davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
T0MPkIHS BARES
KILLING OF THREE
Admits He Slew the Humph-
ries Family,
COULD NOT REPAY LOAN
Man in Jail at Ebensburg, Pa, Con-
fesses He Murdered Business Part
ncr, Wife and Son.

George G. Tompkins, of Philadelphia,
made confession that he murdered
Mr.. and Mrs. Edmund I. Humphries
and their fifteen-year-old son near Car
rollton, Pa.
J Tile confession Of Tompkins, who
a; was business partner of Humphries,
wan made in the Ebensburg jail.
The confession revealed Tompkins'
motive
81 killed them because they bounded
me-" he cried. 81 was in trouble finan-
cially and they would not let up, but
insisted on the payment of obligations,
which could in no wise meet"
Tompkins is said to have owed Mrs.
Humphries $1,000.
For days the police, aided by Pitts
burgh detectives have been weaving a
net of evidence around Tompkins. The
last link in the chain was obtained,
they said, when they got conclusive
evidence that the revolver used in the
killing of the HUMPHREYS family was
purchased by Tompkins.
Realizing the futi,ity of combating
the evidence that had been piled up
against him, Tompl1ins decided to
make a clean breast of the affair.
While sitting in the office of Warden
Knee, of the Ebensburg Jail, Tompkns
who was talking with his wife and
father, turned suddenly to Warden
Knee and announced:
"Mr. Knee, I killed those three peo,
pie. I killed them all. killed Hum
phries in the cornfeld. I bought the
gun in Johnstown."
Mrs. Tompkins threw her arms about
her husbands neck and cried bitterly.
His father, with bowed head, stood
speechless until hiz son had finished
his dramatic recital.
Attorney John Evans, who had been
retained by Tompl;ins, also Eeard the
confession.
Following the c7rfession, TCmpkins
was led back to his cell
Outwardly he exhibited little ner.
vousness and, according to jill at.
taches, appeared to be the same cool
and collected nan who for days has
pleaded Innocence an1 allied the police
in their hunt for evidence.
Tompkirs' case will be presented to
the September grand jury, and, accord.
ing to stories circulated by friends of
the slayer, he will pleal insanity.
Despite the confession, Tompkins did
not explain his motive for the crime,
but will be asked to clear up that
phase Of the mystery.
Mrs. Tompkins left the Jail for he1
hotel, and, after recovering from the
shock sustained when her husband
confessed, said she would return i'm
mediately to her home in Philadelphia
"I can't believe it." sobbed Mrs.
Tompl1ins as she lest the Jail.
The Humphries family was murder
ed on July * while on an automobile
trip to Philadelphia.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Lehioh Student Dies In War.

A cablegram says that Thomas
Butz, son of the late Mr.. AMI
Mrs. Reuben A. ButZ, long Of Allen
town, Pa, and later of Bethlehem,
was killed by the Germans while work
ing as litter bearer for the American
ambulance in France.
His parents died while the father
was proprietor of the American hotel
at Bethlehem, and young Mr.. Butz and
his sister went to Philadelphia to live
with their grandmother. From Phila-
delphia, Thomas Butz entered Lehigh
university. There, early this year, he
enlisted in the American ambulance,
serving with the Canadian troops.
The cablegram announcing the death
of Mr.. Butz stated that two Of his
chums, Larry Doyle and Henry John.
son, South Bethlehem, had been
wounded. Mr.. Johnson is the son Of
Mrs. Guy Johnson, Third and Wyan.
dotte streets, South Bethlehem.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Test For Bio Battle Plane,

The largest fighting aircraft
ever constructed in this country
will be tried out next week at Lynn.
Mass. 1t is of the double hydro-aero'
plane type, weighs 500 pounds and
will be capable Of making at least 10C
miles an hour. 1t is the first of a
large order given some time ago by
the government to be manufactured
in the east, and is of an almost entire
ly different type than any other ma
chine now owned in this country.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
british REPEL
AIR RAIDERS
German Machines Put TO Flight
After Dropping Bombs.
KILLED, 8; INJURED, Is
Flying Fast and High, Squadron Beats
Retreat When Attacked in the Air
and Escapes.

