The San Francisco call., 1908-11-22
Lawsuit Following Rich Mans
Death Reveals His Remorse
of Half a Century
Lived in Agony of Shame for
Act Toward Woman He Loved
and Who Spurned Him
Leaves Pathetic Pleas for For
giveneSS and Deeds Her
Notes for $4,000

Los ANGELES. Nov. 21.-A suit fled
today in the United States circuit cour.
by Mrs. Melissa T. Funk Of Attica. Ind
10 collect $4,000 worth Of notes from
the s2oo.eOO estate Of Theodore P. Bun
nell late founder of Grand Junction,
Colo. and capitalist OF santa Monica.
Cal. reveals one Of the most remark
able stories ever recorded in the an
nails Of the western courts
BY means of letters and promissory
notes alleged to have been signed by
Bunnell, which were filed today in
court, it is shown that BunneM. when
a young man in Indiana, so years ago,
made an assault and attempted mis-
treatment Of Mrs. Funk. who was then
Miss Melissa link. a lass Of Is years.
Failing. he was stricken with remorse
which first forced him to leave the
country and throughout the remainder
OF his life compelled him TO do penance
for his act. During the ensuing years
he wrote many letters TO Miss link
begging forgiveness, and sent her nu-
merous promissory notes. payable from
his estate as a palliation for the injury
he had done her. These notes are
made out in unusual form. showing
the stricken conscience. from which the
writer suffered.
LEAVES NO HEIRS
Bunnell. who had been a resident of
Santa Monica, q seaside resort of Los
Angeles, for many years. died at the
age Of rs, year ago in Colorado
Springs, his body at that time remain
ing unclaimed in the Colorado city for
some days. He left no heirs, his wife
having died two years previous to his
own demise. His body was finally re-
turned here and inferred in Woodlawn
cemetery. George H. Hutton of Cali
fornia and William A Marsh of Colo
rado Springs are the executors Of the
estate. which is located in California
and in Colorado Springs and Grand
Junction. The executors have refused
TO allow the claims of Mrs. Funk and
the suit fled today is the result
The frst note is dated April 2s, 1860.
and with its accompanying statement
reveals the very heart of the whole
story. It appears in this language:
Rob Roy, Ind April 26. 1860.
] promise 10 pay Melissa link or
order, $1,000 for the damage 1 did to
her I'm 1853, and for the love and Ernt-
ftude I bear 10 her I pledge my es-
tate and all am worth with the pay
ment of this note after my death, by
the person that settles my estate with
out cost to the bearer.
THEODORE BUNNELL..
MY explanation no one will miscon-
strue and blame Miss link She is the
most virtuOus girl / ever knew. I love
her with a pure, divine love. Would
marry her n she would marry me. In
desperate fight between us she was
badly hurt. 1 gave mp when she
got an az. She was only I3 or IA
years old at that time. i begged for
Eiveness. She may tell the rest, she
never lies.
THEODORE BUNNELL.
A few years later Bunnell came west
and lived the life of a plainsman, hunt
ing bunalo and conducting a trading
store amonE the Indians. He obtained
cotrol Of 2 large tract of land and
founded Grand Junction. The winning
Of wealth did not, however, obIiterare
he thought Of the misdeed, which
9reyed upon his mind. Letters begging
forgiveness were sent continuously to
Miss link. One of them, dated 1870,
contained a peculiar provision. It fol-
lows:
promise TO pay Melissa link or or
der $1,000 not TO marry one John Bo-
verIy, this note to be paid by the ad-
minfstrator of my estate after my
death. THEODORE BUNNELL.
Miss link thereafter married man
by the name of Funk and now lays
claim to the money promised in the
above note.
A PATHETIC CHAPTER
Another note dated Colorado Springs
I'VE days before BunnelPs death adds a
pathetic chapter to the complaint. It
reads thus:
sIO.0OO-August 10, 1907. L. promise
TO pay my dear friend, Melissa q. Funk,
or her daughter, or either of them or
order, $4,000. This note Is to be paid
by the person who settles my estate
after my death, without cost TO the
bearer. This note is given for love
and gratitude and 10 reward the one
dfd fufure eo xvfIlfuIIy.
THEODORE p. BUNNELL.
A letter which has been exhibited to
, the executor Of the estate in California
was sent. it is claimed, about the same
time to Melissa 2. Funk. 1t begs her
10 come to Colorado Springs and grant
forgiveness before he dies. But the
same day it is said to have reached
her a telegram also came announcing