St. Landry democrat., 1880-08-14
person would fall into deep cellar. I

person would fall into deep cellar. L
don't know how deep the cellar was.
They would kill anybody then who
would come into the house, rich OF poor,
for fear they might inform on them.
They killed some persons that had no
money at all. We went with the Ben
ders from the place OF the murder to
the railroad Station l don't know what
town. There they took the train South.
They would not take US along. The
old man told the Blenders that if they
would not give them money he and the
old man would tell on them. They
didn't say anything to that. | have
seen good many people killed at Ben
der's house. My husband was sick at
Bender's house, and | was waiting on
him. | think there was more than ten
persons killed while | was in the house.
The Blenders talked freely about these
murders in my presence. The old man
Bender, Mrs. Bender, and John Bender
Dr., done the numbering. The old man
went by the name of John Bender in
Kansas"
The old man when he was told that
she had confessed by degrees, told his
story: II was only one night at Bender's
house," he said. "That day young
man came from California, and stopped
at Bender's to get something to eat.
He asked Kate what made the house
smell so. She said it was nothing. He
said he would not stay over night in the
house he would go and get people to
search the house, and when the people
came they found some bodies under the
house, six or seven Of them. When the
Benders saw that they were found out
they went right oft, and | then started
for Illinois. They put two children in
a hole that same night and covered
them with dirt. The man from Califor-
MIA was the one that saw these children
alive. The reason that came to Kan
from the West from Fort Lincoln.
They killed man the night | was
there. He was not a very old man. |
was not in the room where he was
killed. 1t was dark. l could not see
very we'll. The door OF the room | was
in was open. was at Bender's house
two and a half days no longer"
Here the old man was closely cross
questioned, and he finally said: 81 was
at the Bender house just six weeks.
The Blenders don't know where they
went. | went to jacksonville, H.,
travelling on foot, calling myself
McCregor. About four weeks after the
Benders left Kansas ! saw Kate Bender
between Springfield, ILL.,, and Jackson
vile. She had mems clothes on. She
had her hair cut short. | met her ON
the road. knew her the minute [ saw
| was at the house. There was one
family killed while was there-a man,
his wife, and children were buried
alive. My wife was born in Illinois.
| Her folks moved to Missouri. She was
formerly married to George Ellison.
Her name was Nancy Ellison before l
married her."
A CONFESSION.
| Kansas City Tmes.l
OMAHA, Neb., July 31-All doubt is
now removed. The original John Ben
der and wife are now in the grasp of
| the law. Further developments in the
case of the old man and woman lately
captured and now i'll Jail in Fremont,
Neb., show that they are undoubtedly
| the Kansas butchers whose crimes gave
them a world wide notoriety q few
year ago. A Mr.. Hoohan, who for the
past six yeals has been a resident Of
Fremont, was for two years prior to
July 16, 1873, a neighbOr of the Bender
| family, and herded cattle within three
quarters Of mile of their house on
! Agreese Creek, a few miles northeast
of Independence, and about the same
distance from the Usage Mission, ON
the main thoroug hfare from Indepen-
dence to, the latter place. He had seen
the Benders quite often in that time,
Hearing of the arrest of the old man
and woman, he went to the Jail to see
them, and, if possible, identify them.
AS he entered the room in which the old
man was confined, the latter looked at
him very closely. Hooflan showed his
hat to the back Of his head.
'Did you ever see this face before 2"
iLioGoaass.n1 asked.
eyes," replied the old man. II know
you, but | can't place YOU"
Don't you know the man that used
to herd near your place in Kansas !"
Mr.. Hoohan inquired.
The old man became excited. my
God, yes" b he answered Chow did you
come here 2"
"Why, all of Labette County are up
here to see yOu," the herder said.
The old mans voice dropped. He
furtively eyed Mr.. Hoofan. "You
know / never done any harm in my
life" he said in plaintiye tone.
"Well, it you haven't" returned the
drover, "they're lying terribly about
YOU"
The old man moistened his lips, and
drew long breath. "Well," he said,
"my name is not Bender"
"Your name may not be Bender said
the herder, "but you told me repeatedly
that was your namein Kansas, and its
no use for you to deny it here"
II was there" said the old man, "and
remember you distinctly, but I had
nothing to do with any Of these MUIR
ders."
Ibid you ever see any body murdered
there 2" Mr.. Hoofan asked.
81 saw eleven persons murdered
there" the old man coolly replied.
"Was there more than one child muir
ded 2" the herder inquired.
"There were two Buried" the old man
answered.
"How do you know ?"
Why, saw them taken out of the
room asleep and put in the grave. 1t
was in an out bedroom"
"There is no use saying that there
was no bedroom in the house." Mr..
Hoohand remarked.
II was in the back room," said the old
man