Description
Office of Recruiting Commissioner, Department of Kansas, Leavenworth, August 21, 1862.
To the Public: On the 18th day of this month (August 1862), one John C. Bender, who represented himself as a Government Detective, made a written statement to this office, charging Samuel Hipple, Recruiting Commissioner for Atchison County, with having had 3 negroes in his employ during the present summer, who, on a certain night, on or about the 1st of July, mysteriously disappeared, and that on inquiry being made of Mr. Hipple as to where they had gone, he refused to give any satisfactory account of them, but said they were in Leavenworth city.
But upon inquiry being made his statement was found to be false, and that the negroes were with their master in the State of Missouri, and that he, the Detective, had under consideration the propriety of demanding said negroes on a requisition through General Loan, as witnesses against Mr. Hipple as a kidnapper.
Upon this charge being made, I at once made a full and complete investigation of the matter, and find the woman at a respectable boarding house in this city, and the two men in “Camp Jim Lane” doing service for their country.
They all state that while they worked for Mr. Hipple they were treated with the greatest kindness, and were paid their wages to the last cent, and were all brought to this city by Mr. Hipple in a carriage at their own request.
The men further state that while living with Mr. Hipple, he furnished them with firearms for their protection against “nigger thieves” and the woman states that Mrs. Hipple in addition to pay sat up when others were in bed, and taught her to read.
In view of these facts I have no hesitation in pronouncing the whole story of said Bender to be utterly false and malicious. T. J. Weed, Major & A. A. A. G.
Kidnappers. - We understand that some of these infamous scoundrels are yet prowling around our city, and attempting to seize colored people and carry them away to bondage. Several attempts have been made in the night time to seize those living in the old National Hotel, but so far they have been frustrated. Let all fugitives be prepared for these villains, and give them a dose of lead whenever they come around.
(Researcher's note: The 1860 Platte County Census lists a John C. Bender in Marshall Township.
John C. Bender, claim agent, was born near Hesse Cassel, Germany, June 5, 1832. In 1858 he came to Missouri and taught school in Buchanan and Platte Counties until 1859, when he located in St. Joseph, working as a claim agent. During the Civil War he was in the United State Secret Service for 1 year. The Daily News’ History of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Missouri, 1898, p. 388-389)Date(s) of Creation
8/23/1862
