©2000 Painted Hills Genealogy Society MURDER OF WILLIAM AYERS
WILLIAM AYERS (murder) On Wednesday, June 15th (1898), neighbors of Wm. Ayers, Wharton Township, noticed his domestic animals were being neglected. John Mahon and son, Warren, investigated. They found a ladder against back of house near window of room occupied by Ayers, in second story. Found the old man on the floor in his room, near the bed, head battered, bullet wound in temple and marks of throttling on throat. The house was ransacked from top to bottom to discover money he was supposed to have. Coroner Gustin notified and District Attorney Heck. On Thursday an autopsy was held. Bullet passed downward to mouth without touching a vital spot. Death caused by strangulation or blow on head. Mr. Ayers had a housekeeper, Mrs. Farley, but she had gone to a neighbor’s house Tuesday on account of a quarrel between the two. Her son, David Miller, about 20, had been making his home there, but had some trouble with Ayers and was working at a lumber camp in Mahon Run, near the Ayers farm. Arrested on Friday and given a hearing before Justice Seibert on Monday. Ayers was about 65 years; always lived on the farm where he died, on main road from Wharton to First Fork. The house, a comfortable modern farm house, situated near the road and but a few rods from dwellings of Warren Mahon and his father John Mahon, whose farm joins the old Ayers homestead where William was born. Deceased was honest, frugal and peaceable, in poor health from disabilities contracted in army, but with undue appetite for liquor, in which he had been indulging just before he was murdered. Been at Coudersport a few days before and received from his attorneys 200 on a debt due him. Not known how much he carried beside this. On return had visited Blowville, a lumber town on Bailey Run and exhibited some money while drinking there. In good circumstances, leaving property to amount of $2,000 at least. A will, made December 31, 1897, leaves all his property to his brother, S. Freeman Ayers, but the will is liable to be contested.
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