Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-16
TOMPKINS VOWS
CLEAN HANDS IN
TRIPLE MURDER
Before God I'm Innocent" "
Philadelphian Says, Pac-
ing Ebensburg Jail
PARTNERS FAMILY SLAIN
Pleads mot Guilty" When Ar
raigned for Automobile
Crime

George C. Tompkins, Jr, Of 6o48 Race
street Philadelphia, PAGES his cell in the
Ebensburg Cambria County, jail. itera'-
ing and reiterating his denial that he
murdered his partner in the coal mining
business. Edward l. Humphries OF PhIa-
dtlphia and Carroltowu. and HUMPHREYS
wife and child Edward l. Humphr,es, Jr.
Meantime county detectives are seeking
evidence to complete ithe chain they nave
begun TO weld around Tompklns
The last seen Of TompSins and the Hum
phries family before the tragedy waa when
thev left Carrolltown for Philadelphia in an
automobile Mrs. Humphrics wanted to be
IN Philadelphia 20 help wind up the "i"lr"
Of her dead mothers estate.
sunday morning before dawn travellers
on the road between Johnstown and Phila-
salnbia heard shots and discovered the
automobile. In il lay the bodies OF hun-
phries's wife and SON little later the
body OF Humphries was found In corn.
tdeld not far away TompKlhs appea',1
presently and declared strangers hau heIu
up the party and killed the Humphries
family.
He insists upon the truth Of this story
while the authorities and the relatives OF
the Humphres family question IT,
"IIANDs ARE CLEAN"
Before God I'm innocent My hands are
clean Of this" exclaimed Tompltns and
pleaded not guilty today when arralgneu
on charge Of murder in the Ehensourg
Sail 1900.
He appeared extremely nervous. He was
trembling and his voice quavered as ne de-
clared his innocence. ,
Detectives found a farmers SON. Russell
Luther, who said he saw one man 'haslnR
another through a cornield near the scene
Of the triple tragedy. The authorities
would not say whether or not Luther dc.
scription Of the men agreed with that OF
Humphrles and Tompkns. Neither WIZ
thew say whether or not Tompkins shoeS
ut the shoe prints found In the coihue'u
beside the body of HUMPHREYS.
The authorities admit they are AT a loss
for a motive. Business associates OF
Humphries AID Tompkins say the men ap'
peared to be the best OF friends ana ,heS
appeared as friends when they started on
for Philadelphia.
LETTER FROM WIFE
Rut that all may not have been as har-
rnonious as It seems is indicated by letter
from Tompkins's wife, upbraiding him for IN
vesting his money with Humphries and i'm
portuning him to withdraw from the New
born Coal Company Of which TompKlhS
WAS treasurer and Humphries general man
ganized John x. Newborn and DR. r. f.
Arble of Carroltown, were the other mem-
bers of the company. Arble was the presi-
dent.
The authorities say his wife's objections
may have moved TompSins to seek TO WITH
draw from the company and quarrel may
have resulted Another report Is that
business deal between Humphries and
Tompkins on one side and some rich men
whose names are not given was pending
N~.vv sl.s.Wa TNsNI
profess ignorance of any such pending deal
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS UNTOUCHED
According 10 Tompkins's stoNy mysteri-
Gus strangers held up the automobile party
n little way out OF Ebensburg, and without
warning opened FIRE on the occupants of the
car. Mrs. Humphries and her son fell
fatally wounded while Humphries ana
Tompkins fed. Later Humphries returned TO
tbe car and was shot. Tompkins did not
return until the bandits, or whoever the
slayers were. had disappeared and travel
ers had found the bodies in. the car.
Tompkins had money and valuablcs to
extent of several thousand dollars accord
ing 10 the authorities, and Mrs llumphries
had valuable jewelry Nothing was taken,
and this say the detectives, indicates the
rnurderers were not bent on robbery.
TomplSins says the shots that killed Mrs.
t5urnnhries and her son were fired from a
distance Of seventy feet The detectives
eav there were powder marks on the bodies
and that a pistol must have been used in
the automobile for in the back Of IT, they
declare, they found two shells from an auto
matte pistol and a spring or clip from an
automatic pistol
George D. Humphres. Of 2724 West oak
dale street, formerly a city detective, con-
ferred with Detective Captain Kenny at
Philadelphia city Hall today and then
went to Ebensburg to see what he can do
toward unrayolin the mystery.
II will sift II to the bottom" said
Humphries. "and If Tompktns is guilty
will see that he is brought to justice.
Humphries's sister, Mrs. Sadie Dean,
lives at 27i9 Oakdale street, and Mrs
Mertzman, Mrs. Humphriess sister, at 1907
Columbia avenue
The wife and mother Of Tompkins de-
clared their belief in his innocence. The
wife had nothing 10 say about the letter she
is said 10 have written her husband, In
which she urged him to sever his business
relations with Humphries.
Tomkins had several cuts on his head
and chest indicating that he was in a per.
sonal encounter, though he first said he
escaped when the bandits began firing, ac
cording tc the authorities.
The bodies of Humphres, his wife and
his son will be brought 10 Philadelphia to-
day or tomorrow and funeral services will
be held in an undertaking establishment al
Eleventh street and Girard avenue. Thf
Humphrles's family home here was at 1851
North Twenty-ninth street.