firm had comprised David
Auerbach and his sons, Herman, Leo
pold and Joseph S., up to five and
half years ago, when Herman withdrew.
Herman's real estate operations were
successful until about two years ago.
He became unfortunate in his selec-
tion of property, and early in the
spring Of 1913 general business dcpres.
sion effected a hea.y depreciation in
real estate values and made IL impos-
siblc for him to borrow money at sat.
isfactory rates. His fortune was vast.
ing away alarmingly. lie had mort
gagged the Elberon. At length he had
TO sell it at loss.
The Auerbachs had lived we'll. The
girls were in high school and in
tended to go to college. When disas-
ter threatened, Beatrice, without con-
sulting her parents, began to study
stenograpnv. Fo: several days she and
her sister, Daisy. were alone in the
secret plaE mat Beatrice had decided
on to pIav her part in meeting the
household expenses.
She refused. when Auerbach and his
wife learned her purpose, TO quit her
business studies. When the war broke,
Daisy gave up school to 90 to work,
Beatrice by that time having found en-
ployment. The courage OF his daugh-
ters inspired Auerbach TO renewed ef-
fort to regain his riches. His brother
in-law, David Levy, of 10 Manhattan
av.. advanced him money, Auerbach be-
lieving that he could straighten out
his affairs.
Bade Daughter Defer Wedding.
Lester. the only son, wanted TO adopt
the plan of his sisters, but his father
obstinately refused TO permit him 90
90 10 work He is now student IN
DE Witt Clinton High School. Another
element Of trouble came TO disturb
the worried father late IN the summer.
Beatrice had become engaged 10 young
salesman, her stepmother consenting.
When Auerbach was appriscd Of this he
told Beatrice he was absolutely op-
posed to the match at the time. He was
still hopeful of finding his feet again
and he wanted her 10 wait until that
day came before she went out OF the
household.
The financial strain OF deyoting
money to his own family and TO the
Auerbachs, 200, became 200 weighty for
David Levy. few months ago, aud he
told Auerbach. when the latter made
another plea. that I've could not afford
IT, Auerbach became more depressed
than ever; the last ray Of hope had
faded. In the prospect Of no fayora-
bic change in business condition he
saw that he was beaten.
The last chapter was begun one
week ago last Friday afternoon. He
had returned 10 the apartment but
half hour before and was in the living
room when his wife, entering, saw him
unDack rife with an attachment al
the head OF the muzzle that was strange
TO her eyes.
what is that for?' she asked
Auerbach was not nervous as he