The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-18
HORRlBLE STORY OF CRlaIE.
Tho Deeds OF the Isender Family Outdone
ln Indiana.
INprANApoIrs. March 1 1850.

-s
Tho Deeds OF the Header Family outdono
in Indiana.
INDIANAPOLIS, March /, 1880.
A few days after the arrest of Mrs.
Brown and her paramour, Wade, for the
murder Of j. G. I. Brown, the formers
| husband, which occurred two or three
weeks ago, the neigabors of the victim
began telling strange stories and setting
afoat rumors Of dark deeds that have
long been sti6ed through fear Of the
Browns. Some Of these repo.is coming
TO the ear of o Sentinel reporter, he turned
detective, and for the past ten days has
done little else than trace the rumors to
their source. The details OF this work,
TO the extent Of several columns, will ap.
pear in the Sentinel tomorrow, and
| should thorough examination of the
premises ccrroborate his statements, his
efforts will have been rewarded by the
discovery of crimes as appalling and
atrccious as those of the notorious Ben.
der family of .,..issonri.
| For many years it was suspected that
the home Of Brown was the headquarters
of band Of desperadoes, who made plum
suspicious were verified year ago by the
arrest and subsequent conviction of
Brown and his wife, together with sew
eral sccomplices. Rut not until the MUIR
der of Brown did the people of that
| vicinity become aroused to the fact that
Bender family had been living in their
midst,
| 1t is now remembered, however, that
several persons have suddenly disap-
peared within the past five or six years,
aud that in each instance they were
known to have money. and that Brown
was indebted to them either in the way
of wages for labor or money borrowed.
! One of these was man named Hunter,
German, who had formerly lived near
| Seymour. Indiana. He yas an Indus
trious, frugal young man, and had about
$500 in bank. About Eve years ago he
worked for Brown, but at the end of q
year, finding him poor pay, Hunter de-
termiued to leave. Brown accompanied
him to the city, ostensibly TO pay him..
after which he was never seen or heard
Of again. Brown tcid several different
stories of his whereabouts, and no ono
taking any personal interest in the mat
ter, it was never called to the attention
of the officers but it is now recalled
that shortly after his disappearance Mrs.
Browns relatives, the Fletchers, had q
disagreement with the Browns, and hint
ed that they could tell what had become
Of Hunter. About that time, too, it is
remembered Brown covered portion of
his garden with dirt to Che depth of about
eighteen inches, saying that it needed to
be filled up. The Fletchers frequently
referred to this fact in connection with
Hunters disappearance, one of them re-.
marking that she could put stick with
in eighteen inches OF his body Ben.
Fletcher, half-brother OF Ms. Brown,
says that Hunters jewelry and picture
were seen in Browns house, and that
several letters were received from his
father asking as to his whereabouts.
Shortly after Hunters disappearance,
an old man, whose name is now forgot
ten, began boarding with the Browns.
He came from the gold regions, and had
about him in belt $400 or $500 in god.
By some means Brown managed to 6cr-
row $50 Of hiin, and for the purposs of
getting it back the old man undertook to
board it ont. This was the last seen of
him. Soon after his disappearance
Brown again covered his garden with
fresh dirt, this time to the depth Of two
feet, giving the same reason as before.
Nobody taking a,Sv interest in the old
man, the matter was never looked into,
although il appears the Fletchera limited
pretty plainly that they could tell, if dis
posed to, what had become of him.
The next victim is supposed to be q
physician, who was known to have $500
| or $500. Brown borrowed 5000 or $500
might never be returned, he made repeat
ed calls at Browns house. Very socn he
suddenly disappeared. a man working
for Brown ct the time discovered in the
edge Of neighboring wood what sp-
peared In ha a neg-n,sAee SSrrssvo. ne
mentioned the fact incidentally to Brown,
and shortly afte.s the place was covered
with rails, Brown explaining that he had
planted acornB there, and the rails were
to keep the hogs away. This is now be.
lieved to DO the grave Of the unknown
doctor.
A few months before Browns convic-
tion for robbery, fifteen months ago, DIR.
Levi Ritter, an attorney of this city, who
resides ia Irvington, about q mile from
the Browns, found man lying by the
roadside ir1tho vicinity of their house
with his skull crushed in. He was taken
to che City Hospital in an eenconecious
condition, and d I'd in day or two afte-.
ward. It,va5 never known who he was,
but at the time ie was supposed hej had
4 oeen foDped IN the city and taken out
there to nislead the oficergs But in the
light of recent revelations 1t IL believed
he was one of Browns victims.
Several years ago the Browns took o
boy to raise. He refused to participate
in their dark transactions, and, about the
time of Browns trial for robbery, he too
disappeared. He probably knew too
much, and went .he way of Hunter and
Others. How long the list of victims is
cannot be determined, but, as evidence is
carefully gathered, it becomes more and
moro corroborative. In the morning q
number Of arrests will be made, on the
strength of what is already known, and
IL Ia likeIs' the Gonnt.r Gnsamiealn..a.s
will authoriSe Browns premises to be
thoroughly examined, that the whole
4 truth Of the terrible cririe may be
known.- Ciacinndi Gdzette.
/ - Some curious, If not instructive,
facts and figures are given to show how
expensive q Congressional funeral is
The funeral of Gnstave Schleichler, OF
Texas, cost $5, ,102, of which $913.50 was
ezEc:;;di foT gloves ana silk scarfs at So
each For the delegation. The cost of the
ftl;iAr1I of A s. Williams WIS 81 40 of