Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-08-18
THE ORIGINAL BENDERS.
AtchisOn ChampiOn,


Mr.. Blanchard says the published DIES
criptions of the parties arrested in Nebras
ka do not agree with the descriptions of tn,
Benders. The man described is too large
for old Bender; the woman is not ole
enough to be the old woman Bender, ane
is too old to be Kate: and nothing is sale
in the descriptions, about the loss of the
middle finger of the right hand. Ole
Bender lost this finger.
But Mr.. Blanchard has a still more re-
markable story At the time man sup
posed to be old Bender, and who was ar
rested in Utah, was brought to Kansas
| Mr.. Blanchard got on the Kansas Pacific
train at Wamego, to see the prisoner.
AS soon as he saw him he told the officer
in charge that he had got the wrong man
that his prisoner was not one of the Ben
ders. J.Q. Partridge, who now lives, Mr..
Blanchard thinks, at Salina, was on the
same train, and shortly afterwards said to
him:
"You are right, Blanchard, that is not
old Bender And what is more, the
Blenders will never be found. They are
under the sod.'
Mr.. Partridge lived at Parsons, as did
Mr.. Blanchard, in 1873, and the latter
knew him very we'll Partridge, he says
is thoroughly reliable man. Afterwards
he told Mr.. Blanchard the following story
concerning his knowledge of the fate of
the Benders:
He (Patridge,) belonged to the Vigil
ance Committee organized in Labette
County, to ferret out and punish horse
thieves and other criminals. The men,
bers of this committee had suspected the
Benders for some time, and had been
keeping watch on their movements. Some
of them saw the Blenders returning from
Drum Creek, after disposing of the body
of Jones one of their victims. Suspecting
some crime, they followed the dished wa
gon tracks, and at length discovered the
body of the murdered man. They at once
called the committee together. But be-
fore the members could be assembled, the
Benders had taken alarm, and were off to
the Indian Territory. The Vigilantes
overlook them few miles over the line
as they were descending a steep hill.
The Benders were in wagon, and their
pursuers ON horseback. The murderers
whipped up their horses, and made fran
tic efforts to escape, but one of the ami
mails stumbled and fell near the foot Of
the hill, throwing the occupants of the
wagon out The leg of one of the women
was broken by the fall. The old man
and John were armed and made fight,
but were soon overpowered. Both were
wounded during the struggle. The vi
gilantes took their prisoners to creek
near by and bound them. One of the
committee was sitting near Kate guard
ing her. She raved and cursed, declar-
ing she had killed many men and would
kill him yet. He had large knife in a
scabbard attached to his belt. Finally
she made a sudden jump and grasping
the knife, drew it from its scabbard and
made vicious lunge at her captOr. He
had revolver in his hand, and instantly
shot her.
The Vigilantes then proceeded to hold
Lynch Court for the trial of the prisoners
Some one of the Benders confessed the
crimes of which they had been guilty.
The whole party were then shot or hang
ed, and buried on the spot.
This is the story, as told us yesterday
by Mr.. Blanchard. He is convinced that
it is plain narrative of actual facts,
as his informant, Mr.. Partridge, knew the
Benders well and is a reliable and res
ponsible man. We publish the story as
it was told us. There is no doubt of the
fact that hundreds of people in the state
believe that the Bcnders were dispatched
by vigilance committee; and Mr.. Blan-
chard has full faith that the account of
their taking-of, as narrated to him by
Mr.. Partridge, is an exact narrative of
| facts.
We shall, no doubt, learn in a few
days something more Of the parties arrest
ed in Nebraska But we are inclined to
| to believe they are not the Benders, and
| that these brutal murderers met deserv-
ed fate years ago.