The New York herald., 1874-04-10
THE BLOODTHIRSTY BENDERS.
Probable Arrest of the Kansas
Murderers in Utah.
OLD BENDER AT SALT LAKE.
The Fugitive Family Hid in the
Mountains.


Some weeks ago an old man emerged rom the
Wahsatch Mountains, $50 miles south OF this city,
aqd. from his appearance and conduct, he was
peileved to be old Bender, the Kansas murderer.
HIS photograph was taken and sent to the Gov
ernor OF Kansas, and 1t has since been returned,
with statements from Senator York, brother OF
Benders last victim, and other persons all agree
ing that the photograph greatly resembled the
murderer. He was brought here last night. SO
intense mas been the excitement that the jailer
brought him twice out OF prison, order to satisfy
the crowds OF people who wanted to see him. He
answers fully to the published descriptions but he
will give no account of his past whereabouts.
THE CAPTIVE RECOGNIZED AS BENDER.
have seen him three times to-day. The last
time was accompanied by two gentlemen who
Identified him as Bender. One knew him In Pike
county, H., for seven years. the other had seen
him at least fifty times at different ranches in
Kansas about two years back. He looks mean
enough to have done all that is charged against
Bender without realizing any mental compunc-
tions.
The officers will bring up from the South in a
few days ayoung man who answers to the de-
scription OF young Bender. woman, who an
swers the description of Katherine Bender, came
almost naked. After obtaining food and clothing
she disappeared, and it Is now thought the whole
family have been In the mountains all winter, and
have been driven out by starvation into the set
Elements. Hence their capture.
The Crimes of tho Bender FamfIy-A
Story Of Lust for Money and Blood.
The story Of assassination that is again brought
out by the preceding despatch from Salt Lake City
is one OF the most horrible record. No tale from
the French capital OF wayfarers lured into houses
tn a tn dnn fh npi had a.tn
to descend softly by intricate machinery-not even
the Traupmann atroclty has equal power to hor-
rify aud disgust with the narrative that came from
Kansas last May family OF murderous people,
living for months over the secreted bodies OF
victims. They were shrewd enough to see that this
was the course by which to conceal their crimes and
they were too gross minded to have that tear OF
the bodies OF their victims that most murderers
are seized with. II they had not grown careless
the Benders and their confederates might have
lived in crime and freedom for much longer time
than they did. But they lost their caution let
the body OF one OF their victims be found in the
vicinity OF their dwelling. The murdered man was
identified as brother of Colonel A. M. York, the
legislator who exposed the attempt Of Senator
Pomeroy at bribery; the Bender family became
panic-stricken and precipitately left their house
near Cherryvale, Labette county Kansas. Suspi-
cion had pointed at them, but not definitely enough
for them to be arrested. Their flight was good in
dication OF guilt, and endeavors were Immediately
made to procure other and more certain evidence
| against the ugitives When the Benders had
| been gone from their house about two weeks
the building was examined carefully, and in its
cellar were found proofs tnat its occupants had
been criminals OF the most horrid class. There
| were found the bodies or five men and the body OF
an infant. The manner OF numbering was the same
in every instance. The victim seemed first to have
been struck upon the head WITH hammer, and
then to have had his throat cut. The uniformity
in this respect argued strongly that the Benders
and conlederateS were associated lOr the defined
purpose OF killing ana plundering whatever trav-
eers chanced into their vicinity. When their
murderous dOlngs were fully known they were i'm.
mediately sought or. The western country was
secured by excited people. and 1t was soon de-
cided that the murderers had gone to the
| South. and were trying to get through
| Texas into Mexico. Tnis idea was con-
firmed by the capture in the indian Territory after
weeks chase, OF Nicholas Morrln, or Marion, a
confederate OF the Benders. Marion made some
1 important disclosures, and promised to tell the
story Of the crimes OF himself and aCcomplices
when he should reach Parsons, Kansas. He after
wards became afraid OF being lynehed, and while
| on the way to Kansas with his captors committed
| suicide by shooting himself Several other per-
/ sons were arrested subsequently in different To-
catles OF the West but none OF them were proven
to have been in confederacy with the Dentons.
The capture OF the old man Bender is very gratI-
flying. 1t insures that he will be punished for his
enormous crimes and protects the people OF some
new locality from repetition OF them.