Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-06-13

A Parallel to the Bender Family,

| The recent revelations In regard to
the atrocious murders committed by
the Bender family, in Kansas, will
probably recall to the minds of some
of the older citizens of Charleston a
similar series of murders that occur
ed near this city more than half
century ago. In that day travel
ers did not enjoy the facilities OF
railroad transportation, and in con-
sequence there were many little way
side inns scattered along the public
highways, some adjacent to the
cities, and others more remote
Such..an inn was kept few miles
from Charleston. Being near the
city, it was quite common for trav-
elers, going or returning, to stop
for rest and refreshments. 1t was
kept by two people, man
and his wife, who were accounted
to be honest, and, withal, very pros
porous persons. Their hosiery was
convenient to the travelling public
and therefore popular.
Occasionally a traveller would sud-
denly disappear in a very myster-
ious and unaccountable manner; but
no suspicion attached to the hospi-
table inn-keeper and his wife. Mat
tiers went on thus for some time, the
mysterious disappearance mean
while becoming more and more fire.
quent. Fathers, sons and brothers
going to or from Chalestown would
suddenly become missing, and no
possible clue to their whereabouts
could be obtained. Public excite
ment, as may be supposed, was
wrought up to the highest pitch,
until finally there came sudden
and horrible solution to the mystery.
One night-so tradition saith-a
bclated traveller on his way to Char
lesion, stopped at the inn. Sitting
at the fire, in the bar, slipping his
toddy, it suddenly occurred to him
that the actions of the host and host
ess were somewhat peculiar The
fatcs of others travellers in that
section probably made his sense of
danger more than usually acute, and
he resolved to be sharply on the
alert. He was shown to his room
by his obliging host, and when the
steps Of the latter died away on the
stairs, he made careful inspection
of the surroundings.
lie discovered among others
things that the bed upon which he
was expected to sleep was ingen-
iously fitted in slides, so that it
could be lowered with ease to the
ground floor beneath. Other cir
cumstances convinced him that he
was in a trap of some kind, so he
blew out his light and patiently
awaited developments. A little
after midnight he heard stealthy
steps on the stairs, and he imme-
diately put himself in a position to
defend himself. The steps drew
nearer and nearer, and finally the
door, which was guiltless Of either
lock or latch, was cautiously opened,
and the hospitable host stepped in.
The traveller fellcd him with 4 chair,
and made his escape to the city,
closet pursued by both man and
wife, who followed him almost to
the city limits. Information was at
once conveyed to the authorities,
and guard was sent out to the inn
and the wretches arrested. The in
vestlgation that followed revealed a
pit below the room in which the
traveller was to have rested. In
this there were found the remains
of all who had SO mystcriously dis
appeared. The spectacle was most
CHASTITY one, and the revelation of
such atrocity created, in that prim-
tive day, much more intense thrill
Of horror all through the country
than the Bender butcheries, and
justice was swift in overtaklng the
murderer and his accompllce.