The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-04-26
SEVERAL YEARS AGO
Thsy Caused q Black Chapter in the
-
History of The State o, Kansas.
Their Tavern and Inn was
i
The Scene of Many
C,uel Murders.

Kansas. MtSd Pe0P'S lor years nave
believed that the Benders escapec
from Kansas and ere still living some
where. But Dr.. J4mes A. De Moss,
Of Tbayer, declares that tine Blenders
are all laid 10 rsst In unmarked graV
es near Thsyer, and That he know
the exact spot.
II have in ny possession" said he
the names Of eight living person.
who can tell the public, ii they would,
where the Benders are buried and Yht
Unidentified Lneir bodies before theii
burial. They can point out the graves
OF that wicked family. TO establish
q historic fact and for the purpose OF
removing any doubt about the MAJ
ter, the bodies shouii be eXhumsd. If
some one will sid me I snail under
take the task
THE BENDERs IN KANSAS.
Kansas hxs had many revolving
crimes committed within her borders,
but none ever equsled the BeudsI
crimes, except possibly the sscktng
Of Lswrencs. The BaDders lived or;
the main travelled road, about half
way between Thsyer and Cherryvale,
That was in the early 70's. Tne1e
were four In the family. Old M a
Bender and his wife and son and hls
wife. The sons wife claimed 70 be
medium and had great II tiusnce over
rhe members OF the family They SLID
refreshments and fed travellers who.
happened along about ueal time
Their house had two rooms, and the
partition consisted Of calico curtain.
In the early spring Of '73 people be-
gan suddenly to disappear around that
section OF the country. They woulc
start out on the Thayer Cherry vale
road, and that would be the last Seen
Of them. They would drop complete
ly out Of Signu.
WHO TIE VICTIMS WERE.
In March of that year William York,
q brother OF Senator York, who play
ed an Important role IN tho Pomeroy
senatorial scandal, started from Forl
Scott to Independence. he dropped
out Of sight. Shortly afterwsrd tht
Bender family disappeared. The fra,
stne they were missed was when
neighbor found calf tied to Q tree
dead in the yard. The calf had died
OF starvation. The people then became
curious and began au Investigation
They found o trap door In the hous'
and it opened to pit about six feet
in dianater. The ground floor wa
soaked with blood. 1t smelled OF de
coyed human flesh. Ou1 in the garo,e'
come sunkan holes were discovered
A .neighbor' though he would olt
down and see what be could turn up.
he soon struck q corpse. Wnen Is,
moved iu was Unidentified az that II
William York. The Investigation eon
tinued and seven more 'oales Wert
dug up. Tney were all idsntified bul
one. Thess identitisd wert:
George w. Langcor a. d daughter,
three months OLD. Longt or had 81
bis wife AID was taking his Mule gir
back to Iowa to live.
Geo, pe Bro IN OF O3errpvale.
William McCrothy OF Hj"ard c'un
ty, who had left homs ~lLh $4,000 IT.
cash.
81. T. McKirzie of Indiana, who
had come West with q little money tc
locate.
N. &. Boyle Of Montgomery county
and an unknown man. -.
IN THE BENDER HOUSE.
It aflsrward was or.ught out that
all OF these people were xiii d in I'll
Bender house at different times, With
the exception OF LoDgcor and hi:
daughter. The v.cuu would STOP Tor
q meal. He would be seated at the
table with his back pear the calic1
curtain. Then one Of the Benders
would slip up and hit him On the head
with q banner, crushing his skull
His body would be dumped through
the trspdoor into the pit and tten 70
make sure of his death Bender woulo
cut his throat from ear to ear Every
victim was treated in the same fasL-
ion. Their heads were all crushed 10
and their throats cut. In due tim
the body would be tsken to tho ga:deL
ard buried.
On April I, 1878, the four Berde's
drive away. Tn y left their tam
about mile from Thayer and took
the train to Hun boldt. At lesst t1ai
Is the story. They have never beel
ssen I'll ce. A pus:e was after tnen
about that time. After skirmtshtnR
around, for 8 few dsya the member
of the posse returned tu their hotues
saying that they had given up Sh
chase. They dropped the subjec'
quickly. The whereabouts Of tn,
Renders never seem.d to bother theu,
after that. But other people vers
curious and are still curious to thi
day. The posse never peacbed. Bu''
that th. y got rid Of the Bende1s has
always been SUSPECT ned by many.
And the fact that Dr., De Moss, Ct
Thsyer, now oRessslS. turn up the
bones OF the Bsn6ers tends to conSsm
the suspicion