That was the sound of the Grits and Grass String Band that greeted attendees to Saturday night's presentation Unearthing the Bloody Benders in Parsons.

 

 The crowd gathered at Parsons Municipal Auditorium to hear speakers form the University of Kansas who have been part of the excavation process at the site of the old Bender cabin west of Parsons. The Bender family ran an inn in the early 1870s and killed and robbed many of their customers before disappearing shortly before law enforcement at the time could catch them.

 

The owner of the Bender home site Bob Miller organized the event that featured team members Chris Hord from the Kansas Historical Society and KU professors Dr. Blair Schneider and Dr. Lauren Norman. The trio spoke about their processes and findings from the excavation that has just completed its second season. One of the audience members was Independence native and former Kansas Attorney General and current candidate for Kansas' 2^nd Congressional District Derek Schmidt. Schmidt says the presentation was very interesting.

 

Schmidt says the Benders are an important part of this area's history.

 

Research on the site is just beginning. The current goal is to find the original location of the Bender cabin. KU researchers plan to return next summer for another round of excavation.

 

Chris Hord from the Kansas Historical Society and the University of Kansas explains reporting of the Bender crimes from the time period.

 

Photo: Bob Miller (at podium), (seated) Chris Hord, Dr. Blair Schneider, and Dr. Lauren Norman