Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-09-25
THE BENDER FAMILY.
The Killing offhe Old Man and Wom-
an aud John and Kate Related by
Capt. j. G. Reeves, an Eyewitness
ofthe Tragedy.
st. Louis Republican.

ot. LOUIS hepuDncAn.
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 eHshrouded the whole
affair with an air of impenetrable
mystery. The veil was not lifted un-
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. 9.
Reeves, of Appleton City, Mo-, is at
present guest at the Hotel Barnum,
and when seen by Republican re-
porter he eheerfully 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 Blenders. Being uns
able to obtain any further informa-
ton of his lost brother, he returned to
Independence, Kan, and communi-
Gated the result of his 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 indie
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
waich was recognized as that of DIR.
York. Public indignation at this
discovery knew no bounds, and tie
excitement became intense"
what was the next step taken for
the purpose of avenging this whole
sale butchery2"
"a 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 10 Thayer, Kan, where We
found the wagon abandoned. AT this
point we took the railroad cars for
Chanute, on the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas railroad. AT Chahute we pro-
cured another wagon and proceeded
IN the direction of the Grand river,
which runs through Indian Territory.
1t 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 in Indian Territory, near whore
they fell. 1 have nothing more to
say. That ends the story"
"Were they shot"
Yes they were shot with a six
teen-shot repeating Henry rife. "
"WhO did the shooting2'
THAT l am not at liberty to state. "
did Col York offer any reward
for the discovery of the Bcnders2"
mo, he did not, although he was
worth 500, 600 at the time. The gov
eminent offered so, 600 reward, but
nobody claimed it.
DO the Benders lie close to the
river2"
Eyes"
Are you certain that they were all
killed"
Il saw them killed, all four of them
old rSan Bender and his wife, John
Bender and Kate Bender"
every they shot by one MANI"
eyes; by one man only. He killed
them Bang bang, bang, bang"
Every shot counted.
"Where were you when the shoot
ing was done2"
II was sitting on my horse few
yards from the man that did the
shooting. / entered into an agree
ment not to tell anything about it"
"Were there any United States
troops present?"
NO
did you see the bodies buried2"
II did"
"Could you find the place again"
81 could very easily"
How were they buried9"
1--WE just dug hold, tumbled them
in, and covered them up.
Did you find anything on the
bodies9"
I'VE did not search them"
How were they shot, from be-
hindu"
"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
offered"
what description of vehicle were
the Benders In2"
"They were in a two-horse wagon.
| think the two men We're seated