Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-08-07
GIRLS SUICIDE
HAS A SEQUEL
MAN OF HER PARTY ATTEMPTS
TO KILL HIMSELF
is DYING IN A HOSPITAL
Tragedy in the Mountains of Colorado
May Involve Prominent and
Wealthy Chicago Business Man
and others-Letters Left Behind
May Explain Mystery.

Colorado Springs, July S1.-Amos
r.. RumDaugh, a close friend Of
Laura Matthews, the young women
who committed suicide near Broad
moor Sunday night, added horror and
mystery to the gruesome case by
shooting himself through the head
yesterday afternoon. He is dying III
hospital
Rumbaugh committed the act in a
room at the Alta Vista hotel When
she shot was fred is not known as the
decd was discovered only when OIL
GERS went to the room TO ascertain
why he had not responded to sub
poena to attend the coroner's inquest
over Miss Matthews body.
That the act of Rumbaugh was the
direct result of the death of Miss Mat
thews Is not doubted. He was to
have appeared as a witness at the in
quest. Rumbaugh claimed to be but
a chance acquaintance of the girl, but
ii developed that he knew her in Chi
Cago and also knew C. A. Coey, a
Wealthy Chicagoan, and DR.. Fl. A.
Thomas Of 101 Ranch. He was fire.
quently a lcember of parties at which
Miss Matthew and the men referred
to were present.
Rumbaugh accompanied Miss Green,
the nurse, to livery stable about .
o'clock Monday morning to see IL the
actress horse had returned. 1t was
he who sent the telegram to Coey de-
handing that the latter do the right
thing by the girl" and 1t was with
him that Miss Matthews left a letter
in which was enclosed another letter
to Coey.
The officers have not yet had time
to examine Rumbaugh's effects, and
the coroner has had the room locked.
II Rumbaugh did not destroy the let
ters it is believed they viii show facts
which may entangle many persons of
prominence The telegram sent by
Rumhaugh to Coey, taken in .he light
of his action. hiss more meaning now.
It was as follows:
Laura committed suicide on &C
count of you Letters left behind
Send $500 at once for expenses
Rumbaugh was about IS years old
and said to be the son of a wealthy
Washington d. c., family. A service
medal of honor shows he served with
distinction in the 10th Pennsylvania
infantry in the Philippines.
Says She Was Engaged.
Chicago. July 31.-A romance in
which the name of C. A. Coey, presi-
dent of the c. A Coey Automobile
company, 1924 Michigan avenue. is in
yolved is declared by friends of Miss
Laura Matthews to have been respon-
sible for her suicide on the Cheyenne
mountain slope near Colorado Springs.
CIasped in Miss Matthews hand when
her body was found by a ranchman
was a note from Coey.
Miss Matthews was engaged to be
married to Mr.. Coey,' Miss Green.
who was nearly Frustrated by the
tragedy. is reported to have said.
and he had repeatedly promised to
marry her"
AT the South Shore Country club
Mr.. Coey denied that he had ever
been engaged to Miss Matthews.
Il was acquainted with the young
woman and we we're good friends he
said, "but there was no love affair
between us. Her death was a terri
bic surprise to me. 1 sent the $500
and l would have done as much for
any friend under the circumstances.
| was appealed to because Miss Green
probably remembered thai haA
seen Miss Matthews off at the sta
ton
In Chicago Miss Matthews lived at
/ 1856 Bowen avenue She had studied
dramatic art at the Chicago Musical
college. Acquaintances Of the young
woman say Coev often took her riding
in an automobile and that they fire.
uuently went together to the theater.
Mrs Jennie Matthews, her mother,
lives at Kansas City.