Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-20
LAYER OF FAMILY
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
George C. Tompkins Breaks
Down After Confessing
Triple Murder
SEES THINGS" IN CELL
Killed Nine Germans" Says
Prisoner-Gives Details Of
Shooting
SEES THINGS" IN CELL

EBENsBURG. Pa. July 2o.--Five hours
( after making a voluntary confession that he
KILLED Edmund I. Hpmphries. Mrs Caroline
Peters Humphries and their son, Edmund I
Humphries, Jr.. near Carrolltown, early Sum-
~ morning, George C. Tompkins. Of 6o43
Z Race street, Philadelphia, attempted to bat
ter his brains out in his cell in the county
Jail here. The remarkable fortitude of the
prisoner gave way almost Immediately
after he confessed that 1t was he who had
slain the Humphries family.
Tompknss father, his wife and their lit
lie boy were admitted to the Jail in the
forenoon TO see the prisoner. They sat in
the warden's office for fully an nour con-
versing about various matters. Tompkins,
as the conversation progressed. showed
great agitation. He kept watching his wife
and son. Finally the boy went from the
room to get drink of water. AS the lad
passed through the doorway of the Office
Into the corridor outside Tompinks turned
m agonized face to Warden E. H. Knee
and said
'T have been cruciled for three nights.
4 can't stand this any longer. killed the
Humphries family"
N. Tompkins repeated his brief confession
later to the Rev. Brainerd F. Haney, pastor
Of the First Presbyterian Church, Ebens-
burg. and Edgar Evans, of the law firm Of
Evans q Evans. retained as counsel by
Tompkins. While Tompkins did not go
much into details Of the cr,me. he told vol
untarily that he had chased the elder
Humphries through the corn field after
h wounding him. and that he had finally
killed him at the fence near the woods
''The bullet that struck Humphries when
Arpd af hfv,, in tl,1 hav ar
Mrs. Humphres. too" Tompkns said.
He would say nothing about the killing
2 Of the boy and his hearers did not question
4 him. Tompkins intimated that he had pom
dered over his business relations with the
Humphrieses until he had finally decided to
kill the three. The authorities believe that
Tompkins. after killing the Humphrieses
had determined to kill himself but found
the automatic revolver empty.
y Dr. E. F. Arble, of CarroHtown one OF
the partners in the Newuorn coal Com.
pany came to the jail this afternoon to
obtain Tompkins's resignation as treasurer
Of the company. because of business matters
needing attention. Doctor Arble did not
know that Tompkns had confessed until he
was about to leave the Jail, when the war
den tod him. When Doctor Arbe went
into the Jail he noted a great change In
the defendant. He was nervous and rest
less. How are you, George?" the doctor
aaid,
ri had terrible time In my cell with the
Germans last night" Tompkins answered
Il killed nine of EN-" He put his hand 10
The back Of his neck and said
doctor, l wish you'd examine these big
carbuncles on the back of my neck. My
z neck is Just full Of 'em. 1t feels as IL my
brains are coming through"
CALLS FOES DRIVE FAILURE
The great Anglo-French spring Of.
fensve has been shattered" the Chancellor
continued. Our counter-attacks show un.
v broken power and superior ability As q
p consequence of Russia s internal confusion
there has been comparative calm on the
East front. Brussiloffs recent offensive
gained only a slight advantage"
The Chancellor repeated the usual Ger
man arguments that Germany was forced
Into the war and he devoted considerable
time to denying the accusation that the
submarine warfare was contrary to in
ternational law and humanity. He claimed
the war was forced by Englands illegal
x blockade.
In view of Englands economic situation
and the increasing toll of the submarines
the Chancellor said. Britain would not be
able to hold out much longer,
The Chancellor admitted that food con
ditions throughout the empire were thu
most serious with which the nation had ye
been confronted, but he expressed confidence
that relief would come soon.
The wheat harvest, he added would prob
ably be better than expected, and there
would also be a good potato crop.
1T has already been proved even in the
event Of a bad harvest like that of 1916
that Germany cannot be starved" he as.
serted.
At one juncture the Chancellor dlgressed
TO declare eloquently:
I'VE long to attain a new and splendid
Germany; wishing not as our enemies be.
lieve. to terrorize the world by armed
might. but morally purified God.fearing
loyal. peaceful mighty Germany. which VIZ
al1 love. For this we will fight and endure
despite ALL
This concluding peroration was received
/ with cheers from all parts of the Reichs.
tag.
Doctor Arble made an examination, bu,
oould find nothing on Tompkinss neck.
Tompkins declared that the revolver
with which the Humphries were killed was
purchased by him personally from the
6wank Hardware Company, Of Johnstown
on Tuesday, July 3. He had been ir
Johnstown that day to buy mule for the
mine.
The Jail authorities would permit no on,
10 Interview Tompkins.