The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-12-03
CLAIM FIFTY YEARS OLD.
STRANGEST OF ALL LAWSUITS
IN CALIFORNIA.

Woman Sues Mans Estate for a
Wrong at His Hands Committed
Many Years Ago.
Los Angeles, CAL, November "a
A suit for $4,000 on promissory
notes given by the late Theodore
Bunnell during a fifty year appeal
for forgiveness has been started
against his estate on behalf of Mrs.
Melissa Link Funk, of Attica, Ind. A
point that will be argued in the trial
win be whether or not Mrs. Funk in
validated the notes by forgiving the
NAH who had injured her half cen
tury ago.
The suit was filed yesterday in the
United States circuit court. 1t asks
payment out of Bunnell's 100000
estate, mostly lying in Santa Monica,
Cal, Colorado Springs, COL, and
Grand Junction, Col, which latter
town Bunnell founded. Bunnell had
been resident of Santa Monica many
years and died a year ago at Colorado
Springs at the age of Is years. He
never married.
Letters and promissory notes al
legged to have been signed by Bunnell,
which have been fled, apparently
show that Bunnell, when young man
in Indiana fifty years ago, attempted
to mistreat Mrs. Funk, when Melissa
link, ,13 years old. Stricken with re-
morse during the remainder OF his
life he wrote many letters to Miss
link begging forgiveness, and sent
her several notes payable from his
estate because of the harm he had
done her.
The first note is as follows:
.sRob Roy, Ind, April 26, 1861
promise to pay Melissa link, or order
$4,000 for damage did to her in 1853,
and for the love and gratitude I bear
her pledge my estate for all l am
worth the payment Of this note af-
ter death by the person who settles
my estate without cost to the bearer.
Theodore Bunnell.
"My explanation: No one will
amisconstrue this and blame Miss
link. She is the most virtuous girl
ever knew. I love her with pure
and divine love and would marry her
IL she would marry me. l went TO
her home in storm, found her alone,
as thought I would, and assaulted
her. There was a desperate fight be-
tween us and she was badly hurt.
gave ND when she got an ak. She
was only 13 or IA years old at that
time. l begged forgiveness. She
may tell the rest. She never lies.
'sThodore Bunneil."
In 1850 Bunnell went West to COL
orado and for many years lived as
plainsman. He hunted buffalo and
conducted trading store not far
from where Grand Junction now
stands. For $4,000 he obtained con-
I; troll of a large tract and made town
site of great value. Letters to Me-
lissa link Funk, to which the name
of T. P. Bunnell is attached, pleaded
INCREASINGLY for forgiveness and ex-
pressed the keenest suffering in mind
and heart.
Not satisfied with his continued
appeals, the complaint alleges, Bun
nell made another note OF $4,000 IN
favor of the plaintiff on January H.
1870, at Lafayette, Ind. 1t read as
follows:
!, .Promise to pay Melissa Funk or
order $4,000 not to marry John Bev-
erly. this note to be paid by the ad-
; mfnistrator uf estate after death.
Theodore Bunnel1." !"
Bunnell died at Colorado Springs
while on the way to Indiana. Anoth-
:er, dated at that place five days be-
~ "Aug. IS, 1907.
Promise to pay my dear friend
Melissa z. Funk, or her daughter, or
either of them, or order, $4,000.
This note to be paid by the person
who settles my estate after death
without cost to bearer. This note Is
given in love and gratitude as re-
/ ward to one I did injure so Wllfu!ly.
f.s;.ssl Theodore P. Bunnell.'
A letter which has been exhibited
sby the executor Of the estate In Call
fornia, was sent, it is asserted, about
the same time to Melissa q. Funk
and begged her to go to Colorado
Springs and grant him forgiveness be-
fore he died. But the same day 1t Is
said to have reached her she received
a telegram announcing his death.
In one of these letters, sent from
Santa Monica on March 1, 1907, Bun
nell wrote to Mrs. Funk and said ne
. was sick and nervous and realized
IL oo11 hrief time tO live