Another daylight raid carried
out over the east coast of England
resulted in the repulse of about
twenty German airplanes otter they
had dropped a number of bombs
over FeliXstowe and Harwich, killing
about eight persons and injuring TWEEN
ty-fve.
An alarm was sounded in London
but before the Germans could reach
any point near the city they were at
tackled heavily by defending squadrons
of aircraft, which speedily caused them
to beat hasty retreat. So far as has
been reported, none of the Germans
was brought down.
The following official account Of the
raid was issued:
"a squadron Of enemy airplanes-
from fifteen to tWenty-one-appToach'
ed FeliXsowe and Harwich. Some
bombs were dropped, but the heavy
fire from the anti-aircr2ft defense
caused the enemy's formation to spli;
up, part returning overseas and part
proceeding south, down the Essex
coast. The latter party was heavily
engaged by gunfre all down the Es.
sex coast and finally proceeded HON a
ward without dropping more bombs
The raiders were pursued out to sea
and heavily engaged by orr airplanes
but the visibility was low and the dif.
ficulties of observation were ve-y
great"
The casualties at Felix's owe and
Harwich so far are eight killed end
twenty-five injured"
The morning broke bright and sunny
but a thic! haze soon appeared. AT
about eight o'clock the enemy ma.
chimes were heard, and were seen fly.
ing high and fast toward the coast
They received hot reception from the
improved defenses, in the share Of
anti-aircraft gunfre, and were hardly
we'll over the coast before their for
nation was broken up. They droppe2
bombs hastily before retreating.
Observers say the gunfire which fol.
lowed the section which went down the
Essex coast reached a pitch of unus'
nal intensity. It was the movements
of this SQUAD which caused the firing
for the first time of new warning sig
mails in London.
Pritish Planes pursued the Germans
well out to sea, fighting vigorously all
the time, but handicapped by the low
visibility. Reports of heavy firing re.
ceivef from various quarters indicate
that the authorities have m9de consid.
cradle improvements in the defenses
since the lest raid over London.
The attempt lasted barely two hours,
Thousands Of persons turned out along
the coast when the British planes went
up, in the hope of seeing battles in the
air, but the combatants soon disap'
peared in the haze.
A correspondent Of the Exchange
telegraph company telephoned frCm
the Isle Of Thanet that warning signals
sounded in a number of coast towns
md that firing was heard soon after
wards. A number of airplanes which
were already in the air proceeded in
the direction of the firing, followed by
fighting planes. Soon the signal that
the raiders had been driven off was
given.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Vote Porto Rico Dry.

Porto Rico voted for prohibition by
a big majority at the election.
With four unimportant towns mss.
ing the returns show 99,775 votes for
prohibition and 61,295 against.
Fifty-one municipalities voted for the
prohibition measure, twenty-one op
posed it. San Juan's vote was Silt
for, and 2255 against. All the other
large cities were strongly on the dry
side.
Felix Cordova Deavila, Unionist, was
chosen resident commissioner at Wash
ington. The Unionist carried five out
of seven senatorial districts. The Un.
ionists will have majority in the low.
er house, The Socialist gains that
were scored were chiefly at Republican
expense.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
GENERAL MARKETS

PHILADELPHIA.-FLOUR - Firm
Straight, $1O.75@1125; city mills,
S12.50012.75: .,o
oil.
WHEAT-NCminal.
CORN-Quiet; No. yellow, 5000
VoSATs-ouiet; No. 2 white, s1@
" P5OiTLTRY-Live steady; hers, 20@
pic: old roosters, 16@17c. Dressed
Steady; choice fowls, Csc; old roos
BiJTTTR = Firm; fancy creamery
4ec per lb. .oa,o
FGrS = Firm; selected, 42@43c;
nearby. CSC; western, 36c.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
FIVE DAYS NOTICE
FOR THOSE CALLED
Officials Believe Exemptions
VIII Be Many.
ONLY BEST TYPES TAKEN
War Department Officials Believe the
$4,000 Men Will be Drawn From the
First 1900 Numbers.

