Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-01-21
HORRIBLE BUTCHERY !
An EI-BernalillO County Mer-
chants Grimes,
Butchers His Wife and Two Chill
dren and Then Suicides.
Failure to " Make II Pay" In Greater
New York the Cause.
HH sHOuID HAvE REMAINED HIRS.

II NhN nhtihk VI Aooof oNhh II AAeN
thews came to this city from Texas in a
covered wagon, accompanied by his wife,
and they rented a small frame house on
either west Tijeras avenue or north Sixth
street. He was suffering with rheuma.
tism, and was a patient OF old DR.. Jason
Conley, who was then thriving 'quack'
physician and surgeon Of this city In
those early days, and who left for parts
unknown when his true name came roll
ing In from his eastern creditors.
The rheumatic patient got relief. and
soon thereafter peddled merchandise
throughout central New Mexico, obtain
ing his goods on cash basis" from the
then wholesale and retail merchants Of
this city.
Matthews continued In the peddling
business for about year. and sometime
In 1885 or 1885 he started q general mer.
chsndise and trading business, and saw
mill at Cuba, a little settlement In the
Nacimlento mountains. about thirty-fyg
miles from the northwestern border Of
the Navajo Indian reservation.
Luck favored him, and almost every
month thereafter Matthews had cara
van OF wagons here to be loaded up with
merchandise and supplies, suitable FOL
the mountaineers and trading among the
Navajo Indians.
The wholesale merchants always well
coined his coming, for he was cash
customer, or bought goods on "short
time," and his bills generally run uD
into the thousands Of dollars.
In the latter part OF 1894, or the spring
OF 1895. Matthews and wife, hankerine
after a trial OF business life In the east
and not satisfied with their good fortune
In the mountains OF northwestern Berna
lilo county. sold out their Cuba business
and saw mill to K. A. Miera, and removed
TO this city, remaining here short time
and before leaving the city Mr.. Matthew
called at this Office and subscribed for TIL
CITIZEN, ordering 1t sent to Medicine
Ledge, Kan.
After a short stay at Medicine Lodge
Mr.. Matthews ordered THE CITIZEN
changed TO his address a. Splyey, Kan.
where the Matthews visited for few
months, and then came letter from
him requesting that the paper be sent "a
his address at 704 X. 10th street, New
York City.
A few months ago he wrote The CITI
ZEN and stated that he had opened
small grocery store at 426 Columbus ave
nue., New York. requesting that his pa
per be changed to that address, and In
closing check In payment for a year.
subscription.
These facts-his letter on hle In thii
office and the request that his paper b
sent to 426 Columbus avenue, New York
where the awful crimes were committed
are positive proof that the John II
Matthews, who slaughtered his fam
lily aud then committed suicide II
New York, Is the same good.natured
prosperous John II. Matthews tina
thriyed at Cuba, up in the Nacimient
mountains for about ten years, ant
whose visits to this city, In those days o
his prosperity, wefS hailed with deligh
by our merchants, and he was feaste'
and wined by them. for he had none
plenty and was good customer.
II is stated, upon excellent authority
that when Matthews and family left thi
city, he took along with him betwee
RI2C and Sl5.OCJ, and, from all az
nonnts lost tho antira amonnt IN hia "a,
0Ou".a' io'' VIZ 49,, 49, a. - -
erai business failures III Nc" iorA'
From the accounts OF the tragedy,
would seem that Matthews and wife ha
ao,oad ha,waan thamsaIyas to die an
s.ooI e'"vY .'''.n - ..Ssa,s - -
lsAe AionS WIN 'neui i,oni "hV'o oou'
no traveller returns theii 'mo chiiuien,
, On thal iil-ia'eu nigh'' S've' 'he h''
store had closed i's u0Ofs on tae ouSine' ie'
ot the uay' Ma''he"s anu "'ie 'epAii'
70 heir hvlng quarters III 'ne i1a'
3 the store nheh 'he "iie anu on'iu'e ~
: hAu fe1iIeu' Ma.'he"S 'urnou on 'no ~ y
nOplnB lOI uthtu Dy hnplg Alotioh' ~