The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-05-13

COTFErNILLE, kas., May g.-One oil
the darkest crimes ia the somewhat event
ful history Of Kansas has Just been I'M
yelled in the northwestern part of Labette
county. Those who have read the pA-
pers lately are familiar with the report OF
the mysterious disappearance OF DR.
York Of Independence, as well q, n num-
Der Of other parties. The whole county
as well as all portions Of the state, has
been in
fEvEB OF EXCITEMENT
Over this mysterious affair for some time.
The other day the untiring energy of
those who have never ceased work in
hopes Of ferreting Out the matter, was re-
wsrded with develorements which need
only To be nnown to cause ones blood
to curdle in their veins. / have learned the
following particulars Of the matter from
Mr.. John Cotieyville and who, in com
pany with Mr.. John VI. Creswell, special
agent Of the post-oiiice department, was
at the scene Of the horror.
1t seems that a family of German peo-
pie named Bender, who pretended to bs
spirtuaIists, were the perpetrators OF n
series Of the .. ....
MOST DAMSABLE CRIMES
On record. Mr. Kesfers Says tie scene of
the horrible tragedy 10 one mile east and
two miles sou.n OF MOrehesd Station,
ana six miles northeast Of Cherry Vale.
The house Is situated In IA beautiful valley,
surrounded on the southeast and north by
n rang. of low hills aud in fair view of
the l., l.. and q railroad and many farm
b ,use-, though not nearer than half "A mile
to any one. The house is about sixteen
by twenty, single root, and neither celled
nor plastered.
TIE BENDER FAMILY
Consisted of four persons, father, mother,
son and daughter. The age Of the father
was sixty-,hree years, the mother sixty,
son tventy-seven and daughter twenty
four. The son is described as strong,
muscular man. The family are professed
splritualisls, and the daughter claims
SUPERNATURAL POWER,
In that she can heal the sick, restore sight
to the blind, and also tha. che could CIV
definite information in regard to robber-
les murders, etc.
The following is q copy Of Miss Ben
ders advertisement:
PROF. MISS KATIE BENDER
Can cure all kinds of diseases can cure
bllndu.sa, AVS, deafness Hud all such dis
eases also deaf and dumbne-s. Residence
IA miles eaat OF Independents, ON H..
road from Independence to Usage mission,
| four and halt miles southeast vi More
head station. KATIE BENDER.
June ~, 1872.
| THIS Kate was q rcd-faced young
woman OF exceedingly bad Reputation.
The following 10 partial list OF the
victims Of this mysterious family; The
last of them was Dr. York OF lndepend-
ence, q highly respected citizen, whose
mysterious disappearance created so much
feeling that large parties went in search
of him. He was traced TO Benders house,
where they said he took dinner and then
left for independence, but no suspicion
rested upon them, But
THE WEIGHT OF GUILT
Was heavy, and the large number in
search alarmed the family and they left
the house without removing anything
drove their team to Thayer and left il
where it was taken u few days after by the
sheriff of ths, county. 1t was about th
7th of April when they disappeared. The!
took the northwsrd bound train ut Thayer
. There being no suspicion resting upor
these quiet, unobtrusive Germans, anC
they not having been very socisble ant
: having but few visitors, IL was not know
: that they had abandoned their home 70
. nearly four weeks, and whom the dscov
ery was made it was found that ,hei
calves and bogs were
STARVED TO DEATH
, In the lots. These discoveries at once
awakened suspicion, and search was com
u mencea in small orchard, one hundre,
and Rfty feet south of the house. Tn
a, surface had been carefully plowed an
y h.rrowed bv the Blenders, before their d,
nnrture; but tho body Of Mr.. York ha
been buried so recently that the heAv
o. rains and time had settled the groun
"A around the grave so that the outlines {
- the grave we're distinctly visible, and
faw hours work unesrthed these hOrrib
VI crimes.
ed DR. YoRK's BODY
Being found, further search was made, .
- thrusling q shap-pointed iron rod In
w ,he earth, which soon developed tho ia
u hat there were many more graves G
,his half acre OF ground, and by nigh
,rk fail eight bodies in all we're exhnmed,
which the following Is a partial list,
far "a they could be distinctly indentiac
for w, Y. McGrouty Of the One hundr
ans and twenty.,hird Illinois infantry, co
nanv r.. Brown; Henry Mckenzie
-, fWsmilton county, Ind, and a Mr.. Lo
''' cho,a and his little girl. Tie latter
!. oar,Iv buried his wife, aud was ab,
~ starting TO Iowa. ,
Wa, too horrible to g'vs even a faint