American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-09
THE Blenders.
A Belief That the Members of That
Tribe OF Murderers were Lynched. 81

Tribe OF Murderers were Lynched.
Especial Cor. Topeka Commonwealth
l met man on the steamer, appar
emily about fifty years of age, of fine
appearance, gentlemanly department
and intelligent address. Upon enter
ing into conversation with him he in.
formed me that he was from Montgom.
cry County, Kansas, where he had lived
for several years, and was now on his
way with his family to Washington
Territory, which he expected to make
his permanent home. During the con-
versation, knowing that he was from
the vicinity of the Bender murders,
expressed my astonishment that these
people, ignorant of and unfamiliar with
the geography of this country, as they
must have been, had been SO successful
in making their escape from the officers
of the law, especially as large re-
ward had been offered for their appre-
hension. In half-confidential tone,
and in a manner which lent credence to
his statement, and impressed me with
belief of his honesty, he said that, SO
far as he was concerned, there was no
mystery about it. 81 am well
acquainted, said he, "with the
whole history of the matter. l know
ex-senator A. M. York very well, and
also knew his brother, DIR. York, whose
murder led to the developments which
have been made in connection with the
Bender family. Some time before the
murder of DR.. York, a vigilance COM
mittee was organized in the neighbor-
hood of Cherryvale for the protection
of the people against horse-thieves.
Prior to this no well defined suspicion
had rested upon the Bender family.
The sudden and unaccountable disap-
pearance of DIR. York, however, who
was well known aud highly respected
throughout that country, caused agreat
commotion among the people. Search
was instituted, led principally by this
vigilance committee and Senator York.
Upon comforting together several other
instances in which persons had mys-
teriously disappeared, and had never
been heard of, came to light. A COM
parison of notes in these cases pointed
in one direction, and fixed suspicion
upon the Benders., i,., az
cit is my opinion that detachment
of this vigilance committee, a few
nights before the discovery was made
that the Blenders had disappeared, went
to their house, placed them in their
own wagon, drawn by their own
horses; and conveyed them to seclud-
ed spot, not far off, on the edge of a
large pond, and there extorted q full
confession from them of all their crimes
down to the smallest details. After this
the Benders were never heard of, and
it is more than probable that their boz
dies were so carefully concealed that they
will never be discovered until Gabriel
does it. 1t will be remembered, if /
am right in my theory, that few days
after this wagon was discovered near
this point, in which pair of horses was
tied, which was known to be Bender's
property. This was soon followed by
the announcement that the home of the
Benders had been dissolved, and some
stock which had not been turned loose,
was in starving condition. An in
vestigation of the premises was then
made, headed by Senator York, who,
Upon entering the house, walked
straight into the room where the old
clock stood, and, opening the case, put
his hand into the place where the key
is usually kept, and drew forth a pair
of gold-bowed spectacles, and holding
them up to the crowd said, s.These are
my brothers spectacles; I could swear
to Them The trap door under the
bed, concealed by the carpet. was next,
as some people imagine, accidentally
discovered, and the evidences of muir
der found in the cellar. fa
s'After this, upon leaving the house,
Senator York walked directly to a spot
where the earth was slightly shaken,
and said: Here is grave; here my
brother is buried This proved to be
true. The unhesitating conduct of SEN
ator York in placing his hand upon his
brothers spectacles and going to the
exact spot where his brothers remains
had been buried, proves conclusively
that he had been informed beforehand,
and knew exactly where to look to make
the discoveries that he did. This con-
viction is also strengthened by a great
many other incidents that took
oh
satisfied also that Governor Osborn
was secretly apprised of all these facts,
which will account for the fact that, on
the part of the Kansas authorities, no
systematic effort has ever been made to
apprehend the Blenders, and stories of
their capture elsewhere has only excited
an incredulous smile at the State Cap
itol. Whether am right or wrong"
concluded my informant, "you must
admit that my theory is plausible
one," and with significant smile he
said, "I know that am right"
We, of Kansas, will be glad to accept
the above theory as reliable, if for no
other reason than that it SO happily
tones down the feeling of chagrin over
the idea that Gabriel will get the start
of us in bringing the Benders to judg-
ment.
A YOUNG gentleman went to voting
place in Cincinnati to cast his ballot. In
terrogations led to the information that
he had not lived in the precinct long
enough to vote legally if he was sim