Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-07-31
PREFERS DEATH RATHER
THAN TO GIVE
EVIDENCE
Amos Rumbaugh Died Today
as Result Of Attempt
on His Own
Life.
DID He MURDER
LAURA MATTHEWS?
Inquest Over Young .WOmdn'S
Body Causes His Suicide and
DisCloSes Fact That He
Has Wife In Pittsburg.
Pennsylvania.

l.,~a ~D~H
Colorado Springs, Colo, July 31.--
Amos Il. Rumbaugh, who shot HIM
self here late yesterday rather than
testify at the inquest over the body
of Miss Laura Matthews, his friend,
died early this morning at s.. Fran
els hospital.
Rumbaugh's suicide was discover
ed by officers who went u his room
yesterday afte 'nJon u ascertain why
he had not appeared in answer to
subpoena ord s-iag him 10 sive testi-.
mony at the inquest over Miss Met
thews. When the officers tried to
enter his room, the door was found
to be locked, and when one of them
peered through the transom, Rum
baugh's body was seen lying on the
bed with bullet hole in his head
Left Two Letters.
Late rumors are to the effect that
Rumbaugh Is responsible for the
death of the young woman: that he
accompanied her on the horseback
ride which terminated in her death,
and that when lonely spot was
reached he shot her. His attempt on
his own life together with his evasion
of the authorities when sought as
witness at the inquest, linked with
his infatuation for the girl, lend col
or to this suspicion.
Two brief notes are all that ex-
plain the act of the young man. One
note addressed ito whom 1t may con-
cern," read as follows:
ship my body to Mrs. J. H Rum
baugh. Mount Pleasant, Pa, Vest
moreland county. Notify the Travel
ers' Insurance company of Hartford
Conn. and the Fraternal order Of
Eagles, of Scottsdale, Pa. (Signed)
amos RICHARD RUMBAUGH."
no HrA n
his mother, Mrs. ]. H. Rumbaugh. at
the above address. Rumbaugh wrote:
Dear mother
There is nothing for me to say
why l did this awful deed, SO lay
my body away to rest. l have about
$3.50 on my person. You and Charlie
settle things up. Your son,
amos r. RUMBAUGH."
She Feared Rumbaugh.
Today it was learned through a
guest of the Arcadia hotel, where the
young woman was registered, that
Miss Matthews feared young Rum
baugh. She is said to have told ac-
quaintances that she was afraid to
go back late at night to the hotel for
fear her admirer would blow her
brains out as she passed North Park.
Miss Tillie Green, who came here
with Miss Matthews and who has
acted in the capacity of nurse, is un-
der police surveillance pending the
findings of the inquest held over the
remains of the young woman. 1t is
still believed by the authorities that
cumstances surrounding the tragic
death of her charge than she has yet
admitted. Miss Green says that she
knows nothing of Coey's relations
with Miss Matthews. but intimated
all was not right; With regard to
Rumbaugh's suicide Miss Green had
the following to say:
In Love With Her."
"Rumbaugh was desperately in
told me that he was engaged to mar
ry her, that they would go east on
their honeymoon. He did not know
Coey but seemed to take a boyish de-
light in describing how he would go
~ Chicago and parade his bride in
front of the millionaire manufactur-
er. When I told Rumbaugh that
Laura had committed suicide he
seemed like one possessed. He swore
that he would go to Chicago and kill
Coey, and his entire motive from
that time until his suicide seemed
to be that of revenge on Coey. He
killed himself through love of the
GIRL
Telegram to Coey.
The telegram sent by Rumbaugh
to Coey Monday morning, taken in
the light of his suicide, has more
meaning than before. 1t was as fol-
lows:
Laura committed suicide on ac-
count of you. Letters left behind.
Send $500 at once for expenses"
1t shows that Rumbaugh knew
Coey well enough to speak to him of
Laura" and to threaten him. But
now the officers want to know II II
was a threat or simply a bluff.
Had Wife In Pittsburg.
Pittsburg, Pa, July 31.-The sui
eide of Amos II. Rumbaugh at Colo
rado Springs yesterday has cleared up
the mystery Of his disappearance
from his home at Mount Pleasant,
Pa, two weeks ago. Rumbaugh was
married and one of the most promi-
nent citizens Of Mount Pleasant. He
left home without informing his wife
or relatives where he was going or
why.
Yesterday his wife, despairlng Of
his return, prepared TO leave for the
home of her father, A. c. Hun, at
Loudenyille, Ohio.
Rumbaugh was a private in the
Tenth Pennsylvania volunteers and
served in the Philippines during the
Spanish war.
His relatives say they never heard
Of Laura Matthews or c. b. Coey.
Telegram From Coey.
The coroner's inquest, which took