The Bloody Benders: A Tale of Frontier Horror

The Unassuming Inn

In the heart of Labette County, Kansas, an unassuming family operated a modest inn along the Great Osage Trail. This seemingly quaint establishment, run by the Bender family from May 1871 to December 1872, masked a sinister operation of murder. The Bender household consisted of John Bender, his wife Kate Sr. (or Almira), their son John Jr., and their daughter Kate Jr. However, whispers from neighbors suggested that John Jr. and Kate were, in fact, husband and wife, linked by a common-law marriage.

A Community of Spiritualists

In October 1870, five spiritualist families, including the Benders, settled around Osage township, just seven miles northeast of the newly established Cherryvale. The Benders claimed 160 acres adjacent to the only westward road, quickly erecting a cabin, barn, and well. By fall 1871, Elvira and Kate joined John Sr. and John Jr., completing the family ensemble. They sectioned their cabin into two rooms: the rear for living quarters and the front as a general store and dining area. Travelers could purchase dry goods or enjoy a meal, while Elvira and Kate cultivated a vegetable garden and apple orchard.

The Family's Dark Aura

John Bender Sr., a man of about sixty, spoke little English, and what he did was often incomprehensible. Known in some circles as William Bender, he was a figure of mystery. Elvira, aged 55, was infamous for her unfriendly demeanor, earning the moniker "she-devil" from neighbors. John Jr., with his auburn hair and mustache, was around 25, fluent in English but marked by his awkward laughter, leading many to consider him a simpleton. Kate Jr., at 23, was not only attractive but well-spoken, claiming psychic abilities and healing powers. She gained fame for her lectures on spiritualism and her advocacy for free love, making the Bender inn a local attraction.

The family's origins remained obscure; they were presumed German immigrants, yet definitive proof eluded historians. Theories abounded, suggesting John Sr. was from Germany, Norway, or the Netherlands, often misidentified as John Flickinger. Elvira, possibly born Almira Hill Mark in the Adirondacks, had a trail of rumored marriages and alleged murders, though none confirmed. Kate was said to be her fifth daughter. Despite claims, the true nature of John Jr. and Kate's relationship—sibling or spouse—was never clarified.

A Trail of Disappearances

The tranquility of the Kansas prairie was shattered in May 1871 when a man named Jones was found in Drum Creek, his throat cut and skull crushed. This grim discovery was not isolated; by February 1872, two more bodies surfaced with similar injuries, casting a shadow over the area. By 1873, the trail had become notorious for disappearances, with travelers wary of passing through.

The Benders' inn, nestled in a region known for "horse thieves and villains," became a focal point of suspicion. The vigilance committees, despite their efforts, failed to find the culprits, often targeting innocents who were either released or driven away.

The Downfall Begins

In the harsh winter of 1872, George Newton Longcor and his infant daughter vanished en route from Independence, Kansas, to Iowa. When Dr. William Henry York, Longcor's former neighbor, set out to find them, he too disappeared. Dr. York's brothers, Ed and Colonel Alexander M. York, a Civil War veteran and Kansas State Senator, embarked on a search, scouring the trail and questioning locals.

On March 28, 1873, Colonel York and Mr. Johnson visited the Bender inn, inquiring about Dr. York's whereabouts. The Benders confirmed his stay, suggesting he might have met trouble with Native Americans. The colonel, albeit suspicious, accepted their explanation temporarily.

Unraveling the Mystery

Colonel York returned on April 3 with armed men after hearing of a woman fleeing the inn, threatened by Elvira Bender. Elvira feigned ignorance of English while the younger Benders denied the event. When pressed, Elvira's anger betrayed her comprehension, and she ordered their departure. Kate, however, invited York back, promising to use her clairvoyance to locate his brother. Despite the men's suspicions, York insisted on gathering evidence before taking action.

Amidst growing accusations against the Osage community, the township convened at Harmony Grove schoolhouse. Seventy-five locals, including Colonel York and possibly the Bender men, resolved to search all homesteads between Big Hill Creek and Drum Creek. Unbeknownst to them, the Benders had already fled, their absence unnoticed for days.

The Gruesome Discovery

Billy Tole, driving cattle past the Bender property, noticed the inn's abandonment and reported it. Despite poor weather delaying investigations, a search party eventually assembled, uncovering a chilling scene. Inside the cabin, a trap door beneath a bed revealed a blood-soaked floor, leading to the grim realization that murder had occurred.

As they probed the ground, the searchers found Dr. York's body buried face down in the garden. Further digging uncovered eight more bodies, all exhibiting signs of brutal death—crushed skulls and slit throats. A young girl found among the dead had no visible injuries, suggesting she was either strangled or buried alive. The community's outrage led to vigilante justice against a Bender associate, but no concrete answers surfaced.

The Aftermath and Theories

The story of the Bloody Benders quickly spread, drawing thousands to the site. Souvenir hunters dismantled the cabin, leaving little trace of the original horror. Despite efforts from State Senator Alexander York and Governor Thomas A. Osborn, who offered substantial rewards for their capture, the Benders vanished.

Speculations about their methods suggested guests at the inn were seated over a trap door, where they were bludgeoned and their throats slit before being disposed of. Witnesses who survived encounters with the Benders corroborated these theories, though some accounts emerged only after the crimes were revealed, casting doubt on their reliability.

The Benders reportedly profited by selling victims' possessions under the guise of unpaid bills, a grim testament to their cold-blooded nature. Despite the intrigue and fear surrounding their legend, the true fate of the Benders remains an enigma, lost to the annals of history.

Sources

For further details, you can refer to the Wikipedia article: Bloody Benders