THE BENDERS Keepers of the Devil's Inn

Paperback. SIGNED. An account of the Bender murders. The 'Bloody Benders' were a family of serial killers who owned an inn and small general store in Labette County of southeastern Kansas from 1871 to 1873. The family consisted of John Bender, his wife Elvira Bender, son John, Jr., and daughter Kate. While Bender mythology holds that John and Kate were brother and sister, contemporary newspapers reported that several of the Benders' neighbors have stated that they claimed to be married, possibly a common law marriage. They are believed to have killed at least a dozen travelers before their crimes were discovered and the family fled, with their fate uncertain. Much folklore and legend surrounds the Benders, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction. Illus. + Bibliog. 107pp. p/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Sunned sp., tiny crease across bottom corner of fr. cover o/w Vg+. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR.