Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-31
GIRL SELECTED HER COFFIN
BEFORE SEEKING DEATH

bfst Ofhfs 'faIAtttNe Dfs4l
Colorado Springs, Col, July 30
At the coroner's induest over the re-
mains of Laura Matthews, whose
dead body was discovered yesterday
morning. Miss Green, the nurse and
Miss Matthews companion, admitted
writing several letters to friends Of
Miss Matthews, stating that Laura
had been informed of the finding Jf
the body.
She explains this by saying that
she anticipated the event. Miss Green
testified that several days ago she
and Laura visited local mOrtuary
and the girl selected a casket, re-
marking: This is the kind of a cas-
lxet ] wish to be buried in
chief of Police Reynolds was the
principal witness called at the after
noon session He testified that after
seeing the body unloaded at the cor
oner's morgue Monday morning, he
went TO the Arcadia hotel with II. l..
Richardson and inquired for the
nurse. They We're told that Miss
Green was out and then waited ten ar
fifteen minutes In the meantime the
clerk told the chief that the nurse had
been sitting on the porch all evening.
When the nurse did come in the chief
police asked her why she did not
oaii UP police headquarters, She re-
piled that she didn't know and that
she was expecting her charge to come
bdAhs MISS AHltfH iuiu 1nltl OF 1O- !
lice Reynolds that at o'clock Sun
day morning she went upstairs and !
looked in Miss Matthews trunk and /
saw that the revolver was gone. From I,
this, she said, she knew that the girl I
intended to commit suicide. When |
Laura left for "A ride in the afternoon !
she kissed her nurse goodbye and gave 4
her her jewels, After mounting the ,
horse. she suddenly dropped her hand |
kerchief and while the nurse was
reaching for It the girl started off. !
saying " good bye, grille. In re-
sponse to question from District At
torney Trowbridge. Chiefof Police Rey-
nolds said that the nurse did not even
seem 20 be worried and talked in the
most matter of fact way, as IL she
knew that Laura was on her way to
take her life
Thomas Holton. connected with the
Short Line railroad. residing at the
Alta Vista hotel, was the next Wit
ness called That Laura Matthews
had told him on Saturday, the day
previous To the suicide that she would
take her own life. was an imnOrtant
testified that he and Miss Matthews
had been together on the afternoon
of the tragedy riding horseback from
3 until 6 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
lie had an appointment to again ride
with her at $3.50 Sunday evening He
ldlltu AT lilbl nbuIt Only 10 ut ln-
formed that Miss Matthews had left az
1880 O'Clock. He found the nurse pac-
Ing the walk in front Of the hotel, Z
awaiting his arrival. She told Hoi-
ton that Laura thad gone an hour
previous and had not mentioned the /,
appointment with him.
on Saturday HOltOn testified. Miss
Matthews had told him that some day
'he would end Il all. Holton said that.
although he knew Laura to be deter
mined girl he did not take the remark
He said he believed from what Miss
Matthews said that G. a. Coey OF chi
ago was responsible for her despon-
lent condition.
While the corOner's Jury was await
ng the arrival OF A. r.. Rumbach To
estify as to what he knew of the
ragedy; Acting Coroner Richardson
vas called 10 the stand and describe
he position OF the body Of Miss Mat
hews when found. the nature OF the
wound which caused her death ana
he nature Of the ground where the
'ody was found.
Coroner Richardson stated that
here We're no powder burns or smoke
Iiscolorations on the skin about the
wound.
This brought out a discussion as to
whether gun held close 20 the head
viii or Will mot cause dlscoloration ,
y iht Nkin- Ut. hlcnhlhNtn rAaAfh 4
hat had had several cases Of suicide
rhere no powder burns were noticed
le and cited the case OF Millianaire a
wilson of Chicago as an instance.
Rum baugh. having not as yet ap. .
cared. Miss Green. the nurse. was re- G
allied and asked 20 testify relative 20 r.
iiss Matthews Jewels. This testi-
lony did not bring out anything and =
fiss Green was excused Just az the u
tartling news Of the suicide Of Rum q
augh was impaired 10 the officials 81
resent.
The witness appeared stunned when .
lg before leaving the court room. a
.ecess was taken at once until tomOr-
NV nf 10 a m =