The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-07

DIN RENDER AND MS WIFE UNDER ARREST
THE WOMAN TAiKATivE-THE CRIMES
CHARGED TO THEIR ACcouNT--A RARE RE-
CORD OF DESPERATE yiLLAISIEs.
fcbicaso Timcs.I

fchicago Times.l
FRFMoxT, NEB, August 3.-Notnlng Oh
speclal mention has developed IN the bepuer
case to-day. The woman under arrest has
been quite IoQuscious, and answers ques-
lions freely, apparently keeping nothing
hack relative TO her or the old mans con-
nection with the case. Her statements are
STRAIGHTFORWARD aud evidently sincere. she
fears "a meet the old man, saying that ne
would XIII her IL he knew she bad been 10
the confidence OF their captors. lie stu
thinks her In Kansas, and has been led 10
believe that she will be back In day or
two. Parties have been telegraphed TO VINO
are exoccied tomorrow to make more posi-
tive the Identification. IL any is needed.
Mr.. III. w. Harrington Is here looking up
further details. a telegram was received
here Ia. day stating that traceso OF the wagon
sunposed 10 contain John Bender, Jr, and
family. which was lost sight OF near Coun-
eli RlotIs. has been discovered near Owau-
kee, Iowa, and that parties were on the
trail. The old man has taken no steps 10
effect his release, but seems much worried
over his situation. He declares he viii never
enter the State OF Kansas alive. The wo-
man gives very minute details OF The con-
dition and surroundings OF The Bender
house when they left II. which exactly cor
responds with the description by parties
who were there immediately afier tile eX-
posure. The old man claims that he was AT
The house at the time, and that ne crawieo
away on his hands and knees; that he was
there live months, but bad nothing 10 90
with the murders. Confidence has not at
all weakened here that they are the origihai
Blenders now In custody.
HISTORY OF THEIR CRIMES.
For several years previous to the year
1872 John Bender and his wife and two
children, Kate and John, lived in the north
west corner OF Labette county, Kansas,
about Ten miles from Thayer and five and a
half miles from Cnerryvale.
The first thing that led to the discovery OF
the horrible series of murders committed by
the Bender family was the disappearance OF
William York. of Independence, han..
brother of state Senator York, about the lst
of April, 1873. A diIigent search resulted in
finding Mr.. York's body buried on the
claim OF the Bender family. bearing marks
OF violence. The party making the discove.
~ were Mortified to find the remains OF
several other murdered men.
On Monday, May 5, 1878. brother oil the
murdered DIR. York learned that the Bender
family had left their claim in babette conr-
Nv, where they had been rupning store Tor
the purpose Of supplying travellers who
PASSED that way. The departure OF the
family OF murderers was discovered by some
one. who in passing saw that a calf that bad
been tied up had starved to death.
Closer Inspection showed that
ALL WERE GONE,
with what moyables could be carried in a
wagon. The ueighbors concluded to look
fur, her into the matter and learned that a
team had been abandoned at Thayer about
three weeks before, and some OF them going
TO that point discovered that the team was
one winch had belonged TO Bender.
They concluded to fully search the premi-
ses, their suspicious being Immediately
aroused as to the family being the cause OF
so many being missed in the neighborhoOd.
Mr.. Ed York being notified, Immediately
proceeded 10 the ground, and had not been
there more than half an hour when, in pass
ing over q dead furrOw in little garden
patch which had been plowed over, bis at
teution was attracted TO piece OF SUBJ
soil on the surface; looking more close
ly he discovered straight mark across
the furrow where the ground was
slightly sunken. By looking closely be
was able 10 trace the outlines OF grave.
The end.r0d OF a wagon WAS used TO PROBE
the ground inside. the lines discovered. 1t
was found that inside the lines 1t was not
difficult TO thrust the rod in its full length,
while outside il would not penetrate deeper
than the plowed ground without great
pressure. Digging was Immediately CON-
meDced, and the body of DR.. William ii.
York was discovered. On its beng uncos-
cred it was found that he had been killed by
BLOWS on THE HEAD
with blunt instrument, one on the back OF
the head, at the base Of the brain, being
sufficient 10 produce inStant death. There
were two others on either side OF the head
| and his throat was cut from ear to ear, and
so deeply that the head was nearly severed
from the body. Two hammers and hatche
were found On the premises, one OF which
fitted the wound on the back OF the head.
The premises were next visited and eX
amned. The building was q frame, l6X20
upholstered.
The generally-accepted theory was ina
travellers were seated In such manner
that their heads would lean against and IN
dent a cloth partition which crossed TIT
room. Some one stationed behind the curtain
would then strike them with hammer, ant
some one III the front room would 1nish vi
the Job. After that they were taken to thu
trap door, where they were thrown in, thei
tbroas cut, and they were left until night
when they were carried out and buried il
the patch of ground above alluded TO.
TIE BODY OF WILLIAM YORK
was Immediately recognized by Elwoot
York by the general features, and by
bandage on one knee, where he had run
ming sore, and by bandage on one finger
which had been mashed Just before he hat
started on his journey.
The location OF the place was in the north
west corner OF Lsbette county, on the roat
10 Usage Mission and Fort Scott, about tel
miles from Thayer, and five miles and hal
from Cberryvale. The building was out
view from every other house, and seems t
have been chosen expressly for the murder
Gus purpose TO which it had been dedicated
II was in the hollow Of prairie, far from
timber, where the occupants c0uldosee
mile i'm either direction, and be in no dan
ger of interruption for at least half an hour
There was stone stable on the premises
where horses could be hidden until sucI
time as they could be run off or disposed Of
After the finding Of York it was deter
mined TO make further search next day
This was done, and the horrible diselosur
made that there were at least seven othe
graves on the same piece OF ground. viii
Ing hands were soon engaged in exhumin!
them, and during the day the bodies OF
SEVEN MORE VICTIMS
were brought to light, all killed in the sam
manner aud disposed OF In the same way
with the exception Of the little daughter o
George w. Longcor, who showed no mark
OF violence, but was supposed to have beef
smothered OF buried alive. George w