The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-08-01
ADDS MYSTERY TO
| COLORADO TRAGEDY
A. r. RuMHAueH, FRIEND OF MISS
( MATTHEWS, KILLS HIMSELF.
DIES AS DID THE GIRL
He Knew Her, c. A. coey. Or. n. A.
Thomas and Others Mixed
| ztG Up In the Strange
| Rigti, Case. ta5l3

j Colorado Springs, Col, July 31.--
Amos r, Rumbaugh of Washington.
ID. c.. close friend Of Miss Laura
Matthews, the young woman who
committed suicide near Broadmoor
Sunday night, added horror and mys-
terry to the gruesome case by shooting
himself through the head Tuesday af-
ternoon In the same manner adopted
by Miss Matthews, dying later in the
hospital to which he was taken for
Treatment
Rumbaugh committed the act in his
slroom at the Alta Vista hotel. The
horr when the fatal shot was fred is
not known, as 1t was not heard by
anyone, and the deed was discovered
only when officers went to his room
to ascertain why he had not respond
cd to the subpoena to attend the cor
oner's inquest over Miss Matthews
body.
Found Unconscious and Dying.
When the officers appeared at the
hotel a bellboy was sent to Rum
baugh's room to see what was the
matter. The boy found the door
locked and could get no response. An
officer was boosted up to the transom
and looked in, and the spectacle he
saw was horrifying.
Rumbaugh was reclining on the
edge of the bed, and his brains had
oozed out onto the floor. He was un-
Il conscious. A hasty examination
showed that the man was still alive
and he was taken to hospital, but
all efforts to save him were fruitless.
Close Friend of Miss Matthews.
Thattthe act of Rumbaugh was the
direct result of the death of Miss
Matthews Is not doubted. He was to
have appeared Tuesday afternoon as
witness at the coroner's inquest to
tell what he knew OF his friends
tragic end. Rumbaugh claimed to be
but a chance acquaintance Of the girl,
but It developed that he knew her in
Chicago, and also knew c. A. Coey,
the wealthy Chicagoan, and DR.. H. A.
Thomas OF the "101 Ranch" He was
frequently a member of parties at
which Miss Matthews and the other
men referred to were members.
Rumbaugh was the one who accom-
panied Miss Green, the nurse, to the
livery stable about five o'clock Mon
day morning to see IL the actress
horse had returned. It was he who
sent the telegram to Coey demand
ing that he do the right thing by the
girl" and 1t was with him that Miss
Matthews left the letter in which was
enclosed another letter to Coey.
Others May Be Entangled.
The officers have not yet examined
Rumbaugh's papers and effects. If he
did not destroy the letter left him by
Miss Matthews, together with the let
ter to Coey, it is believed they will
show startling facts that may entangle
people of prominence, The telegram
sent by Rumbaugh to Coey, 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"
The public officers say that the let
ter shows that Rumbaugh knew Coey
well enough to speak to him Of
Laura" and to threaten him. Rum
baugh was about 2S years Of age and
was son of wealthy Washington,
d. c., family. A service medal of
honor shows that he served with dis
tinction in the Tenth Pennsylvania in
.fantry in the Philippines.