Evening star., 1929-12-06
INQUEST ORDERS
HUMPHREY HELD
Coroner'S Jury Hears Story
Of Fatal Shooting of
Two Children.

Albert Humphrey, 37-year old baking
company employe, today was held to the
grand jury by coroner's jury in con-
nection with the fatal shooting Tues
day of his own two children, Doris
Theresa, 6. and James Thomas Pum-
phrey, a. The tragedy occurred at the
home of Humphreys mother and step
father, 1907 B street southeast.
The verdict reached shortly after
noon, was based upon the death of the
little boy and declares that Thomas
Pumphrey came to his death December
3. 1929. at 1907 B street southeast, from
gunshot wound, of brain hemorrhage
and shock; the said gunshot wound was
caused by a bullet fired from a pistol
in the hand of Albert Thomas Pun
phrey." The verdict concluded with
the statement that I'VE hold the said
Albert Thomas Pumphrey for the action
OF the grand jury"
dramatic moment came early in
the hearing when Mrs. Florence watts,
mother of the slayer, told the coroner's
jury OF her sons admission to her that
he had killed his children.
Mrs. Watts Tells Her Story.
In voice which bore evidence of
terrihc strain and while she stared over
the heads of the crowd of men and
women which packed the inquest room,
Mrs. Watts told her story as follows
1 was in the rear of the house fixing
dinner. My son was up front with the
children. Nothing seemed unusual -
She .heSitated. Coroner j. Ramsey
hewitt asked the woman If she heard
anything unusual. Continuing, Mrs.
Watts said:
"Yes. heard shots. 1 ran to the
front OF the house and found my son
coming out OF the front room with the
gun In his hand. / said, Son, what
have you done! He said, I have killed
my babies"
At the suggestion of DR.. Nevitt, the
jurors asked the grief-stricken mother
no questions, and as she was led in a
condition from the in
quest chamber she was heard to ask
If she could speak with my son."
Thomas Watts, stepfather of Pum-
phrey. was the next witness. His story
was more comprehensive than that of
his wife. He told the jury Pumphrey
didn't seem to be himself Tuesday eve
ming" and said that Pumphrey went
out to meet his little daughter Doris.
Not finding her, Watts continued, he
returned to the street house for his
AAbeAS Wy, tOOh tO ReJ a
cut. Upon his return to the house.
Watts said Humphrey went out again
and found Doris on Eleventh street.
Pumphrey brought the little girl in
the house, Watts said, and the three
went through Watts bedroom, which
adjoins the kitchen, into the latter
room to greet their grandmother. Pun
phrey then went to the front room with
the children, saying he wanted to talk
with them. Later, Watts said, he heard
the four shots.
Holds Pistol in His Hand.
Explaining that his wife ran to the
living room first and that he followed
as soon as his injured leg permitted
him. he quoted the stepson as saying:
Il have killed my two darling babies
to keep the two women from getting
them" watts did not give the women'S
names, nor did the jurors question him
on this point. He added that Punn-
phreys mother was holding him about
The neck when he first saw him and
the pistol with which the children had
been slain was in his hand At about
this time Charles c. Macdonald. an
occupant of an upstairs apartment
ran downstairs, Watts said, and took
the gun from Pumphrey.
During the recitation of the events
Continued on Page 2, Column s.