Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-04
THE BENDER BUTCHERS.
Their Arrest and Identification at Fre-
mont. Nebrsska-The Authorities in
Pursuit of Kate and John-A Large Re-
ward for tho Whole Gang.

Tnelr Arrest anu 1QeutiucatlOu " Ec-
mont, Nebrsska-The Authorities in
Pursuit of Kate and John-A Large Re-
ward for tho Whole Gang.
OMAHA, August 3-Sheriff Gregg, OF
Dodge county, who arrested old Bender
and his wife, now in Fremont Jail, is in
Omaha hunting up the trail OF young
Bender and wife. The latter were seen
with team and wagon with old Bender
and wife, who were on foot, near Schuy-
Ter, and they parted near there. Shortly
before Daniel Condor informed Gregg
of their suspicious inquiries about the
Bender family Of Kansas. Mr.. Gregg
has since learned that the young couple
crossed the river at Omaha with awagon
and team and went into Iowa, no doubt
TN route to the place OF meeting agreed
upon by them and the old folks.
Sheriff Gregg says that when he ar
rested the old couple he rode up to
them and said: "Hello, Kate" The
woman replied: 81 amt Kate Bender"
Gregg believes he has a sure thing on
the old man, but thinks the woman
pepd~r,- mistress, and that they have
Killed his wife. The original old Bender
was q German, and had big scar on
the centre of his head. The prisoner
at Fremont has scar, but swears he
doesn't know a word OF German. A
Dutchman was put in the cell with in.
structions to curse him in his natural
tongue. Old Bender forgot himself and
swore terrifcally at the man in
German. Bender asked for q razor
TO shave, but Gregg. fearing
he would commit suicide, refused, and
had the barber TO shave him. Sheriff.
Gregg is determined to capture young
Bender, and it is understood S25, 900 re-
ward is offered for the whole gang. Of
this amount Sll 900 is for the old man.
OMAHA. August, "a dispatch from
Fremont, Neb., says: Further develop
ments make almost certain the identity
of the couple in Jail here for completely
in the Bender butcheries. IL. V. Hoop.
lar, of this county, who formerly resided
i'm Labele county, kas., near the Ben
ders, interviewed the old man and wo-
man in Jail Yesterday. He says:
"I asked him il he had seen anybody
murdered there. He said he had seen
eleven persons murdered. Questioned
closely, he admitted having helped to
kill and bury them, and exclaimed:
"Let them hang me-
"Ie said he would not 60 back 10
Kansas; he would kill himself first
Mr.. Hooplar then went and saw the
woman captured with Bender. She
commenced laughing when asked If she
knew him, and answered, Yes, DO
know YOU. How do you do, MIR. Hoop,
lin? the name she called him byI. !
never expected TO see you any more.
don't want to talk with You"
He said: "You are captured at last.
She answered: "Yes, We are. They
will hang us.
lie asksd her what she was going to
do, and she said: "You know that that's
John Bender; there is no use to deny 1t
any longer. am going to tell the ruin;
il that don't save me from being hunS
I'll have to hang"
Mrs Bender Relates the Infamous Ex-
ploits of the Gang-A Whole Family
Observation-Disclosures Buried Alive.
FREMONT, NEB., August 3.-There has
been further Developments in the BEN
der matter to-day. Mrs Bender made
q full confession Of all the horrible mur-
ders committed on the John Bender
farm during 1872 and 1878. She was
widow when she married. McGregorr,
alias Bender, who was q widower win
iour children. They migrated from
Missouri to Lsbelle county, Kansas,
where, under the leadership OF Kate,
cid Johns daughter, the murders
and robberies, that have maze
the family so notorious, began;
Mrs. Bender declares that she had
no personal hand in these crimes. The
first man killed by them was man
named Brown. Very soon after the first
murder two strangers were killed. The
woman was asked whether she remem.
bered about a whole family being killed
and she said: "Yes, do. There was
man, wife and two little girls, who drove
mn TO the house one afternoon and want
ed TO spend the night. That night
while the man and wife were at supper
they were dropped through the hole.
Kate and the old man were
below. The man fought pretty
hard, but they fixed him. Next day
the two children were buried alive. Old
John took one and Kate the other.
They followed awiully, but finally
stopped, and Kate came in and said,
'Tbe damned brats are all right now.
Soon after this, according to the woman
story, they become frightened and join
ed the Cherokee or Choctaw nation:
MANY further details were obtained
from this woman, and if there are not
the original Benders. the fact can easily
be established.
SIX BRUTEs.