The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-31
SHOT HIMSELF
THROUGH HEAD
Continued from PAGE

| battle" 1t developed that these letters
formed of the finding of Miss Matthew's
body She explained this by saying she
had anticipated such an event. One of the
letters written by Miss Green is as fol-
lows:
My Dear Tot-Poor little Laura has
ended her hard battle she has tried TO
fight She shot herself tonight Home
soon and will tell you all. This has been
severe nervous strain. but must keep
up and make arrangements. Sincerely,
Title"
This letter was not addressed. but is
person in Chicago.
Miss Green also testified that several
days ago she and Miss Matthews visited
a local moFtuary and Miss Matthews Sc
lected casket and remarked: This is
the kind OF casket / wish to be buried in. >,
Miss Green swore that DIR. II. A. Thorn
as whose name has been mentioned in
the case, was merely good friend of
Miss Matthews, and was not involved i'm
the case in any way.
She declared that Miss Matthews was
not in a delicate condition.
Later il was learned through a guest Of
the hotel where Miss Matthews was reg
istered that she feared Rumbaugh who
was infatuated with her
She Is said to have told acquaintances
that she was afraid to go back late at
night 10 the hotel for fear her admirer
would blow her brains out as she passed
North park.
Police Watching Miss Green.
Miss Tillie Green. who came here with
Miss Matthews and who has acted in the
capacity of nurse, is under police sur
Velllance pending the findings of the in
quest.
Miss Green declares she knows nothing
of COey's relations with Miss Matthews
With regard to Rumbaugh's attemDted
suicide this afternoon Miss Green had the
following to say:
'Rumbaugh was desperately i'm love
with Laura, He had previously told me
that he was engaged to marry her tn at
they would go east on their honeymoon.
etc. He did not know COey but seemed
to take a bOyish delight in describing how
her would go to Chicago and parade his
bride in front of the millionaire manu-
tacturer When / told Rumbaugh that
Laura had committed suicide he seemed
ike one possessed He sWOre that he
would go to Chicago and kill Coey, and
MS entire motive from that time until
his suicide seemed to be that of revenge
on Coey He killed himself through love
of the girl"
Testimony of Chief.
Chief OF Police Reynolds was the prin-
ctpal witness called at the afternoon ses-
sion. He testified to an interview he had
with Miss Green on Monday, the day
Miss Matthews was found. Miss Green
told him that at o'clock Sunday after
noon she went upstairs and looked in Miss
Matthews trunk and saw the revolver
was gone from lhlS, she SAID, she knew
that the girl intended to commit suicide
When Laura left for a ride in the aft
ernoon she kissed her nurse goodbye and
gave her her jewels. After mounting the
horse she suddenly dropped her handker-
chief, and while the nurse was reaching
for it the girl started off, saying, Good
bye, girls
Thomas Bolton, residing at the Alta
Vista hotel was the next witness called.
Laura Matthews had told him on Satur-
DAY, the day previous to the suicide that
she would take her own life.
He said he believed from what Miss
Matthews said that c. A. Coey of Chi
cago was responsible for her respondent
condition. Acting Coroner Richardson
was called to the stand and described the
position of the body of Miss Matthews
when found, the nature of the wound
which caused her death and the nature
of the ground where the body was found.
No Powder Burns.
Coroner Richardson stated that there
were no powder burns or smoke discol-
orations on the skin about the wound.
This brought on discussion as to
whether a gun held close to the head
will or will not cause discoloration of the
skin. DR.. Richardson stated that he had
heard of several cases of suicide where
no powder burns were noticeable, and
cited the case of Millionaire Wilson of
Chicago as an instance.
Rumbaugh, having not as yet appeared.
Miss Green, the nurse, was recalled and
asked to testify relative to Miss Mat
theWs' jewels. This testimony did not
bring out anything new and Miss Green
was excused just as the startling news of
the attempted suicide of Rumbaugh was
impaired to the officials present.
The witness appeared stunned when the
news was announced, and almost tainted.
A recess was taken at once until tomor-
row at 10 o'clock.