The Sun. — 1845-01-27 (London, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE, BY AN INSANE MAN.  On Friday morning, between five and six o'clock, the inhabitants of Deritend and Bordesley, Birmingham, were thrown into a state of great excitement, in consequence of an attempt made by Mr. Bunny, a carpenter, to kill his wife and afterwards destroy himself. In the summer of 1843 he conceived the notion that he had been poisoned by some person, and could not live. The result of this idea was a constant apprehension of death, terminating in paroxysms, which rendered restraint necessary, and he was accordingly removed to the Lunatic Asylum at Sutton. After a few months he came out apparently quite recovered, and resumed his avocation. About three months ago, Mr. C. Walker, of Round Hills, Aston, became possessed of the Rainbow public-house. Some alterations being deemed necessary in the premises, Mr. Bunny was employed to make them: he became acqaainted with the barmaid, an interesting-looking and agreeable woman, named Sarah Turner. He made an offer of marriage to Miss Turner, and on Tuesday last they repaired, with their friends, to Aston church, where they were married. They returned to the Rainbow, and in the course of the following day he was observed to be particularly gloomy. On Thursday he complained of his head, and he and !Ars. Bunny retired to bed after supper, about twelve o'clock. About half-past five in the morning, the servants and the persons living in the adjoining houses were alarmed by the most awful shrieks and cries of murder. The servantman rushed up stairs, and hearing Mrs. Bunny screaming for help, tried in vain to force open the door. He then ran into the street, and presently Mrs. Bunny was seen at the bedroom window calling for assistance. A ladder was immediately placed against the window, and Mr. Bunny made his appearance, and descended into the street, half dressed, with his throat cut and his person literally covered with blood. He was conducted into the shop of Mr. Fletcher, within a few doors of the Rainbow. Here his appearance and conduct left no doubt of the state of his mind, and Mr. Fletcher had him well secured, and then proceeded to the house and upstairs to the bedroom door. This he found securely fastened inside. When they got in, a scene of the most horrifying description presented itself. Mrs. Bunny was leaning against a side wall in her night dress, which was saturated from top to bottom in blood, flowing from a number of wounds in various parts of her body. The bedclothes, curtains, and floor equally presented a most frightful appearance. She was immediately put into bed, and in a few minutes Mr. Archer, surgeon, was in attendance, and on examining her person, he found not less than seven severe wounds, which had been inflicted with a knife. The poor woman's throat was dangerously cut. He immediately rendered the necessary attendance. He then visited the unfortunate husband, and found a wound upon his throat, which he secured, and also some other cuts of minor importance. He was then removed to the workhouse. During the drive the men had great difficulty in keeping him in the car, and preventing him from further injuring himself. In the course of the day Mrs. Bunny was so far recovered as to be able to state some particulars of the unfortunate occurrence. It appears that about five o'clock in the morning her husband got out of bed hastily, and locked the door. By his doing so she was awakened, and presently heard him say, " My dear, we have lived together, we have loved together, and we shall die together.' He had no sooner uttered these words, than he seized hold of her in the bed, cut her in the throat, and began to stab her with a large clasp pocket-knife in various parts of the body. She jumped out of bed, screaming for help, and the impression on her mind is that the unfortunate man became terrified, and attempted to cut his own throat. It would seem, however, that to the bluntness of the knife the salvation of both their lives is attributable.