The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-16
CONFESSION COMES
As GREAT SURPRISE
HUFFMAN Is GIVEN THREE YEARS
FOR RoBBING MAILS OF
$4,000 PACKAGE.
BETRAYS HIM
ATTORNEYS ANNOUNCE CONFESS
SION To COURT AND PAY BACK
MONEY THAT HAD BEEN
PAID THEN.

Especial to The Richmond virginian.)
LYNCHBURG. VA. March 15--
When the hour arrived this morning
for the resumption of Federal court,
before which was beng tried George
Huffman for robbing the mails, pa
thetic little scene was being enacted,
all unknown to the large number In
the court room. In a little room adj
Joining the court chamber. HUFFMAN
had confessed to his counsel that he
had stolen the $4,000 from the mails
on the night of October 9th last. and
the heart of an old mother was being
broken as she sobbed in grief over
her erring son. and the pride Of her
life. for he was the Oldest. His con-
fession resulted IL u sentence OF three
years in the Atlanta prison.
None but nose intimately connected
with the case knew the cause. 1t
transrtred that after being pressed
hard by hts ununcel. who this morning
were convinced of Huffnans guilt. he
finally admitted hts guilt, and said ne
hid the money In three fruit jars,
which were hurled under his corn crib
under sawduss. Later inquiry devel-
oped that the accused came to grief
throueh the women Ut his family.
Three weeks ago hts sister. Miss Sal
lie Huffman, went to Norfolk WIN
$2,o5o In her stockings and paid an
uncle C. r. Thurman. the money. Hun
mars Wife. wrote to Mrs. w. p Huff-
man. in Rockingham. of the occurrence.
and this Mrs. HUFFMAN wrote to a Mrs.
Lee. which last letter fell into the
hands OF the inspectors.
Part Of Money Recovered.
This afternoon $1.700 in $2o hiiis
was recovered from Huffman's grip IN
the Hotel Carroll. 1t Is said about
$4,000 will be recovered. The money
seems to have been scattered by HUH
man. who has had the help of MEM
bers of his family.
Mr.. Earfnan ana Mr.. Caskfe ssaten
that they had acted in good faitn.
Eartean told Of how he was born ana
reared with HUFFMAN. Of hnM he ha0
hunted and tished with him during
their boyhooi days. and how he dia
not think II possible that he could
have done such thing. and now tne
confession had hurt and shocked MN.
Mr.. John l. Lee then told Of how
isappointed he had been at the sud
den turn the case had assumed. since
the morning, OF how. Just few min
utter before, he had told Hoffman how
nicely his case WAS progressing. he
also stated that before HUFFMAN con-
He0Se0 ne WOuiO nave nWoSu su0t NA1
young man AZ innocent. and that ne
did not doubt for an instant that his
client would be cleared. but he stole
the money" stated Mr. Lee. for he
has confessed, and I. myself, have
$500 OF It. though. OF course, l did
not know It. for was told that va
rious little things had been sold about
the farm to pay for tho defense. !
will give my check to the proper au-
thorities for $500 when they come to
me for It,
Lawyers Give Up Money.
Mr.. Caskie and Mr.. Earman. then
arose and stated that they each had.
also. received some OF the money.
though, a. In the case OF Mr.. Lee
were mot aware Of Il until told 20 this
morning. and that they would turn II
over to the government.
Judge Mcdowell In passing SEN
tence said: There u one deplorablc
side to the case which cannot be over
looked: He would have made his own
mother commit perjury. viii SEN
tenco him, and hold him herA on con-
dition that restitution Of the money 4
made. - far - Il can b done. with
tho TigAt u change hi santsncs r 4
y not dora