Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-31
TRAGEDY OF
TWO LOVERS
Laura Matthews Death Leads
Amos R. Rumbrough to At
tempt Suicide.
SHOT HIMSELF IN The HEAD.
His Act Lends Additional Mystery TO
Shooting of the Young Actress
Coroner's Jury Investigating.

~
Colorado Springs, Colo, July 40
Amos r. Rumbaugh of Washington,
%. c.. close friend OF Miss Laura
Matthews, the young actress who COM
mitted suicide near Broadmoor Sunday
night. added horror and mystery TO the
gruesome case by shooting herself
through the head this afternoon in the
same manner adopted by Miss MAY
fhews.
Rumbaugh committed the act In his
room at the Alta Vista hotel. Inc
hour when the fatal shot was fred is
not known, as Ii was not heard by
anyone in the hotel, and the deed was
discovered only when officers went to
his room to ascertain why he mad not
responded TO the subpoena 10 attend
the coroneirs inquest over Miss Mat
thews body today.
When the officers appeared at the
hotel bellboy was sent To Rum
baugh's room to see What was the mat
ter The boy found the door locked
and could get no response The of-
ficers asked that the door be opened,
but the key was In the inside ana
another could not be inserted in the
lock. An officer was boosted up 70
the transom and looked in, and the
spectacle he saw was horrifying.
WHAT THE OFFICER SAW.
Rumbaugh was reclining on the edge
of the bed and his brains had oozed
out on to the floor He was mixed.
A hasty examination showed that the
man was still alive, and he was taken
TO a hospital, but all efforts to save MN
were fruitless
That the act of Rumbaugh was the
direct result OF the death OF Miss Mat
thews is not doubted. He was to have
appeared this afternoon as witness
at the coroner's inquest TO tell what
he knew of his friends tragic end
ing. Rumbaugh claimed to be but
chance acquaintance of the girl, put
NJ develops that he knew her in Chi
cago. and also knew c. A. Coey. the
wealthy Chjcagoan, and DR.. II. A.
Thomas OF the "l01'' ranch. He was
frequently a member of parties at
which Miss Matthews and the otner
men referred to were members.
Rumbaugh was the one who accom-
panied Miss Green, the nurse, TO the
livery stable about o'clock Monday
morning to see II the actress horse
had returned 1t was he who sent the
telegram to Coey demanding that he"do
the right thing by the girl, and It
was with him that Miss Matthews left
the letter in which was enclosed an
other letter to Coey.
The officers have not yet had time
to examine Rumbaugh's papers ana
effects, and the coroner has had ms
room locked. II Rumbaugh did not
destroy the letter left him by Miss
Matthews, together nth the letter 10
Coey. 1t 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 MS sui
eide 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 let
ter shows that Rumbaugh knew toey
well enough to speak to hun of Lau-
ra," and threaten him.
Rumbaugh is about IS years old ana
was son of wealthy washington;
D. c., family. A service medal or
honor shows that he served with dis
tinctlon In the Tenth PENNSYLVANIA IN
fantry in the Philippines.
NOTES FROM RuMBAuGH
Rumbaugh's death is expected hour
". Two brief notes are all that ex-
plain the young mans rash act. one
note is addressed:
ITO Whom 1t May Concern" and
reads as follows; ship by body ~
Mrs. ]. H. Rumbaugh, Mount Pleas
ant. Pa. Notify the Travellers lnsur-
ance company OF Hartford, Conn.,, and
the Fraternal Order of Eagles of
Scottdale. Pa.
amos RICHARD RUMBAUGH.'
The second note was addressed to
k.I.. 4. 4 IL 10 IN NfFsl n
the above address, and says:
Dear Mother: There is nothing for
me to say why / did this awful deed,
go lay my body away 10 rest. have
about $3.50 on my person. You and
Charlie settle things up Your son,
RICHARD A. RuMBAUGH."
INQUEST OVER GIRL,
Colorado Springs. Colo, July 3O.--At
the ooroner's Inquest held over the re-
mains OF Miss Laura Mathews, whose
dead body was found lying In a lane
near Broadmoor yesterday with bull
let hole In her head, several sensational
facts developed today.
Miss Green. the nurse who has been
Miss Mathews companion while In
Colorado Springs was the principal
witness. She admitted having written
several letters to friends of Miss
nldtlHtWs III tIuSusp anu tiStNlltIt'
stating that Laura had taken her lie
after making "a hard battle" II de-
veloped that these letters were written
before she had been informed OF tho
finding of Miss Matthews body. She
explained this by saying she had an
ticipated such an event. One Of the
letters written by Miss Green Is as
follows:
my Dear Tot--Poor little Laura has
ended her hard battle she has tried To
night. 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
supposed 10 have been intended for
some person I'm Chicago.
Miss Green also testified that several
days ago she and Miss Matthews visit
ed a local mortuary and Miss Matthews