Stereoview by G.R. Gamble, Parsons, Kansas, a composite of two views, the top showing the Bender residence and the bottom the authorities exhuming the corpses of victims. The infamous Bender family appeared quietly in southeastern Kansas in the spring of 1872. Like so many others, they wanted to make new lives and fortunes in the untamed west. However, their methods for obtaining such fortunes differed greatly from most of the other homesteaders. The Benders constructed a home between the towns of Thayer and Galesburg in Neosho County, on the road to Fort Scott. It was not a fancy place, but was a general store and a wayside inn that could provide both food and a bed for travelers. The family lived in the rear of the single large room with the store on the other side of a canvas curtain. Family members spoke little to the strangers who passed through, but their beautiful daughter Kate was outgoing and aggressive. Men were immediately attracted to the tall, fair-haired beauty and she became quite a draw for the Bender's establishment. She also became well-known in the region as a psychic medium. As "Professor Miss Kate Bender," she gave public seances and entertained crowds. She was very popular with the male members of the audience, some traveling to the Bender's hotel to see her again. They, like many luckless travelers who passed through, were never seen again. After dispatching their victims, some apparently were "stored" in the cellar until they could be buried somewhere on the prairie. A favorite burying ground was an orchard located on the property. The system of murder worked well for more than 18 months - until they chose the wrong victim. Dr. William York informed his brother, Colonel York of Fort Scott, that he planned to stay at the inn, having been there on a previous journey. When he did not arrive at his destination, Colonel York retraced his brother's trip, arriving at the Benders' 4 May 1873. The family denied seeing the Doctor, but later in the evening, after eating a hearty dinner, York happened to notice something glittering underneath one of the beds that turned out to be a locket of his brother's with his family's photos inside. York quietly left to alert authorities in the nearest town. As he was getting his horse, he saw lights in the orchard, so the next day, authorities in tow, they checked the suspicious dirt mounds found there (the first was Dr. York). Using probes, they located more graves on the prairie nearby, about 2 dozen in all. It is unknown how many more may not have been discovered. The Benders, suspecting York had discovered their secret, had vanished completely but authorities would go on searching for more than fifty years without success. There were claims that a small band of irate relatives caught up with the bloodthirsty family and killed them. But the vigilantes swore each other to secrecy, so the story has never been confirmed.
Stereoview by G.R. Gamble, Parsons, Kansas, a composite of two views, the top showing the Bender residence and the bottom the authorities exhuming the corpses of victims. The infamous Bender family appeared quietly in southeastern Kansas in the spring of 1872. Like so many others, they wanted to make new lives and fortunes in the untamed west. However, their methods for obtaining such fortunes differed greatly from most of the other homesteaders. The Benders constructed a home between the towns of Thayer and Galesburg in Neosho County, on the road to Fort Scott. It was not a fancy place, but was a general store and a wayside inn that could provide both food and a bed for travelers. The family lived in the rear of the single large room with the store on the other side of a canvas curtain. Family members spoke little to the strangers who passed through, but their beautiful daughter Kate was outgoing and aggressive. Men were immediately attracted to the tall, fair-haired beauty and she became quite a draw for the Bender's establishment. She also became well-known in the region as a psychic medium. As "Professor Miss Kate Bender," she gave public seances and entertained crowds. She was very popular with the male members of the audience, some traveling to the Bender's hotel to see her again. They, like many luckless travelers who passed through, were never seen again. After dispatching their victims, some apparently were "stored" in the cellar until they could be buried somewhere on the prairie. A favorite burying ground was an orchard located on the property. The system of murder worked well for more than 18 months - until they chose the wrong victim. Dr. William York informed his brother, Colonel York of Fort Scott, that he planned to stay at the inn, having been there on a previous journey. When he did not arrive at his destination, Colonel York retraced his brother's trip, arriving at the Benders' 4 May 1873. The family denied seeing the Doctor, but later in the evening, after eating a hearty dinner, York happened to notice something glittering underneath one of the beds that turned out to be a locket of his brother's with his family's photos inside. York quietly left to alert authorities in the nearest town. As he was getting his horse, he saw lights in the orchard, so the next day, authorities in tow, they checked the suspicious dirt mounds found there (the first was Dr. York). Using probes, they located more graves on the prairie nearby, about 2 dozen in all. It is unknown how many more may not have been discovered. The Benders, suspecting York had discovered their secret, had vanished completely but authorities would go on searching for more than fifty years without success. There were claims that a small band of irate relatives caught up with the bloodthirsty family and killed them. But the vigilantes swore each other to secrecy, so the story has never been confirmed.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
