New-York tribune., 1917-07-16
Sole Survivor Tells of 3
Masked Men Holding
Up Party
Returns with Bodies
Arrest Follows Story of Boy
Witness; Dead Man and
Prisoner Coal Officials
rRy telegraph to The Tribunel


Jobnstown. Penn. July 10 Mystery
surrounds the murder this morning oil
Edmund |. Humphreys. forty-two; Mrs
Carrie Humphreys. thirty-fve, his WIFE
and their fifteen-y -year-old son, Edmund
ir.. near Carrolltown, Cambria County.
DESPITE his story of a hold-up, from
which he alone escaped, George I.
Torpkins. forty-one. associate in busl-
ness of Mr.. Humphreys. is in the coun-
tv jail at Ebensburg. held upon rec
ommendation of a coroner's jury.
Starting from the Humphreys home
in Carrolltown early this morning with
Tompkins driving, the family was on
its way to Philadelphia, former home
of all the principals. At lonely spot
in country road three miles out OF
town the tragedy occurred.
Mrs. Humphreys and her son were
shot through the heart and both were
killed instantly. Mr.. Humphreys was
slain about 500 feet away, receiving two
bullets through his right breast and
one in the right arm. Upon his head
was deep cash. probably made by the
butt Of a revolver, pieces of which
were found near by. His body was
covered with bruises. indicating that
he had been kicked and beaten
Tells of Masked Men
killing
brought into Jarrolltown shortly after
O o'clock. where Tompkins drove me car
,yitb the bodies of Mrs. Humphreys and
son 10 the Office Of DR.. Z. +. ArDle'
cousin of Mr.. Humphreys. Tompklns
said the party had been wayiald oy
three masked men; that the woman ana
Row had been shot down at the Side OF
the automobile, while he and humph>
reyS ran.
lie explained his escape by saying
that he had tripped on stone and lay
where he fell, his pursuers passing him
to get Humphreys.
Then, he said. he got up and ran IN
the opposite direction. finally making
his way into Carrolltown.
Posses were organized upon the
strength of Tompkinss story and
search began. Coroner c. A. Fitzger,
aid and his deputy, Russell Yost, had
been summoned, and with their hrst
view of the bodies came the first doubt
as to Tompkins's story. Powder marks
vore found upon Young Humphreys
bodv. While Tompkins said the as
sassins had shot Mrs. Humphreys from
a distance of fifty to sixty feet In 'front.'
of the machine, the wound IN her head
indicated she had been shot from the
rear.
Boy Tells Of Struggle
Investigation by the county ofhcers
brought to light a boy named Luther'
who swore that near the scene OF the
tragedy he had seen two men strug,
Cling. one finally breaking away and
running, the other in pursuit, hrlng
from revolver. He saw the man
ahead fall at spot near where Mr..
Humphreys body was found.
Tompkins clung TO his story OF
hold-up. He said events had happened
so quickly that he was bewildered as
to detail.
Edmund I. Humphreys was superin-
tCndent and general manager OF the
Newborn Coal Company. formed only
few months ago. Tompkins was treas
urer. Dr. Z. F. Arble, also former
Philadelphian, is president. Inc com
Tdny mas OMCeS III HiiauSAP P"o 'f
kins came here last Wednesday and
established headquarters at Carroll
town. Tompkins held one. fourth IN,
terest. Mr.. Humphreys one-fourth and
Dr.. Arble one-half in the coal company.
Tonight it developed that Barnes.
boro automobilst, passing the scene OF
the tragedy, had seen two bodies IN
the tonneau Of an auto alongside the
road. stopped his machine and investi-
gated. When he found both dead he
hurried back to his own car, but his
wife insisted that he get the number
of the car When this man started
back to the scene, however, he was
warned away by A man with pistol,
who emerged from clump Of bushes.