Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1880-08-13
THE BENDER RUTCHERs.
The man and woman arrested short
time ago, and supposed 70 be the BEN
ders, have made the following con-
fessions:


ders, have made the following con-
fessions:
HRS. BENDER's CONFESSION
Mrs. Bender was visited in Jail at
Fremont By an Omaha reporter, to
whom she said that the irst murder
ever committed by herself and her
husband was in Illinois, on their farm
near jacksonville. The victim asked
for supper aud lodging, and in paying
for them in advance, exhibited con-
siderable money. While he was eat
ing supper Bender cut his head in two
firm behind, and be was dumped into
the cellar through trap door ar
ranged by Bender, who got his money.
The bgdy vas buried Lext morning
hack Of the house A few weeks after
this they went TO Iowa, remaining
eight months, and then went to 1ndI-
ana, living OF the murdered mans
money. Then they went 10 Kansas,
where Bender's children by his first
wife, John and Kate, were living To-
gether with their cousin Maggie
They kept resort for travellers, and
called it Beaders Hotel. They had
committed no murders prior to the old
folks arrival, but in the course Of
time old Bender arranged a trapdoor,
and then the numbering operations
commenced Kate at one time had a
man in bed witt. her and she cut his
throat and then slept till morning be-
siJe tie corpse. His money was diYi-
d d. She n yer injured the cut-,hroats
and Eorsethieves WHO came to tile
house, but entertained them well along
with her cousin Maggie. No murders
were committed by the family after
they fed from Kansas Old Bender
was next visited by the reporter, who
succeeded in obtaining from hlln his
first confession, the details, life aud
crimes or the whole family, his story
tallying exactly with that Of the cid
woman He was led To confess under
the belief that his wife had escaped.
RENDERS STATEMENT.
He gives his name as Alexander Nc
Gregor. He was born in the State of New
York Lived there till he married his first
wife. When he married he had one child
called William Houck, begotten in adul-
terry. After being married two weeks, John
Bender. his son, was born. They then
moved to Illinois, where Kate was born.
Kate and John were good children, but
ran away when II years old and went 10
Kansas. His first wife died in Illinois OF
consumption. After two years lie married
Nancy Peasley. His first victim was a
short, dark-haired man. He sent him
down the cellar through trap-door, got
some money from him and buried him
two rods back of the house. Thence they
went 10 independence, Ia, where he work
ed on farm at his trade of biacksmithing
After awhile they went to Kansas. They
had heard from John and Kate, who wrote
for them to come on He went to Kansas
| to live with them. Alter being there sev-
eral DAYS he helped John make trap-deor
1 the same as he had in Illinois. The first
man killed would not get on the trap-door.
He and Kate slept together, and she Killed
him with butcher knife. The only man
he killed alone in Kansas was peddleT.
He hit him on the back of the head with a
stone hammer and got good deal OF
meney from him, but don't know how
much. He remembers Others that were
killed. One man John killed and put un-
der ice. Two little children, both girls,
were buried alive The children We're oI
8 wears old. Their parents were killed she
l dav before. Bender used to stand behind
| the curtain and push the trapdoor. Kate
and Maggie were always down III the Gel
/ lar 10 cut the victims throats. Leandei
Smith was Rates lover. Justice Griin
shaw used to be Maggie's man. Aftei
| leaving Kansas they went with the Indians
They thought this spring that they mus
go to Illinois to die. They started VIII
Kate, John, Maggie and four children
The old man and woman left the Others a
| SCHUYLER They had team of old horses
one bay and gray, and an old wagon
| Sheriff Daniel NJ. Bender, from Kansas