Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-09
THE BENDERs.
uItner fartleuihrs or the Arrest
1aae Neer Alma, UraW ford County,

uItner fh~rtIeuihrs OF the Arrest
1aasNter Alma, Crawford CounIy,
Little Rock Gazette. sth.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. w. c,
Bostick, OF Alma, Crawford county Wa
are this morning enabled to law before
our readers further particulars Of the ar.
rest Of the Koefer family, supposed TO be
The Benders Of infamous memory. at
that place on the % last, Mr.. Bostick.
under date 3D. inst writes as follows:
EDITOR 0AZETTE: | ~telegrsphed YOU
Yesterday Of the arrest Of one George
hoeter and family, supposed to be the
notorious Fender family Of Kansas, By
Mr.. Beard, a private detective, upon a
requisltion from the governor of Kansas
uhon the governor OF Arkansas. Mr..
Beard is the man who discovered the
oodleSo OF the murdered York and Others
on Beodsf's place in Kansas, aud imme.
diately went to work to capture them.
In 1873 hefollowed them from st. LOUIS
down the Atlantic and Pacific railroad
to Pierce City, end from there to Fay.
etteville, and thence on down into thia
county. AT FaJ etteyille the party sepa-
rated, all leaving Fayetteville on foot, aud
got together at their sons house on
Cedar c%reek-the old lady arriving first,
John and Kate 1.-THE son and daughter) a
few days afterward. They all came into
this county looking a little the worse for
the wear-the old lady with nothing on
her person but a Balmorsl skirt and a
calico gown, baFe-footeland bare-headod.
But 1t was soon discovered that old man
keofer alias John Bender had plenty of
money He bought farms, stump p%uliers.
reapers, thrashers, and many more i'm
proved agricultural implements.
Mr.. Beard was at that time satisfied
that George Koefer was John Bender, but
would not make the arrest on account
of not having the $500 reward guaran-
teed, which had been offered by the State
Of Kansas, but left Mr.. Steward, OF this
place, to keep an eye on the family and
to'report thsir movements to him from
tune to time. Mr.. Beard left Oswego,
Kansas, about ten DAYS ago, with the
requisition for George Koefer alias John
Bender; Lena Koefer alias Kate Bender;
Mrs. Koefer alias Mrs. Bender, and
Phillip Kosfer alias John Bender, IT,;
and in company with Sheriff Winfrey
and Mr.. Ed Steward, started yesterday
TO make the arrest, but the old man be-
log absent it was deferred until TO-DAY.
Sheriff Winfrey following the old man
to Mulberry Mountains, where be has q
son living that Is not implicated in
the murders, and did not live with
The old man whila in Kansas. Kate (the
daughter) was the only one who made
any resistance. She drew a shovel on
Mr.. Beard, but upon being threatened
With irons, she laid down the shovel aud
vent to a trunk to get a pistol, which
Mr.. Beard got from Der before she bad
time to use it. They all, of course, deny
knowing anything about the murders,
but the circumstances are SO strong
against them that every one here is i,l-
clined to believe the Bender family nas
been captured. Dir. Beard and Mr.,
Steward will leave tomorrow With the
prisoners by way Of Muscozee for Os.
wego, Kansas, and we will soon know
whether or not the Koefer family ia the
Bender family. Nc. Koefer has made a
good citizen since his sCjourn in Craw.
ford, but he has been under suspicion
ever siocs be came, aboutfour years ago.