The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-01

A dispatch from Junction City tells
of the attempted suicide at that place
of J. w. Bundy, the Union Pacific sta
tion agent at Ellis, Kas., because Of her
unfaithfulness to MIN. He claims they
had been engaged to be married for
more than a year, and that he had been
furnishing money to pay her expenses
while she was at Bethany college at
Lindsborg, Kas.
DEVELOPMENTS OF the last week have
shown that in addition to deserting her
own home at Granville. where she has
q husband and little daughter living, she
has deceived the young man who mar
ried her in Abilene with stories of being
an heiress, and came near being reSpon-
sible for the death of former lover.
The following is the dispatch from
Junction City telling of the attempted
suicide there last night of J. w. Bundy:
Junction City Kas, Oct ii. w
| Bundy, OF Perry, Kas., attempted to
commit suicide here by taking poison
last night. A physician was summoned
and he will recover. Bundy came here
Monday night in search of Edith Will
| let's, who went from here to Abilene on
! September % and was married to w F.
Elliott, Of milwaukee,. Bundy has been
an eTnploye on the Union Pacific at
Ellis. He had in his possession here
a bundle of letters bearing the signature
of Edith Willis, and dated IindsborS,
Kas. He said he had in a way been
| the girls guardian since her mother s
death at Perry, and that they had been
engaged to be married for the past year.
| Edith Willis maiden name was Edith
Simmons. She was married to a man
named Willis, who lives at Granville,
Kan. Bundy said he had been keeping
Mrs Willis in school at Lindsborg for
the past year and had been bearing all
| the expenses In his search for her he
went to Lindsborg only to find 5000 in
unpaid bills to settle. He said yester-
day he would forgive her if she would
return and go to school again. Bundy
put in time here since Monday night
searching the town and post for the
missing woman. She was seen here and
at Fort Riley Friday and also Oh Sun
day evening.
Mr. Bundy says he has known Mrs.
| Willis since her infancy and that her
name wss Edith Simmons. In 1895 she
married a Mr.. Willis and to them were
born two children, one of whom is now
| dead and the other, 3-year-old child,
is living with its father. He says Mrs.
| year ago and sought a divorce, but the
suit was dismissed. After leaving her
| husband she became engaged to marry
| Mr.. Bundy. who is labOrer on railrOad
finish her musical education at Linds-
| borg, Kas., and Mr. Bundy agreed tc
the plan and supplied her with the nee
esSary money.
He says he had no reason to suspect
her of wrong doing until a few days
ago, when her escapade with Elliott, the
Milwaukee travelling salesman, was
| made public. When the news of the
marriage reached him he quit his posi-
ton on the Union Pacific at Ellis. Kas.,
and set out in search of her. He traced
her to Junction City, but she had left
TIE town about twelve hours before his
| arrival.
In the package of letters which he
had with him was one dated from
Lindsborg, Kas., May 27, 1902, and read
Mr. J. w Bundy, Kansas City, Kas.
My Own Dear Willie: I am so homesicK
| to see you [ write to you again this
evening, il you will forgive me for doing
so. 1 have written to you every day
this week. I have practiced seven hours
today. How much you are doing for
me, I can never forget it. I had to Dor
row two cents to write to you this even
ing. You must send me some money
for postage. Now I cannot write until
I get some stamps, If you would write
to me oftener I would love you more
1 can never do anything against you as
long as you keep those promises Bui
if you break a one, remember I have !
1 home and a place to go to and don't for
get that / have just begun to wake vi
was almost crazy when l came out here
You are the cause of all this. Oh, how
dear you are to me. I shall never for
sake you-Edith. P. S. Send me some
| money"
Every letter closes with a request fol
more money Another letter dated from
Lindsborg, Kas., September 8, 1902. says.
Il can't leave here until my debts are
paid up. That is all. No Will if you
viii only help me to pay everything
owe here 1 win give it back to you
every cent. It will take $780,
This was the last letter Mr.. Bundy
received from Mrs. Willis. On August
go Edith Willis registered at a hote
here and was accompanied by a gir
friend. On September % she again reg
istnred at the hotel, and her name ant
that of w. F. ElIiotts were signed by
the same writer -ta next day the.