Evening journal., 1907-08-01
MYSTERY. OF A
WOMAN'S DEATH
Love Letters from Millionaire
Auto Manufacturer Found
in her Possession
IL TnE JouRNALs speoIal wIre.

BY THE JOURNALS Special Wire.
COLORADO SPRINGS. Col. Aug. 1.
Performing her last duties in the SER
vice Of the girl whose constant COM
panion she had been for many months,
Miss Tillie Green nurse Of Miss Laura
Matthews left today with the body en-
route for Kansas City.
Nurse Green, who had been placed
under arrest was released Immediately
after the coroner found a verdict Of
suicide in both the death of Laura Mat
thews and Amos Rumbaugh.
While Charles u. Coey, the million
aire automobile manufacturer, is pro-
testing at his home city, Chicago, that
Miss Laura Matthews, the beautiful
suicide, was nothing more to him than
a friend, and declaring his belief that
the girl was murdered by Amos Rich
ardson Rumbaugh, who is also dead by
his own hand the coroner's jury here
has given a verdict of suicide, after an
inquiry that revealed thirty seven
warm love letters from Coey to Miss
Matthews. The letters, found in Miss
Matthews rooms at her hotel, were all
read in court today, and will give to
Mr.. Coey an opportunity for another
explanation. One or them, undated,
reads:
IF you can come back to me the
same as you left-you know what
mean-we will both be happy. 1 feel
my need for you more than l thought
did. / will overlook the past.
Live for me alone and / will do the
same. ] will, perhaps, be able to save
YOU from the human vultures. You
must give up this worldly life. Regain
your reputation"
Coey wrote on March 16: Laura, 1
cannot get along without you. / will
live for you If you will live for me.
Sure I for you and you for me- When
will you come?'
Another letter, dated August 10, 1906,
says Lonely and sad without you. Be
good girl"
Gave Kindly Advice.
In another letter Coey gives kindly
advice and urges Miss Matthews to re-
form and come back to him. On learn
ing Of Miss Matthews's death Coey
telegraphed $500 for burial expenses.
According to Miss Tillie Green, the
nurse, DR.. H. e. Thomas, of the famous
1O1 Ranch, near Bliss, Cal, one of
Coey's millionaire friends, engaged her
to attend Miss Matthews, sent her here
and paid her salary and expenses. 1t
appears that COey also sent Miss Mat
thews substantial sums of money on
various occasions since her arrival on
June q.
/ Miss Green, whose name is Lettie,
and who is called "Tillie," in testifying
before the coroner today said that she
had received several letters since the
tragedy from Mr.. Coey. One Of them
read:
"Will meet you at train. Forward
letters. Keep your own counsel"
She admitted to having received yes
terday S345 from Coey. 1t is supposed
from the forward letters admonition
that Coey had been led to believe that
Miss Green obtained his letters to Miss
Matthews, which is thought TO account
for his freedom in denying today that
there was a love. affair between him
and the girl
Selected Own Coffin.
Miss Matthews's body will be sent
for burial to Kansas City, where hel
mother, Mrs. Jennie Matthews, and 9
sister live. 1t lies in a rosewood Law
ender lined casket that she herself Sc
lected several days before she rode OF
horseback out to the crossroads OF
the brow Of Broadmor Hill and she
herself dead. The undertaken says tina
when Miss Matthews, accompanied b,
Miss Green, called to select the casSet
he at first thought that they were en-
gagged in a little pleasantly. 1t was dis
covered that the girl had repeated,
threatened suicide, and that two notes
she left, addressed ITO Whom 1t Ma,
Concern" also indicated an intention t'
kill herself.
\ Amos Richardson Rumbaugh, wh'
had been dancing attendance upon Mis-
Matthews, and who shot himself yes
terday i'm his room at his hotel, while
the coroner was waiting for him t.
testify at the inquest proves to have
J been from Mount Pleasant, Pa. He de
serted his wife and two children TIVE
weeks ago TO be with Miss Matthews
with whom he had become infatuated
while on a business trip to Chicago a
a cattle buyer. He drank heavily from
the time of his arrival here, and evi
dently killed himself in a moment o
& desperation and remorse. following tn
elimination of unlooked-for dramati
, happenings.