War Department OFFICIALS eeiieVe 'he
$4,000 Men Will be Erawn From the
First 1900 Numbers.
Selection of the new national army
will be under way wi hin ten days, &C
cording to statement made by Br-g2'
der General CroWder, provost marsha,
general.
The official tabulati9n Of the draw
ing at the great draft lottery en- Friday
will be completed in few days and
the re:ult announced.
The official numbers viii be sent to
the Asst exemption boards throughout
The United States as soon IS they are
available. Five days notice will BE-
given to the men who are to be cGllad
up for examination and ere a d'y il
each district will be examined Until
the quotas are complete. War depart.
ment officials are of the opinion that
rot more than ten men out of every
hundred drawn will be found qualified
for service.
Officials are emphasizing the exact
ing nature of the examination which
the men must undergo: None but tie
very finest and nest physically sound
type of men will be accepted under
the terms of the instructions which
will be issued to the examining ply
sicians AS a consequence, it is pre-
dicted that tho first national army OF
G87,000 men will represent the very
test physical and mental type of Amer
lean Young men.
Physical defects, it l. believed, viii
account for the disqualification Of 40
per cent. Fifty per cent cf, the re-
mainder will probably be found to hive
dependents. Further to cut down the
number of available men will be the
alien and industrial exemptions, of
which there can be no accurate esti-
mate at this time.
To secure the first army of 63700O
men it. is not likely the draft numbers
above 1900 will be called. Each num-
Der represents approximately 5000
men. The first 1900 numbers follow:
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
WoMAM's NOBLE SACRIFICE
Farewell Party For Husband and Four
Sors Leaving For War.

Mrs. ii. P. Saxton, Of Ceilings
wood, N. J.. gave a farewell party to
her husband and four sons, Dana j.,
Clifton B., Harold F. and Earl, who
will leave this week for war duty in
different parts Of the country.
Several sailor and soldier friends of
the family took active parts in the
unique rrograE.
Mrs. Savton showed her devotion to
America hy saving in short talk:
"This family goes to stand united and
united to stand for right, liberty and
victory"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Orders SuppIies For Army.

To be able to Insure an ade
quate supply of canned goods 70,
the army and navy, the defense coun'
cils supply committee asked all the
country's Gamers to reserve the fol
lowing portion of their output:
Twelve per cent of each Gamers
pack of peas, IL per cent of corn, Is
per cent of tomatoes and per cent
of salmon.
The Gamers already have ag'eed to
accept a fair price to be established
by the government.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Cisti'terG Make Potash.

Anaouacem mant was made by the
Jefferson Distilling and Denatu.ing
company, in New Orleans, that ii
has evolved a process for the utili'
cation of former waste in distilling
alcohol from molasses, by which its
plant now produces twenty tons OF
potash a day.
Prior to the war potash which was
obtained almost exclusively from Ger.
many, was worth IS ton in this coun.
try, and now it sells at $500 ton.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Live Sfnck Ouotations.

CHICAGO.-HOGs -sIow, steady.
Mixed and butchers, $14.45@15.SO;
rood heavy, s1425m1445: rough heavy
455G15.25; light. s1445015.65;
rIas e15m15.35: bulk, s14S0@15.75.
: ChTTT T-ete2dy to 15c lower.
Peevee, sS.25013.9A: COWS and he1feTs,
* s5011.8O: stockers and feeders,
sS995Ga ~: Texans, s10.25@12; calves.
p 'sHEEPwsteady, 20@95c lower. Ma
two - stern, $7T5@10.SO; lambs.
e9.5O61s %.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
$4,000 in Train Victims Stocking.

Mrs. Julia Knusan crawled un.
der a railroad street safety gate at
Bethlehem Pa, and attempted to cross
the tracks in front of a Philadelphia
and Reading freight train. She was
struck and fatally injured. In one OF
her stockings was found $4,000.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Insurance For hyiators.

The advisory committee fer aero.
nautics has asEed the sacretaar;es
Of war, the navy and the tres
ury and the congress oaal mill
itary and naval committees 10 ro"s'd
er the advisab bility of Govcrnm art in
surance of aviators. Thi1 would BE- in
cooperation with insurance companies
A general plan for insuring sailors and
soldiers is now being worked out by
treasury officials.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Dies Grave: Buries Himself.

