From the Princeton Clarion-Democrat, Princeton, Indiana, Friday, May 25, 1956

"Sunny" HUNT killed by estranged wife.

Muncie, Ind. (UP)-Clarence Daniel HUNT, 45, Muncie, was shot to death Thursday night, climaxing domestic trouble with his estranged wife, police reported.

They held Mrs. Velma HUNT, 35, his wife, for investigation. Mrs. HUNT told authorities she killed her husband with a 20-gauge shotgun when he tried to force his way into her sister's home.

Later, however, Mrs. HUNT was release when Coroner Eugene Eissman ruled the shooting was justifiable homicide.

Mrs. HUNT said she grabbed her sister's gun from a closet and fired at close range when her husband drew a switch blade knife and tried to enter through a back door. HUNT, shot in the head was dead on arrival at Ball Memorial Hospital.

Police said a restraining order against HUNT, to keep him from molesting his wife, was issued Wednesday.

HUNT was reared in Princeton and Gibson count and was known as "Sunny." He ran afoul of the law on various occasions during his earlier years and many local residents remember a manhunt for HUNT in which he shot Hugh WILSON, local school teacher.

Some 18 years ago, HUNT was sought by police after a service station holdup and in an effort to elude police HUNT is said to have tried to steal WILSON's car. Encountered by WILSON, the two struggled over a gun and WILSON was shot, losing part of his fingers as a result. HUNT was later captured and sentence.

Harry black, local deputy sheriff, recalls a later incident in which HUNT was found in a hay stack at Black's home. Reportedly HUNT had stolen a car which he wrecked south of the city and had then hidden in the stack where Mrs. Black noticed him and informed her husband. Police were summoned and HUNT was arrested and returned to prison.

HUNT is to be returned here for funeral services and burial. He is to arrive at the Colvin and Son Funeral Home Sunday where friends may call after 10 a.m. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday with Rev. J. L. Magness officiating. Burial will be in the White Church Cemetery.

Survivors besides his wife include two children, Judy and Jill; and six sisters, Mrs. Hazel Shoop and Mrs. Martha ELLIOTT, both of Princeton, Mrs Bessie Wininger and Mrs Joan Wiest, both of Muncie, Mrs Grace Sterling of new Orleans and Mrs. Polly Wood of Chicago.

Brief services will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. At the Meeks Funeral Home at Muncie before Mr. HUNT is brought to Princeton for final rites Sunday.

Contributed by Janet (Elliott) Harbison Douglas, 28 Jun 2011.