The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-17
Wife and Lawyer De-
clare 1t Was an
Accident.
SAYS
APPARENT SUICIDE
Resident of Norfolk
Tumbles From Window in
Lexington Hotel, Sixty-Five
Feet to Alley-Dies Before
Operation Could Be
Performed.
Junius L. Bunting, a wealthy real es-

Junius L. Bunting, a wealthy real es-
tate man, who makes his home in
Ghent, Norfolk. was almost Instantly
killed yesterday evening about o'clock
when he fell sixty-fve feet from a
window in the Lexington Hotel to the
paving of an alley. The idea that Mr..
Bunting intended to take his own life
is secuted by his wife and lawyer. but
he is known TO have been in bad health
and despondent for several weeks past.
On the death certificate Coroner Tay
lor ascribed the cause of his demise to
apparent suicide.
Mr.. Bunting was a man Of promi
ncnce In Norfolk, and with extensive
business interests in this city. His in
terest in the firm of Bunting McNeal
Real Estate Company. with offices at
Ills East Main Street, brought him to
Richmond OH frequent visits and made
him well-known here among business
men. He was man of family, and
rcputed to be worth in the ncighbor-
hood OF 100000. His wife, who &C
companied him on his trip to Rich
nond was in the room when Mr.. Bunt-
ing tumbled out of the hall window.
The theory advanced by his wife and
George j. Hooper, his legal adviser. is
that Mr.. Bunting sat down in the hall
window while waiting for the elevator
TO come up TO the floor he was on and
lost his balance when he leaned too
tar over the sill 1t is said by Mr..
Hooper that MIR Bunting had rung the
elevator bell just previous to his fall,
and this fact is used in substantiation
of the accident theory.
Coroner Snyr Suicide.
In the opinion of the coroner and the
Police, Mr.. Buntings death was due to
a premfditated intention of taking his
life. 1t is declared to be impro bal lie
that he could have accidentally fallen
n n fa hot n
Is sdialor in the hall Immediately against
this particular window, and because
The window ledge is at least three feet
from the flooring. Coroner Taylor said
last night that he deemed an iuqucs:
unnecessary, and Mr.. Bunting's body
ty his widow this morning over :hc
Norfolk and Western Railway The
body was taken to Kain's Undertaking
Establishment overnight.
Mr.. Bunting is said by intimate
friends to have been in bad health
Constant attention TO the details OF
his immense business affairs led to a
derangement of his nervous system.
and he lost his former checrfulness to
a noticeable degree. He had been in
the habit of making his trips to Rich
mond alone, and the fact that he
was accompanied by his wife on the
present trip is said by the police to
be an Indication that his family was
alarmed by his physical condition. lie
came to Richmond from the noun
tains, where ne had been on short
vacation.
Elevator BOY Saw Him Full.
Mr. Bunting left his room. where
he had been in conversation with his
wife, yesterday afternoon shortly be-
fore o'clock with the statement that
he was going down into the lobby.
a few minutes later the elevator boy
saw large object cataquliinS through
the air just outside the hall window
on the first floor and ran TO find Felix
IScegan. president Of the Lexington
Hotel Company. Mr.. keegnn ran
hastily to the alleyway outside the
hall windows, and found the crumplcd
form OF man lying in pool OF blood
on the paving.
He turned the body over and recog
nzed his friend. Mr.. Bunting. y call
was turned in for the city ambulance.
and while waiting its arrival. Mr..
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