Digging his own grave under
stump on his farm and burying himself
under it was the method of suicide
taken by James L. Corey, aged ninety
three, of Erie, Pa. Boys, urged en- by
a reward of 500 offered by the young
er Corey, who is sixty-six, led to the
discovery of the body after two days
of searching by scores of neighbors.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
Burned by Fireworks, Nav Die.

Setting off fireworks which he
had left over from the Fourth oil
July, James Bankes, aged twelve, oil
Mahanoy City, Pa, was perhaps fatally
burned when his clothing fgnited and
two-thirds of his body was roasted
He is at the hospital.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
C. Vanderbilt. Jr., EnIists,

Cornelius vanderbilt, Jr., nineteen,
enlisted as a private in the United
States Army in New York.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-07-27
,.ou Eats Green ArnIes: Dies.

!lyy es.s 111ll! !!!Hls
As 3, reetft Of having eaten green
apples two weeks ago, Charles Il.
Sweeney. three years, of Trenton, n.
J., died and his sister, Elizabe1h, IS
dangerously i'll.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-08
BIG BUILDING BOOM
SHOWS CTTY'S GROWTH
Additions to Factories and
Structures in Course and Pro
jected Indicate Activity

Plans for the erection OF a large num-
Der OF factory buildings in Philadelphia dur
ing the spring Is considered by manufac-
turers as a good indication of the rapid
Industrial growth OF the city. At the pres
ent time il is reported that more than
81 900. 900 is being spent for the construc-
tion of such structures. Business men VINO
are in close touch with the situation are
of the opInion that this is Philadelphia 8
answer to the great influx of huge orders
from all parts of the world. Further they
add, that there vii. be no decrease in the
demand for philadelphia made goods.
At Twenty.ffth and Reed streets work Is
being rushed to complete the construction
of a group of mills for S. B. and Il. w.
Fleisher which IL is said will cost Sl,5OO-
900. Other firms are arranging to establlsh
plants i'm that neighborhood.
The large volume of business furnished
by the city of Philadelphia IL the reason
that prompted Joseph j. Derham 10 lease
n four-story manufacturing building with a
six-story annex at 237 to 2i5 South Twelfth
street for the purpose of making automobile
bodies. Derham has a large establishment
at RosemOnt
The General Electric Company recently
purchased the big warehouse being con-
structed at Seventh and Noble streets,
which will be used as factory when COM
pleted 1t will contain $4,000 square feet
of floor space An eight-story structure is
TO be built at Sixth and Filbert streets for
the Hale 4 Kllburn Company. This plant
will cost 100000. including the site,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-08
FEDERAL RESERVE PLAN
TO PROTECT BANKS
Will Supply Currency if Neces-
sary to Meet "Runs" Due to
German Withdrawals

WASHINGTON, Feb. s.--rhe Federal Re-
serve Board will permit tremendous eX-
lausiOn Of United States currency to pre-
vent any currency strngency which might
come by runs on banks. The board has
received information to the effect that in
some cities there is reason to believe that
unnaturalzcd Germans and German SYM
Uathi2crs plan suddenly to draw their funds
out Of savings and other banks in the
event Of more strained relations between
the United states and the German empire.
Mild runs have been reported already in
some cities The board does not believe that
foreign feeling will have the result of
tmptyiug the banks OF all German accounts,
hut is prepared to meet such an emergency.
The twelve Federal Reserve banks, accord
ing 10 the board, are prepared 20 issue vast
quantities of Federal reserve notes to
slave off a currency strngenCy, The board
let it be known today that it will even go
so far as TO aid indirectly nonmember banks
such as state banks and trust companies
and savings institutions should runs upon
them develop This attitude on the part of
the board means that 1t will be virtually
impossible to harm bank by a run upon
ID. Emergency currency will be forthcom-
ing from the Government to prevent bank
failures and restore confidence to the end
that financial decentralization may not ac-
company serious developments i'm American
foreign relations.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-08
||lITISH RESUME
Big SOMME DRIVE
Break Chain of Bapaume De-
] fenses by Capturing
y Grandcourt
ATTACK SPREADS NORTH

