Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-05-29


before existing suspicion that the Blenders
were not exactly the right kind of fpeople.
Although for the past three years this Sec
ton has been infested with horse-thieves and
murderers, and this known to every one about
the country, it is probable the same state of
affairs might have continued for an indefinite
period had not the murder of DR.. York,
man of family, friends and reputation, led to
the exposure. Men have been missed and
bodies found of murdered men for three years
past, and "vigiance committees" have hunted
and driven some men from the country; but
it would now seem as though the leaders of
the Regulators" were themselves the villains,
and honest men had been falsely and foully
suspected and driven from their homes.
Known villains have during that time been sent
to the penitentiary, only to be pardoned out
by Governors. And even the band of seven
ty-6ve armed and honest men who secured
the country in search of DR.. York, when it
was learned he was missing, seem to have had
very little judgment or discretion.
On the 28th of March last, Colonel York
and Mr.. johnson visited the Bender house, to
which place they had tracked DR.. York, and
endeavored to coax some information from
them, but they would tell nothing. On the
Sd of April they visited the house with the
object Of finding the murderers of DR.. York,
yet they did not notice the bullet holes in the
house, and allowed themselves to be fooled by
an assumed stupidity which was the disguise
of most hellish cunning. The old hag sat
mum and gloomy, pretending she could not
understand or speak English |; old Bender said
nothing; Kate, she of the evil eye, denied all
knowledge of the lost, and the younger male
villain fooled them with we'll made up story.
He said that at about the time they said DR..
York was missed he (Bender) had been shot
at in a lonesome place near Drum creek one
evening, and it must have been by those who
killed the Doctor. He described the place
minutely and then took them to it, and it was
found as he said, and they half believed this
story, and returned with him. Col. York re-
peated the story given above of the supper of
pistols and knives offered to the lone woman,
when the old bag soon found her sense of the
English language improved. She understood
all that had been said, and flew into violent
passion. She denied the story of the supper,
but said that was bad and wicked woman
whom she would kill if ever she came near
them again that the woman was witch and
had bewitched Kate's coffee, and then she or
dered the whole band away. While going
and coming from the creek John told Col.
York that his sister Kate could do anything,
that she could control the devil, and that the
devil did her bidding. When they returned
to the house Col. York tried to induce this
wonderful mistress the devil to reveal where
the body of his brother was. She positively
and persistenty refused her satanic aid at this
time giving as her reason therefor that she
could not do so in the day time and while
there were so many men and so much noise
about.
The pretended sorceress and real Gend then
told Col. York privately that if he would
come the next night, Friday-when best she
worked her spells-and bring only one man
with him, she would take him to the grave of
his murdered brother. Had the Colonel been
so foolish as to believe the mysterious power
of this creature, there is no doubt she would
have proved her promises good. The whole
band then left the house. They visited the
houses of Roach and Smith and Harnass, at
Ladore, and made many threats and accom-.
plished nothing. Their intent was good, but
they lacked an experienced detective for
leader. So strong was their conviction, how
ever, of the guilt Of the Reaches and the Ben.
ders that they would have hung them if it
had not been for the persuasion Of Col. York
and few others, who were determined that
none but the known guilty should suffer. Of
course this visit alarmed the. Benders, and
they fled.
No doubt is entertained that the Blenders
have not been alone in their damnable vii
lainy. They must have had confederates to
dispose of the stock and clothes of the muir.
dered men, and suspicion has readily pointed
to number of men, living throughout that
section, in different directions Twelve per.
SONS in all have been arrested on suspicion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DECISION
Hillsboro IN. CO. Recorder says that among
the cases decided at the recent term Of Orange
Superior Court, was one arising upon an ap-
plication made by Mrs. Annie Ruf6n, through
her counsel to the Board of Commissioners
of Orange county, for relief from taxation