The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-31
SHOT HIMSELF
THROUGH HEAD
Close Friend of Miss Laura
Matthews Will Follow Her
to the Grave.
NURSE KNEW OF INTENTION
SENSATIONAL FACTS BEING DE.
VELOPED.

Colorado Springs, Colo. July 30.-Amos
r. Rumbaugh of Washington, d. c., a
close friend of Miss Laura Matthews, the
young actress who committed suicide near
Broadmoor Sunday night, added horror
and mystery to the gruesome case by
shooting himself through the head this
afternoon in the same manner adopted by
Miss Matthews.
Rumbaugh committed the act in his
room at the Alta Vista hotel. The hour
when the fatal shot was fired is not
known, as it was not heard by any one
in the hotel, and the deed was discovered
only when officers went to his room to
ascertain why he had not responded to
the subpoena to attend the coroners in
quest over Miss Matthews body today.
When the officers appeared at the hotel
bellboy was sent TO Rumbaugh's room
to see What was the matter. The boy
found the door locked and could get no
response. The officers asked that the
door be opened. but the key was in the
inside and another could not be inserted
in the lock An officer was boosted up
to the transom and looked in, and the
spectacle he saw was horTifying
Rumbaugh was reclining on the edge
of the bed and his brains had Oozed out
onto the floor. He was naked. A haSty
examination showed that the man was
still alive. and he was taken to a hospital,
but all efforts to save him were fruitless,
Knew Dead Actress Well.
That the act Of Rumbaugh was the
direct result of the death of Miss Mat
thews is not doubted. He was to have ap-
peared this afternoon as a witness at the
coroner's inquest to tell what he knew of
his friends tragic ending. Rumbaugh
claimed to be but chance acquaintance
of the girl, but it develops that he knew
her in Chicago. and also knew c. A COey,
Thomas of the '1O1' ranch. He was fire.
quently a member of parties at which
Miss Matthews and the other men re-
ferred TO were members.
Rumbaugh was the one who accompa-
MED Miss Green, the nurse. to the livery
stable about o'clock Monday morning
to see if the actress horse had returned.
Il was he who sent the telegram to COey
the girl and it was with him that Miss
Matthews left the letter in which was en-
closed another letter 70 Coey-
Letter Left by Miss Matthews.
The officers have not yet had time to
examine Rumbaugh's papers and effects.
and the coroner has had his room locked.
If Rumbaugh did not destroy the letter
left him by Miss Matthews, together with
the letter to COey, il is believed they will
show startling facts that may entangle
many people of prominence. The telegram
sent by Rumbaugh to Coey Monday
morning, taken in the light OF his suicide,
has more meaning than before.
1t was as follows:
Laura committed suicide on account
of you. Letters left behind Send $500 at
once for expenses
The public officers say that the letter
shows that Rumbaugh knew COey well
enough to speak TO him OF Laura" and
threaten him.
Rumbaugh is about % years old and
was a son of a wealthy Washington, D.
c. family A service medal of honor
shows that he served with distinction in
the Tenth Pennsylvania infantry in the
Philippines.
Left TWO Notes.
Rumbaugh's death is expected hourly.
Two brief notes are all that explain the
young mans rash act. One note is ad-
dressed:
ITO Whom It May Concern" and reads
as follows: ''Ship my body to Mrs. j.
H Rumbaugh Mount Pleasant, Pa. No
tify the Travellers Insurance company of
Hartford Conn, and the FTaternal Or
der of Eagles of ScOttdale, Pa.
AMOS RICHARD RUMBAUGH."
The second note was addressed to his
mother, Mrs J. II. Rumbaugh, at the
above address. and says;
Dear Mother: There is nothing to
me to say why I did this awful deed,
so lay my body away to rest. l have
about $3.50 on my person. You and Char
lie settle things up. Your son.
RICHARD A. RUMBAUGH"