The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-01
VERDICT ON LAURA MATTHEWS
CORONER DOES NOT THINk GIRL
WAS KILLED NJ RIMBAUGH

Accept Suicide Theory Both Declare
she Beiie,e she Was Slain -Rumbaug
known 20 Have Seen infatuated
COLORADO SpRINOs. July 3I.-The CorO-
ner's jury returned a verdict this after
noon in the case OF Laura Matthews OF death
from gunshot wounds s~elf-inficted with
suicidal intent.
The verdict was a surprise TO many. yet
In view OF all the evidence and from letters
and kilograms found among the dead
girls effects no other verdict seemed pos
sible.
The appearance OF Amos Richard Rum
bsugh. his i~nfatustion for the girl. and
especially his suicide following hers. had
created the suspicion that he had murdered
her either for revenge or through jealousy.
or because he had been hired by some one
interested to put her out Of the way.
Rumbaugh said on Monday that he had
got a promise OF marriage from her on
Sunday. the day Of her death. and that they
Intended to leave for New York the next
day. Mrs. Leon Knox, a Colorado Springs
chance acquaintance. however. says Miss
Matthews told her OF Rumbaugb's threats
TO blow her brains out some night and that
she was afraid OF him
~ " "hf'tS ~ Dy
! the etters and kilograms from Charles A.
Coey TO Miss Matthews An undated letter
read:
If you can come pack TO me the same
as you left. you know what | mean. we
will both be happy. | feel my need OF
you more than l thought l did. I will over
look the past. Live for me and me alone and
| will do the same / will perhaps DO able
TO protect you from the human v~ultures.
You must give up this worldly life and
regain your reputation"
On March I5 he wrote:
Laura. l cannot get along without you.
will live for you il you will live for me
Sure for you and you for mo. When will
you Gomez
On August 10. 1905. he wrote:
Lonely and sad At your absence, Re
a good girl, thus saving your health and
reputation"
In another letter he urged her to realize
the kind of life she was leading and 10
reform.
Miss Matthews will be buried in a rose
wood casket which she herself selected,
according to the undertaken. who said
he thought Of course that she was joking.
Coey will meet any expenses. The body
will be shipped TO Kansas City. where her
mother and sister live.
CHICAGO. July 81. Murder theories we're
advanced by friends and relatives Of Miss
| LuuTb MdltUSWb tO-UdY 10 ACCOUNT IOT nef
death. Charles A. Coey declared that he
was the VICTIM of a plot TO make IL appear
that Mise Matthews had committed suicide
and had been driven to the act by his neg
lect. Coey asserted that he had reason to
suspect that the girl had been murdered.
Mrs. Jennie Matthews Of Kansas City.
the girls mother. who arriver mere last
night. entertained the same suspicion.
Coey said he had investigated a report
that RumbauRh. who IT now appears was
a nnarr,al man and NOR Mas Tin,a Iraar
who vas Miss Matthew's nurse, had sent
the telegram TO him telling him the girl
had committed suicide ION your account
and demanding $500 and referring to letters
left behind. Coey said he had traced the
message and was satisfied that Miss Green
did not send il.
Mrs. Matthews. the mother. absolutely
refused to accept the theory that her daugh-
ter had killed herself. just an hour before
receiving a telegram announcing her death
she had received. she said. a very cheerful
letter from Laura. in which she spoke Of
starting for Chicago within two weeks and
stopping in Kansas City for a visit.
Rumbaugh ia believed by the mother to
have known more than others about her
daughters death.
MOUNT PLEASANT. Pa. July si.-The
Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment. which nine
years ago this morning fought in the bloody
battle OF Malate. held it's annual reunion here
to-day almost within sight OF the home Of
Comrade Amos Rumbaugh. who killed him
self in Colorado yesterday. IA Fighting
Tenth" had just begun to enjoy itself to-day
when news came that Rumbaugh was dead
and a gala day was turned into one Of
mourning, for Rumbaugh had been in the
thickest Of that Philippine fight. and the
med found on him after he had shot him
self was given for bravery in battle.
Three years z R~umbsugh. who was
connected with the J. II. Rumbaugh Com
pany. meat dealers. began going to Chicago
monthly for the purpose OF buying cattle.
II Ia thought that at this time he fell in
with the Matthews girl, but his family
here will not admit this. They admit
that the Chicago trips OF Rumbaugh we're
very costly to the firm, in fact the former
prosperous butcher was in dire financial
straits at the time he fed his home and
his last act was TO turn most Of his business
into cash. taking with him about $500.
| His brother Charles returned this morning
from a hunt through the middle West for
his brother.
WASHINGTON. July H.-The records Of
the War Department show that Amos r.
R~umbaugh, the man who committed
suicide in Colorado Springs yesterday
rather than testify at the inquest in the
case OF Miss Laura Matthews. served with
the United States Volunteers in the Philip
pines. He enlisted at Mount Pleasant, Pa.
Pennsylvania Vol unteer Regiment and
was mustered out with his COMPANY on
August %, 1899. He never held a COM
mission and there 10 nothing in the record
indicating { hat he ever received a medal
OF honor. Neither do the records show
that he ever lived in Washington.