New-York tribune., 1873-05-13
THE BENDER MURDERS IN KANSAS

DIsAPPEARANCB OF DR. YORK-sEARCH FOR HIM
THE DISCOVERY OF EIGHT BODIES.
From a detailed account in The Kansas City
MOI Times (May Of the series OF murders committed
by the Bender family Cherryvale Kansas We con-
dense the following statement Of the main facts On
the 9th of last March DIR. William II. York.
brother OF State Senator York of Kansas
left Fort Scott horseback for his homo at Indepen
dence, Kan. Tho time for his arrival but he was
missing. Els family and friends waited anxously for
bis return for some tidngs from him until their
anxiety became great that search mado for him.
His neIghbors Joined with his brother Col NJ York. and
the missing traced to CheYyale but there the
search had to end Early in April, rode over
to the Bender House. about two miles south of Cherry
vale, 10 learn something. II possible, concerning DIR.
York. They learned nothing, however; the
Benders had neither seon him, heard Of
him, knew OF his mysterious diappearanoe.
This visit have alarmed the Bender family for
after a riding afrom tho prairie one day saw
smoke arising from their chimney there sign
Of life any where about the premises. He rode the
house. and his investigations convinced him the
people had fed secretly He galioped to Cherryvale,
and a party organized TO examine into
the matter. for every believed that
the flight Of the Benders because OF some crime,
perhaps that of murder A long and thorough exami-
nation led to the discovery OF trapdoor in the floor Of
one OF the OF tho house, under bed. Beneath
was pit some six feet deep ana hvN feet
IN diameter and here and there blood, thick
fetd and cammy, tfOund. Nothing further
however rewarded their search in tho pit. Taking
long sharp OF irOD they went next to the garden
thing was found on the end OF the rod. Shovels
soon uncovered corpse, buried face down
ward. The hesh had dropped from the limbs
one look at the face and dozen voices cried out IL
ia Dr. York." and they spoke truly He had been muir
dered by a blow from hammer upon the head.
The iron rod again put In reauisltl0n,
and seven other bodies discovered, six OF
which have been identified. They were n.
IOnchos and his little girl child OF IS months,
been killed by blows with hammer upon the back Of
the head and otherwise mutated The throats OF
an with the exception of the little child, were also
cur. Other bodies will doubtless be unearthed. The
peope were aroused by their discoveries as to at once
hang a man named Brockman whom they suspected OF
knowing something OF the murders Death was within
reach OF him each time be was cut down, but
called upon 70 confess, and was at last al
lowed TO crawl away after being pulled up three
times I is believed that the wife OF the elder or the
Bender brothers is the chief in the murders since
the family dreaded and Obeyed her in all things. The
country is thoroughly aroused, and effort Is making TO
bring the guilty ones 10 justice.
THREE MORE GRAVES DISCOVERED.
PARSONS, Kan, May 12.-Reports from the
scene of the Bender murders that three graves
were discovered yesterday. Over 5000 people were on
the ground The excitement is intense. Nearly all tho
bodies of the dead indecenty mutated is con-
sdered certain that the little girl was thrown alive into
the grave with her father marks Of violence were
found on her body.