INMONROE-L Archives

From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: [INMONROE] Cass Bunting Goes Mad
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2002 09:23:00 -0500

Bloomington (IN) Evening World, May 22, 1916, p. 1.

INSANE MAN CUTS THROAT; WILL LIVE

Prolonged ill health, it is believed, was the cause of the attempted
suicide Sunday morning of Cass Bunting, 38 years old, a stone planerman who
lives on West Howe Street and who not only attempted to take his own life
but who also wanted to kill his wife and the other members of the
family. It is believed Bunting's mind had been deranged for several days.

Sunday about noon he told his wife he believed it would be best for them
all to die together. He called his oldest son, Kenneth, aged 8, and the
youngest, Leslie, 4, to him and was holding them in order to cut their
throats. The mother of the children screamed and grabbing the boys ran
into the yard and called loudly for help. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Binkley hard
the appeal, and Binkley ran into the house. He found Bunting lying across
a bed drawing a razor across his throat.

Binkley grabbed the razor and asked his wife to call for additional
help. Bunting is a large, powerful man and Binkley was afraid he would
make another attempt. Sherman Atkinson, also a neighbor, arrived, and
Bunting had found another razor and a butcher knife. When both men
attempted to overpower him he told them he never started anything unless he
finished it. In his pockets they found a note written on the reverse side
of a handbill. It read: "This if Friday. I am going to send two babies
to Heaven and myself to Hell."

With the blood streaming from his throat from the wound, Bunting was soon
soaked with the crimson fluid and it was evident that he would soon bleed
to death unless something was done. A towel was tied about his neck and a
hurry call was sent to Dr. Frank Holland who arrived and took the insane
man to the Bloomington Hospital in an automobile. The wound was two inches
deep and three inches long, but Dr. Holland says Bunting has a good chance
to recover.

Bunting came to Bloomington from Sanders two years ago and was considered
an experienced planerman. He was offered a job as foreman at the Central
Stone Company which he was unable to take on account of sickness. He has
been unable to work but little this year, and his family have been the
objects of charity. The other stone workers passed a subscription paper
about and took up a collection which bought supplies for the family. When
he worked, Bunting received 32 1/2 cents per hour.

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• [INMONROE] Cass Bunting Goes Mad by Randi Richardson <>