" LONDON. Feb. S.--The village OF Grand
court, an important link in the chain Of
Norman defense west of Bapaume, has been
capsured by Haig's troops in q spirited
oas,i along both sides of the Ancre river.
uefenso work adjoining the village also
Tell Into the hands OF the British.
This IL the most important success the
British have gained on the west front since
the end of the Ancre offensive last Mo-
vember. II gives them an effective grip on
the enemy's lines In the Ancre sector and
paves the way for attacks on the fortresses
OF Miraumont and Pys the chief protection
OF Bapaume on the west. Moreover. II sets
well In motion an offensive large enough
In scope to provide the momentum for an
advance that may only be terminated by the
spring thaw.
30 long as the ice coating on the marshes
Of the Ancre holds firm the British troops
may be expected to make the most of this
opportunity of battering away the hardest
obstacles to a wider thrust In the spring and
summer months.
The offensive likely will spread to the
line north of the Som.ne before many days.
as the allied plan of campaign in this re-
gion calls fO" simultaneous pressure at both
ends Of the line, both north OF the Ancre
and along the Peronne road, where Trans
10y at present blocks the way Recent ac-
tvity at Les Sars. Warlencourt and Gueude-
court indicates that the pressure on the
center of the line will not be relaxed
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-08
CHECK ON BOOZE ARRESTS
Mount Holly Freeholders Investigate
Frequent Commitments

MOUNT HOLLY. y. ", Feb. S.-The
Board Of Freeholders yesterday ordered an
Investigation Of the bills of all justices and
officers in the future to see that drunken
persons are not Illegally committed to the
county jail. In one case it was found that
r. O. Herbert. justice of the peace and
Recorder at Mount Holly, had committed
Lewis Gamble to the county jail for four
days on December 20. and rccommtted him
fer a similar period on December 2S.
There were three other cases whore the
four-day sentences must have been cut short
William Kelly having been committed Janu-
airy 6, recommitted January . George Rob-
ertson, committed January 5. recOmmttcd
January 49, Michael Stevens, committed
December IS, recommitted December %
Subject to raising money by bond issues
the contract for building a new King street
bridge at Mount Holly was awarded to f.
W. Schwieres. Jr., Company, Of New York,
on a bid of $l3,S56.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-08
Mrs. ViScOnti Hides
MfOrmant's Name

Continued from Page One
mlttee the name of her informant Counsel
Whipple said
I'm view of this information / think We
had better dispense with the examination
of Mrs. Nisconti at this point. She is tenn
porarily excused"
w. w Price mentioned by Mrs Nis-
cont as the "go-between." who began his
testimony several days ago, was then re-
called for cross-examination.
The committee promised Mrs. Nisconti
to hold her information in confidence only
for 80 long as it did not become necessary
to make the name Of her informant public.
SAW TUMULTY ON DECEMBER 10.
Price said he saw Secretary Tumulty on
December 49, the day before he sent the
kilograms to brokers, advising them that
President Wilson was to send a peace note
What they talked of, Mr.. Price said. he
had no idea, except that IL was not about
this matter"
Whippe became so insistent that Price
search his memory for the subjects dis
cussed that Price exclaimed
why. Mr.. Whipple, you don't want to
put me I'm the position of trying to shield
Mr.. Tumulty?"
Certainly not" replied whpple, "but the
fact remains that you were in the habit
of going to Mr.. lTumplty for information
daily for your newspaper"
Price explained that when he wanted to
learn something for his newspaper he went
to Mr. Tumulty, but that when he sought
information for the brokers he did not Such
a procedure, he said. violated his personal
and professional ethics.
Price declared that he took no means to
confirm from amy source the gossip" on
which he told brokers of the impending
peace move.
You knew did you not. that millions
Of dollars may have been won or lost by
the information"
Yes"
MAGNIFICENT SUM" sc $75
At the request Of the committee, Price
submitted his bank books showing deposits
In two banks. They will be examined bv
the committee. Price characterized reDorts
that he had received $1,000 as rubbish"
Did you ever" asked Whipple, make
any statement to your family relative TO
any income or profit made by you on this
advance information"
Tears coursed down Prices cheeks as he
protested that some parts of a mans af-
fairs might remain private" The re an
swered.
MY wife asked me II made any money
out of it. | replied that / had made a lii
tie referring to the magnificent sum of
SIS, which l had received few DAYS ago
in salary from the Arms by which | had
been employed"