The Globe-republican., 1889-11-06
the BENDER FAMILY.

just now the daily papers are full Of
sensational matter relating to the capture
of the notorious Bender family. On
Thursday of last week the governor Of
Michigan granted the request of Govern
or Humphrey of Kansas for the extradi-
ton of the two suspected women, Mrs.
Monroe and Mrs. Sarah Davis, and Fri
day they were brought to Labette county
this state by Deputy Sheriff L. F. Dick.
The following history of their crimes,
and an interview with a Kansas City
official, is taken from the Evening News
of that city:
| THE INTERVIEW.
''Identify the Benders!" exclaimed a
city officer, who was one of the pioneers
of southern Kansas during the Bender
excitement. IF charred bits of bones
and white ashes which have long since
been tossed to the winds can be
gathered together and be identified, then
the Benders can be found. There were
wild times in the southeastern part of
Kansas during the early part of the 7O's,
and the vigilants ruled society with laws
of iron. The Blenders did not escape
them. They were taken from their
wagon, which was subsequently found
and bound to trees around which q
mammoth brush pile was built and then
ignited. have seen the Blenders sew
eral times, and Kate Bender, the girl,
was one Of the handsomest women in
that part Of Kansas. The brother of DR..
York now lives in Topeka. He knows
of the Benders' death and that is why
he has never taken steps to investigate
the supposed arrests of those criminals. :"
chow do you know the Blenders were
burned?''
81 do know it, but l will not say how.
l know of two who were there and saw
it. At first the band was sworn to keep
the matter of the retribution secret, but
it has come to light from time to time
and it is useless to keep the secret longer.
Too many innocent persons have suf-
fered by it. You can set it down that
the people arrested in Michigan will
never be proven to be the Blenders of
Cherryvale, and Labette county will be
short the expenses Of transportation
CON CAUGHT THEM.
Valentine Love was running the Wal
nut street theater about eight years ago
when the police, who were just as shrewd
and far seeing at that date as they are at
present, rushed an old dilapidated
couple off the stage and charged them
with being the Blenders.
For while Love had advertised the
couple as the Blenders. One of the show
bills had in big letters 1.-THE Blenders are
at the Walnut street, A wide awake
detective of that date rubbed his eyes
when he saw it, had the words spelled
out to him and deemed it valuable
clue. Detectives Con O'Hare and H.
Greeley made the arrest and for two
hours enjoyed much fame. But the
couple were released, being just as much
the Blenders as Desney was the Altman
diamond rObber.
THE BENDERS' CRIMES.
There are but few who are unacQuain-
ted with the leading features of the
crimes of the Bender family. Murder
was the delight and pastime of the mem
bers of the outfit, and robbery their bust
ness in life. The active ones of the
family were the cid man, his wife, Kate
Bender and John Bender, the daughter
and son of the we'll matched pair. There
was another son, a small boy, who seems |
to have vanished from the face of the |
earth, although he was not killed at the
time his relatives are said to have met
their sudden and merited punishment.
Old man Bender kept sort Of way
side inn for travellers, some distance out
Of Cherryvale. Stockmen going out to
buy cattle and strangers whose business
.ook them down toward the line of the
Nation were the guests. Men well
equipped with money left Parsons, Cher
'yvale and other towns, their road lead
ng in the direction of Bender's and were
lever seen again. Little remark was
;aused as the missing ones were from
Instant points and had no friends in the
to inquire into their fate.
)ne afternoon DR.. York, a well known
physician Of Kansas, accompanied by his
on, little boy about five years old, left
PARSONS and were never seen again alive.
falling to hear from him his friends in
tituted dilligent search. The brother
+ the missing man, an attorney now
wing in or near Topeka, headed the
'arty. DR.. York and his boy were traced
o the Bender ranch and there the trail !
eased. The family had grown into dis
epute and careful examination of the {
remises was made. Pending the search
be Blenders fled, and suspicion became
Renewed efforts to find the
odies were made, for all hope of dis I
overing the unfortunate doctor had
cen abandoned. At last the father and c