The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-12-07
THE RENDERS.
A Belief Thst the Members of That
Tribe of Murderers were Lynehed.

met q man on the steamer, appar-
emily about fifty years Of age, of fine
appearance, gentlemanly department
and intelligent address. Upon enter
ing into a conversation with him he in
formed me that he was from Montgom-
cry County, Kansas, where he had hved
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-
yersation, knowing that he was from
the vicinity of the Bender murders,
expressed my establishment that these
people, ignorant of and unfamiliar with |
Che 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-
hepsion. In half confidential tone,
|, and in Z manner which lent credence to
his statement, and impressed me with
a belief of his honesty, he said that, so
far as he was concerned, there YVES no
.. mystery about it. 81 am well
acquainted" said he, "with the
1 whole history of the matter. / know
{ ex-senator A. Nj. York very well, Gnd
. also knew his brother, DR.. York, whose
b murder led to the developments which
: have been made in connection with the
/; Bender family. Some time before the
n murder of DIR. York, a vigilance coHi-
mittee was organized in the neighbour
i hood of Cherryvale for the protection
E of the people against horse-thieves.
!, Prior to this no well defined suspicion
Z had rested upon the Bender family.
g The sudden and uhaceountable disap-
e pearance of DR.. York, however, who
l. was well known aud highly respected
. throughout that country, caused agreat
n commotion among the people. Search
r was instituted, led principally by this
I'd vigilance committee and Senator York.
tpor comforting together several other
instances in which persons had mys-
teriously disappeared, and had never
been heard of, came to light. A CONS
% parison of notes in these cases pointed
{, in one direction, and fixed suspicion
ID upon the Blenders.
j. "It is my opinion that a detachment
u of this vigilance committee, a few
e. nights before the discovery was made
N that the Benders had disappeared, went
) 4; to their house, placed them In their
=" own wagon, drawn by their own
er horses, and conveyed them to a seclud'
n, ed spot, not far off, on the edge OF
al large pond, and there extorted full
or confession from them of all their crimes
ID down to the smallest details. After this
he the Blenders were never heard Of, and
D. it is more than probable that their bo'
es dies were so carefully concealed thatthey
will never be discovered until Gabriel
in does it. 1t will be remembered, if
Id am right in my theory, that a few day;
u after this wagon was discovered neal
NJ this point, in which pair of horses wa;
Nv tied, which was known to be Bender
y property. This was soon followed Dy
s. the announcement that the home of thu
as Benders had been dissolved, and sons
Nv stock which had not been turned loose
d, was in a starving condition. An IN
y. vestigation Of the premises was thel
n. made, headed by Senator York, who
Id upon entering the house, walked
to straight into the room where the ok
n clock stood, and, opening the case, pu
ST. his hand into the place where the Ike,
b G is usually kept, and drew forth pal
~ of gold-bowed spectacles, and holdin!
Ill them up to the crowd said, 'These ar
my brothers spectacles; l could swea
ed to them The trap door under tn
D. bed, concealed by the carpet, was next
he as some people imagine, accidental
ed discovered, and the evidences Of mul
he der found in the cellar.
it "After this, upon leaving the house
is Senator York walked directly to spC
ed where the earth was slightly shaker
re and said: Here is a grave; here m
1t. brother is buried This proved to b
trxe. The unhesitating conduct of Ser
ator York, in placing his hand upon hi
brothers spectacles and going to tn
o. exact spot where his brothers remain
, g had been buried, proves conclusivel
nd that ne had been informed beforehand
tho and knew exactly where to look to max
al the discoveries that he did. This cor
ri nnnh nv a ores
III MANY other incidents that too
:. Mace about this time. L al
..n satisfied also that Governor Osbor
was secretly appraised of all these fact;
+bo which will account for the fact that, o
e the part of the Kansas authorities, n
nod systematic effort has ever been made I
of apprehend the Benders, and stories
ra- their capture elsewhere has only excite
os an incredulous smile at the State CAY
nd itol. Whether 1 am right or wrong,
Ct concluded my informant, "you mu;
I'D admit that my theory is plansibl
Eel one," and with a significant smile h
I'D said. al know that am right"
~ We, of Kansas, will be glad to acceI
70 the above theory as reliable, if for n
~ other reason than that it so happil
nc tones down the feeling of chagrin owe
G. the idea that Gabriel will get the stal
ant of us in bringing the Blenders to judE
q ment. ...
the
;or Treasure TrOve.