Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-10
The Prisoners, Although Criminals, Prove
an Alihi in This Case.

JACKSON, Mich, Jan. 9.-From the
records of the county clerks office the
correspondent is able to state that the
woman at present under arrest at Oswego,
Kan, as Mrs. Bender, together with her
daughter, Mrs. Sarah Davis, is not, in all
probability, the person for whom she has
been arrested. viz: the notorious bender
woman. There seems little doubt that the
officers making the arrest are justified for
the excuse made, as Mrs. Marks, or Stew
ems, career is nearly as remarkable as WAS
that of the terrible Bender woman.
Asclose search of the records at the coun-
ty clerks Office this morning reveals tne
mentioned by Mrs. Davis actually took
place at Parma, before Justice McGee.
Mrs Davis says that the woman now I'M
der arrest at Oswego, Kan, as Mrs. Ben
der, claims to have been married in 1870.
This is a mistake which might quite lkely
occur, as the marriage actually took place
before Justice of the Peace Charles r.
MCGEE on December 20, 1869. The
records show that the contracting
parties were Chauncey Sherrer, aged OIL,
and Almra Marks, aged 80. This date be-
ing so close 10 the end OF the year ana so
long ago, might easily have led to the mis-
take OF the few days.
Immediately after the marriage of the
couple they moved to Concord township
and rented a house Of Daniel Perry. Mrs.
Perry and her daughter. Mrs. Andrew ).
Graham, rediding at 70S East Detroit
street. were seen this morning. Both OF the
ladies remembered Mrs. Marks, as she
was called, cher husband not having
left her in a few days after the marriage
above referred toy. She had several chill
dren with no visible means of support, and
+ no Iodf
Mrs. Marks was in league with the worst
characters of the country, and SherlH Ray
says he remembers that she was once tried
for fearful crime, but whether convicted
or not he can not say, as she disappeared
from this part of the country again until
the so-called Bender arrest came up lew
months ago, and then the similarity OF The
names in the report and the career of the
woman accused of being Mrs. Bender,
struck him forcibiy as being Identical with
those of the Marks woman.
Mrs Perry and Mrs. Graham remember
that Mrs. Marks had a troop of children
half clad and i'll ted and that the whole
brood slept on the bare floor and were
about half starved. The old woman paid
no rent, and on several occasions she told
Mr.. Perry TO lock up his horses as there
were horse stealers about, and Mr.. Perry
always obeyed her hint, and AS his
horses were not stolen and other peoples
were. Mr. l.. believed the old Woman'S
gratitude for having roof to shelter her
saved his team.
The ladies say that there was a suspic-
ious gang coming and going at old Mrs.
Marks, their departure being mostly with
IN two days, and that frequently Mrs.
Marks would depart from her home dur
ing the night and be away two or three
days at time and then return
again at night, and nobody doubted but
that she was up to some dishonest scheme.
Neither of the ladies or the sheriff ever saw
the husband, Sherrer, and all parties I'M
derstood that Mrs. Marks had been wanted
several times, and that the husband,
Marks died under very suspicious circum-
stances and there was talk of foul play at
the time.
This would seem to settle the story
about Mrs. Marks being Mrs. Bender, in
her favor. as she was, according to
the date of the marriage above
quoted, and the story of those who
knew her when here, prove that she was
in Michigan when the Bender massacres
occurred and SO could not be guilty of them
whatever else she might be accused of.
The sheriff believes there are many people
about Parma, in this county, who will be
able to give interesting data about the So
called Mrs. Bender, who has created so
much excitement during the past year.