The sun., 1880-08-08
THE WHOLESALE <ssAssINs.
Mrs. Bender Confesses-Detnils OF tho Mur-
ders Over seven Years Ago.
From hs Chiodqo Tribune.


FREMONT, Neb, Aug. 2.-Further startling
developments were made In tho Bender matter
to-day. Mrs. Bender. or Mira. McGreRor. made
q full and complete confession OF the whole mat
ter. even to the minutest Details regarding the
butcheries perpetrntrd on the John Bender farm
during 1879 and 1873. She denies having had
any personal hand in the matter but says Kate.
old Johns daughter. was the leader OF ali the
deviltry. She went over her entire history from
the time she became Mrs. Alexander McGreRor.
She was widow at the time she married Nc.
GreRor. alias Bender. who was n widower with
four small children two of whom we're Kate and
John. Jr. They migrated from Missouri to La
bette County. Kan. and became John Bender
md family. She is under the impression that
Kate has been captured. and. to shield herself
tells everything. but puts the blame on other
shoulders. She knows the old man will have
to 60 back to Kansas. and converses in the
most matter OF fact way regarding the horrible
murders which eliminated in the death Of Dr.
York. In form she strongly resembles the
noted Mrs. Samuels Of Clay County. Missouri.
mother OF the outlaw James boys. having the
samo heavy. square face. with massive wide
jawbones. but in point OF acuteness and intelli-
eence is far Inferior to that noted woman. Mrs.
McGregor. or Mrs Bender. as she shall be
called. is six feet in height weighs over 200
pounds. and her face md hands are as dark rs
an Indians. the result OF her residence during
the past year or 30 among tho Northern tribes
OF Sioux. Her eyes Rre blue. and while con-
versing, this womans face can become pleas
adjoining cell who's. deviish face peers from
behind the grated cage ut ench visitor. Being
asked il she would be- Gu! led Mrs. McGregor or
Mrs; Bender she replied:
The latter will do IL you be satisfied. as you
be here to see Mrs. Bender"
You have no objection to giving little his
oh, no; Tor tho Sheriff has told me that I am
to bs free, md not to 90 to Kansas with the old
man, and never did kill no one. any way.
We're you married to Bender in Kansas2"
wasa widow. and he married me at Spring
field, ILL.,. ut the close Of the war. can't re-
s01 Rno what bu s9s Ssd ea ne
and he had four children, John and Kate being
Of the number; but two OF tho boys had run of;
years, and thon were sent by the county TO
Dunklin County in southwest Missouri where
You went hy the name OF McGregor 2"
We held TO the name till the ole man went to
Kansas and took up n homestead in Lehit
BENDER. and arter about year, John and
Kate came along. and then the devil began to be
What do you mean by that?"
WeIi; there was stealin'. thievin'. and killin'.
VINO was the first person killed by the fam
ily?"
'' He was a sick man named Brown. He came
u
sized one. ami on sign was Groceries ont
side the door. and seen' this lie stopped. We
took him in. and the second might we got him
up to nnt supper, and while seated at the table
John Bender let him into the cellar. where Kate
or John killed kim. and the next day they buried
him in tho gartien.
How long after this before any one else was
killed ?"
were killed. and one OF them. whose name |
believe was something like MgGruthy or Me-
Graih ilcCrot,yl. had 4 good deal OF money; at
least John told me So"
DO yon remember about whole family be-
Yes. i do. There was man and wife and
two little girls. They drove up in n covered
spring wagon. md wanted to stay nil night.
Kate Bender said they could stay. 1t was about
o'clock in the afternoon. and while at supper
that ni.;ht they were dropp-d through the trap
into the hole. Kate and the old man were be-
llow,and the man fought pretty hard. but thny
but did not puil the trap.
What about tn" children? ?'
" They cried terrb that night and tho next
day man, cnue along and see one Of 'em. and
they b wern We. killed I'd that mig; niTs!;'
"They were buried alive. Ole John took one
and Kate took the other. They ho.red awful.
hut finally stopped. and Kate came in and said
the damned brats were AL right now.'"
Do You remember their names 7"
&" 1t was something like Grackmore OF, Black
OF the children was found.l
Who wns He'd ncNt:'
" II was DIR. York. remember him SO we'll.
and moustache. Ii was RAINY day when he
cam came md @ they 20, good deal Of Of money wien
klled him with th- hntchet."
You all left soon after this?"
Yes. they got ,skeered.' and We all went
away. After walking a few miles some men
took us IN wagon. and we drove into the Cher
okee or Choctaw Nation"
who we're these men?"
They were IA part OF a gang OF horse thieves
who made the house their headquarters and
run of horses lelt by the dead mem,
n m III tnn
murdcrs?"
Il think So once. but can't quite remember.
SONS Of ths horses were drowned in pond
back Of the house"
"Wnqt ia did you mean s,y about Kate killing
He WAS one OF the first killed. and she got
him TO 90 TO bed with her. and in the night
killed him with an as. ana put the body down
-, =" You say YOU did noI help them kill any one.
n IT was always t 'noqsht there were only John
house. There was another old woman. who
va Tas s, my husbands mother. She helped them to
There are many other fncts obtained from the
woman; i 1t is almost @ certainty inat she Is M ,he
oid woman mentlonsd MENTION 6y John Bender as the
that tho old woman mentioned by Mrs Bender
Is myth. II these are not the original Ben.
ders the fact san be- easily, proven: Coy. st.
John of Kansas was notified by the Sheriff hcrs
nearly II week ago Of the capture. but so far not
n word has been heard in reply. Some persons
even now assert that these are not the Benders.
but with the facts before them ii is hard to prove
than any one else. John Bender has not ad-
mited to any one that he wns John Bender, as
has baen telegraphed over the country. but
clings to tho assertion that he is Alexander Nc
Gregor. and the report that John Bender. Jr.,
and Kate crossed the river ut Omaha last week
an route TO some point in Iowa IL only credited
by county officials.
THE CHASE AFTER THE YOUNG BESDERs.
OMAHA. Aug. 3.-Consideraole stir was made
on the streets lust before noon by the arrest Of
family travelling in covered wagon on sus-
piclon OF being young John Bend-rs family.
Policeman jacobson took them TO the City Hall
an excited crowd following. They, said they
were travelling gypsies. spoke both French and
German well, and denied all knowledge OF the
Blenders. Their appearances being good. they
were dischurg ii. Three wagons were here
Sunday. Two went to Sioux City. and this was
starting to Dixon, ILL.,
is THE WOMAN KATE DENDEB2
From NJ Kan.a. Chy Times
FREMONT. Neb.. Aug. 3.-At late hour last
might your correspondent visited the Jail and
had II second talk with Mira. Bender regarding
her niession. when she said:
" You need not take back n single word II ia
nll true and much more. il could only remem-
Der about H."
" Do You mean that moro people were killed
than those you mentioned 2"