Omaha daily bee., 1907-08-01
THROWS LIGHT ON MYSTERY
Miss Matthews Nurse TestIhea at
Colorado Springs Inauest--Rum-
baugh Identified.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. July al
Coroner Richardson stated this noon that
in his opinion both Miss Laura Mathews
and Amos r. Rumbaugh committed suicide
He said he believed Miss Mathews killed
herself because Of unrequited love on the
part OF c. A. Coey the Chicago millionaire,
and that Rumbaugh, who had been drink
ing heavily. had killed himself because Of
infatuation for the girl.
Miss Green, the nurse, the first witness
called to the stand at the coroner's inquest
today, testified that c. A Coey, the wealthy
Chicago automobile dealer. has sent her
several telegrams since the tragedy, one OF
which reads as follows:
will meet you at train. Forward let
ters. Keep your own counsel"
The witness admitted receiving SSi5 from
Coey yesterday.
Miss Green testified that Rumbaugh on
Monday told her that he and Laura had
been driving in closed carriage on Fri
day and that after Laura had disclosed to
him her relations with Coey she suddenly
drew a revolver and attempted to shoot
herself Rumbaugh wrested the pistol from
her. Rumbaugh also told Miss Green that
he and Miss Matthews had determined to
marry and go abroad Rumbaugh had en-
gagged a section in a Pullman for himself
and Miss Matthews and they were to leave
for New York on Monday.
The nurse said Rumbaugh was very much
agitated when told of Miss Matthews
death and talked excitedly about going
east and taking revenge on Coey.
Miss Green said she had no desire to
withhold any information from the jury
After identifying a large bundle of letters
written by Coey to Miss Matthews, wit
ness was excused These letters have not
been made public, but are said to be mod
crate in tone and simple.
They were addressed Dear Girl" Dear
Little Laura" and My Dear Laura"
Several kilograms also were offered in evi-
dence.
One letter begins Find inclosed fifty dol
lars, another Your loving letter received.
The coroner when asked as to the nature
OF the letters said they were of character
which do not reflect seriously upon Mr..
Coey.
c. L. Kingsbury, a bellboy at the Acacia
hotel, testified that on Saturday afternoon
he overheard telephone conversation be-
tween man and Miss Mathews. He cut
In on the wire Just as the conversation
ended, but overheard the man say, KIN
you from ambush" Miss Mathews said,
'What?" and the man repeated what he
had said.
Amos r. Rumbaugh, who shot himself
late yesterday rather than testify at the in
quest over the body of his friend, Miss
Laura Matthews, died early this morning
at the St. Francis hospital. The coroner's
inquest held over the body of Miss Mat
thews, which was adjourned yesterday
when 1t became known that Rumbaugh
had shot himself. resumed here this morn
ing. ~
PITTsBURG. July S1.-The suicide OF
amos H. Rumbaugh at Colorado Springs
yesterday has cleared the mystery OF his
disappearance from his home at Mount
Pleasant, Pa, near here two weeks ago.
Rumbaugh was married and was one of
tho most prominent citizens OF Mount
Pleasant. Two weeks ago last Monday
ne left home without indicating to his wife
or relatives @hither he was going and until
now all efforts to locate him were unavail-
ing. Yesterday, his wife, despairinE OF his
return, had her household effects hacked
and was preparing to leave today for the
home OF her father, A. c. Run at I,ouden-
Vile, o. AS result of the information
from Colorado Springs however, she will
defer her departure for the present and
Charles r. Rumbaugh, a brother will go
TO Colorado Springs. Amos r. Rumbaugh
was private in Company f Of the Tenth
Pennsylvania volunteers and served with
distinction with that regiment in the Philip
pines during the Spanish war. His rela-
tives say they never heard OF Laura Mat
thews or the C. E. Coey mentioned in the
Colorado Springs dispatches