MATT. BONNEY DEAD.
Word of Fatality Received from Central America Yesterday.
Word was received here yesteday of the death, in San Salvador, of Matthew C. Bonney, formerly of this city, a son of Dr. S. F. Bonney, of Taylor, Mo., and a cousin of the judge here. The announcement came by cable to a brother in Kansas, and by him mailed to the relatives here. Judge Bonney last evening sent a cablegram to Sonsonate, asking if the information were true, and to-day the message came that the word sent was correct. No particulars have been received, however, nor can any for twenty or thirty days. Sonsonate is about ten miles from the Pacific Ocean and is a place of about $10,000 inhabitants. It would be 1,200 miles in a straight line from New Orleans, with the Gulf of Mexico and Honduras between.
The deceased was about 40 years of age and was a resident of Quincy for a long time. He went through Ann Arbor Univesity with George C. McCrone and studied law with Bonney & Woods and was admitted to the bar as a Quincy student. About six years ago he went west and drifted into art. From San Francisco he went to Guatemala, painting landscapes and also representing a large art concern. The place where he is supposed to have died is about a hundred miles from Guatemala in the adjoining republic of San Salvador.
Page 1 of The Quincy Weekly Herald, published in Quincy, Illinois on Friday, April 10th, 1896

Local and Personal.
Dr. Bonney, of near Taylor, Marion county, received a cable gram Thursday of last week from San Salvador, Central America, announcing the death of his son, Matt Bonney. Judge Oscar Bonney of Quincy, wired immediately to the American consul requesting him to have the remains forwarded to Quincy. Matt Bonney was well-known about Monticello, he having attended school here years ago when Monticello Seminary was in its prime. The dispatch did not state what was the cause of his death. Since he took up his residence in Central America he has been following the avocation of an artist.
Lewis County Journal, Monticello, Missouri • Fri, Apr 10, 1896, Page 3, Column 3

Local and Personal.
— An account of the death of Matt Bonney in San Salvador, was related in these columns last week, but nothing definite was then known as to how he came to his death. It was surmised, however, that he had met foul play and accordingly Judge Bonney of Quincy, conferred with Congressman Marsh, of Illinois, who laid the case before Secretary Olney for investigation. The Secretary sent a cablegram to the U. S. consul at San Salvador for his knowledge of the affair. The answer came as follows: "Bonney shot March 28. Found dead near Sonsonate. Parties unknown; supposed object robbery. Thorough investigation demanded."
Lewis County Journal, Monticello, Missouri • Fri, Apr 17, 1896, Page 3, Column 2

Local and Personal.
— The following are further particulars concerning the murder of Matt Bonney, as taken from the Quincy Herald of May 8th: "Judge Bonney has heard from San Salvador and gathered some meager particulars about the killing of Matt Bonney, his nephew, who was slain by highwaymen over a month ago. It appears that he left Sonsonate one afternoon to go to a neighboring town. Four hours later he was found lying dead by the road with a couple of bullet holes in his body and some evidences of a struggle about him. The United States consulate at Sonsonate has in his possession Bonneys diamond ring and stud and other personal property in his lodgings, but it is supposed the body was rifled by his murderers of whatever he had with him on his person that day."
Lewis County Journal, Monticello, Missouri • Fri, May 15, 1896, Page 3, Column 4