Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-25
THE BENDER FAMILY.
The killing Ofthe Old Man and Wom-
an and John and Kate Related by
Capt. j. c. Reeves, an Eye-W illness
ofthe Tragedy.
St. Louis Republican

capt. j. u Reeves, an Eye "ltnebs
ofthe Tragedy.
ST. Louis Republican
The sudden disappearance of::the
members of the murderous Bender
family after the revelation of their
numerous atrocities and the failure of
all efforts to discover the whereabouts
of the fugitives enshrouded the whole
affair with an air of impenetrab
mystery. The veil was not lifted ua-
til some twelve months ago, when the
Republican published the story of one
of the avenging party which overlook
and annihilated the whole family, in
Indian Territory, not far from the
banks of the Grand river. The author
of that graphic narrative, Capt. j. =.
Reeves, of Appleton City, Mo-, is at
present guest at the Hotel Barnum,
and when seen by a Republican re-
porter he cheerfuIly consented to give
all the details of the Benders' tragic
ending except the name of the man by
whose hand they were slain.
when DR.. York was missed" the
captain began, as he lit fresh cigar,
"Col. York traced him to the house
occupied by the Benders. Being I'M
able to obtain any further informa-
ton of his lost brother, he returned to
Independence, Kan, and communi-
Gated the result of MS investigations
to Capt. Stone, sheriff of Montgomery
county. The next day Col. York and
Capt. Stoae visited the Bender resi-
dence, and were received by the man
who married Kate Bender, and who
went by the name Of John Bender.
John Bender admitted that DR.. York
had stayed at their house, and assert
ed that he had heard nothing of the
doctor since. Being unable to obtain
any satisfaction, Col. York and Capt.
Stone retraced their steps to hide
pendence. a posse was formed and
the company started forth determined
TO investigate the matter to the bot
tom. When they arrived at the Ben
der homestead the birds had flown.
The house and garden were examined,
and in the garden were found nine
bodies of murdered persons, one of
which was recognized as that of DIR.
York. Public Indignation at this
discovery knew no bounds, and the
What was the next step taken for
the purpose of avenging this whole
sale butchery?"
GA party consisting of S. S. Peter
son, deputy United States marshal,
Col. York, Bell Wright, George Daw-
son, and myself was formed to follow
the trail of the Benders We tracked
the wagon to Thayer, Kan, where VIC
found the wagon s.bandoned. At this
point we took the railroad cars for
Chanute, on the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas railroad. At Chanute we pro-
cured another wagon and proceeded
IN the direction of the Grand river,
which runs through Indian Territory
It was in Indian Territory on the
banks of the Grand river, that Col.
York, who was in the van of the
party, overhauled the Benders. They
all died very suddenly, and they are
buried ia Indian Territory, near where
they fell. [ have nothing more to
say. That ends the story"
"Were they shot?"
Eyes; they were shot with a six
teen-shot repeating Henry rifle"
"Who did the shooting?"
THAT [ am not at liberty to state. !"
Did Col. York offer any reward
for the discovery of the B5nders?"
'No. he did not, although he was
worth $1,000 at the time. The gov
eminent offered $4,000 reward, but
claimed it. :"
DO the Benders lie close to the
river?"
Yes
Are you certain that they were all
killed."
81 saw them killed, all four of them
old rsan Bender and his wife, John
Bender and Kate Bender"
every they shot by one man?"
eyes; by one man only. He killed
them Bang bang bang bang"
Every shot counted"
Where were you when the shoot
ing was done?"
II was sitting on my horse few
yards from the man that did the
shooting. I entered into an agree
ment not to tell anything about it.
"Were there any United States
troops present?"
mo"
did you see the bodies buried?"
81 did"
Gould you find the place again."
81 could very easily"
How were they buried?"
eve just dug hold, tumbled them
IN, and covered them up"
Did you find anything on the
bodies?n
1--WE did not search them"
''How were they shot, from be-
hind?"
''They were shot from behind and
to their faces. We were very much
exasperated at finding the nine bodies
in the garden, and Immediately we
overlook them the firing commenced.
They were not looking when we over
took them, but as soon as the firing
began they turned around. The man
was ahead that did the shooting. We
had our carbines leveled ready to
shoot but there was no resistance