The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-02
Those Concerned Declare Explanations Must Come
 From Washington
GARDEN WILL RETURN TO MEXICAN CAPITAL
Refugees Believe State Department Is Satisfied It Has Correct Yer sion of Benton Killing, Hence
 Change of Plans

1 Juarez March 1.-The Benton lnves- | tigating commission today was pre- vented from proceeding to Chihuahua to examine the slain Britons body by rebel orders.
 mander here, declined to permit them to board the regular passenger train which was waiting.
 Whether the incident means delay or the permanent prohibition of the 1 mission could not be learned. The mystery thrown around the occurrence led to many apparently exaggerated rumors.
 | Persistent inquiry here and in Ill Paso failed to establish anything but 1 the fact that the commissioners were refused passports on this side and re- turned to Fl Paso. No official in Ju-
 arez has authority to take such ac- ton as was taken in this case. Only
 two persons in northern Mexico have 1 the power-Venustiano Carranza and General Francisco Villa
 | The order surprised the commissions | CTS Villa at Chihuahua repeatedly has expressed his desire to hasten the inquiry and. his offer of a special train | city to Chihuahua, where Benton's
 body Is said to be buried. was formerly
 accepted by Marion Letcher, the Amer ican consul here.
 | George c. Carothers, agent of the state department in many of its deal lings with Villa, also delayed his de- parture for Chihuahua.
 l El Paso March 1.-The trip of the Ben 1 ton Investigating committee to Chihuahua was postponed suddenly abandoned to- day shortly before the commissioners were about to take the train Those con- | cerned said that any explanation must
 come from the state department The commissioners are Charles A. C.. Pereival British consul at Galveston, and James Hambledon, a British subject long resident in Mexicoi R. E. Thomas, a law yer of EI Paso, who has made a special study of International and Mexican law;
 B. NJ. Worsfiam of Fl Paso and Majs. w.
 T. Davidson and c. J. Manly of the United States army. 1 At Fort Bliss, Gen. Hugh l.. Scott, who appointed Davidson and Manly to assist l in the examination of Benton's body, said
 | he had no information further than that 1, the medical men had been notified to be at the train at o'clock and that later they
 reported to him that they were not go- 1 ing.
 None or the commissioners would taih about the delay.
 1 Major Davidson said the subject was one
 which he could not discuss Perceyal de-
 which he could not discuss. Percival 'e- clined to be seen.
 Refugees {deeply interested in the situa- ton were at loss to account for the new turn in affairs. Several said they 1 thought that Carranzas attempt to use the Benton negotiations as lever to ob- tain recognition of the Huerta and the dispatches from Washington. indicating that the state department already is sat isfied that it has the correct version of the Benton killing" had something to do with the change in plans.
 Garden Will Resume Duties New Orleans, March 1.-Sir Lionel Garden will return to Mexico City with in a. short time and resume his duties as minister from Great Britain. ac- cording to a statement he gave out here today. Sir Lionel was in New Orleans less than an hour CT route from Gai- weston to Washington. where Tuesday he will see Presi tept Wilson and 1t is expected will disc1ss the situation in Mexico. He said he expected to spend Tuesday In Washington then hurry co New York, where he win board the first