Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-10
GERMAN FARMER NEAR PLY
MOUTH THOUGHT HE HAD Be-
TRAYEp JURY SECRETS.
POSSIBLE CHANCE THAT
LIFE MAY BE SAVED
Fact That He is Weak and Nervous
From Five Weeks Of Constant Wor-
ry, Aside From Effects Of Wound,
Is Against Him However-Feared He
Would Go to Pen.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Mason City, June 1O-Driven to a
state of temporary insanity by con-
slant brooding for several weeks over
a fear that he had betrayed secrets
of the jury room, which he thought he
should have kept inviolate, William
Bonker, farmer living two miles west
CT Plymouth, attempted to end his life
by cutting his throat in a furniture
store at Plymouth, yesterday after
noon. Bonker had gone to town with
and cheerful They went to the furni-
ture store to buy some wall paper, and
while they We're there Bonker saw a
livery team from Mason City drive in
to town. He thought that it was the
sheriff coming after him, and without
saying anything went into a little
room joining the store, and picking up
knife there slashed his throat. His
Wife attended to having the paper
trimmed, and then missed him. A
search resulted in the finding of his
CORY body PROSTATE upon the floor of
the adjoining room. He was still con-
scious and told them why he had at
tempted to take his life. A physician
was at once called, and under his care.
Bonker was brought to this city on the
evening train. and to the City Park
Hospital, where an operation was per-
formed. 1t is hoped that his life may
be saved, but he is so weak and
nervous from five weeks of constant
worry, that i, is feared the wound will
prove fatal.
Bonker served on the jury in the
case OF Inman vs.. Nelson, which was
on trial here during the first week in
May. 1t was his first experience as a
juryman. and he took it all in deep
seriousness. The instructions of the
court not to talk of the case with any
one. especially impressed him. A
friend from near Plymouth asked him
what case it was in the trial of which
he was acting as a juror, and he told
him. Afterwards he stopped to think
it over, and began to think that he had
done wrong. When the case was over
ard the jury excused. he went home
haunted by the fear that he had done
ftii awful NIOhS- lie lQed OUSeSSGQ
him, and he could not but brood over
it all the while At last it became so
bad that he could not sleep and was
able to eat but little. Still he kept up
his work on the farm, and constantly
became weaker under the ordeal. All
the time his fear became greater and
his constant breoding finally unbal-
anced his mind. until. yesterday after
noon the sight of the livery team from
this city made him think that the
sheriff was after him. Bonker is a Ger
man and knows little of the law. He
thought that the sheriff would take
him to the pententary and then sell
his house and home, and leave his wife
and children destitute. With the pros
pect of such dire consequences Of his
act in his mind. the unbalancing of his
mind ultimately resulted
Bonker is 40 years of age, and has
two children, a girl of and boy of
II. He owns his own fine farm Of
eighty acres. and is a thrifty farmer
and good citizen.