Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-21


 der when it became known that s. M. Benton, a British subject and wealthy landhclder in Mexico, had been exc cuted by rebels in Juarez after he had made a protest to General Francisco Villa about alleged depredationS of the constitntionahSts.
 mass meeting was held tonight and resolutions were adopted censur- ing the state department at Washing ton for it's alleged suppression of the consular report on the Benton case and calling on congress to demand from the state department full rec ord of alleged crimes and outrages against foreigners in Mexico.
 Open Meeting Not Permitted.
 The meeting came as the climax of a day of excitement caused by news of the deatA<of Benton. The meeting was first called for Cleveland square, but Mayor Kelly in a letter to George Curry, former goYernor of New Mexi- co, asked him to rent a hall. as he re- garded an open meeting as dangerous. The mayor said he would suppress any attempt to hold the meeting in the open. A theatre was rented and mes sengers turned the crowd from Cleve- land square to the building.
 Former Governor George Curry of New Mexico was the principal speaker. At an impromptu 1ndigna- ton meeting in the lobby of the Hotel Sheldon, headquarters of the foreign CTS driven out of Mexico, NIT. Curry was named a committee of one to in vestigate the killing of Benton, but his inquiries developed nothing new.
 MT. Curry went first to Thomas D. Edwards, United States consul at Juarez.
 Consul Gave Promise of Silence.
 T have telegraphed the secretary of state that Bent6ns death has been of Hcialiy reported to Mexico" stated the consul Other details I have for warded to Washington by mail Gen eTal Villa said he did not care to talk gave me the information for Mrs Benton, the widow. and the state de- partment. They are at liberty to talk, but l promised the general l. wou1d remain silent"
 Asked as to his use of the phrase officially reported dead,' and if he personally thought the official report by Villa might have been misleading, the consul said that inasmuch az the rebels have been sending Chihuahua prisoners to Juarez and the Juarez prisoners to Chihuahua, he had a faint hope that Villa might have misled him
 Benton disappeared Tuesday.
 Villas Statement to Consul.
 Mr. Edwards made his first inquiry of Villa regarding Benton yesterday afternoon on receipt of instructions from Secretary Bryan, who made the investigation at the request of the British ambassador, Sir Cecil Spring Rice.
 eNir. Edwards" Villa is reported as saying, MT. Benton is dead. You are an official of the American govern ment and l give you this information as officially your due. l have made denials to other inquiries, as this is not a matter for the public. It is for the information of the widow and of the state department
 What else passed between them MT. Edwards would not state. It was gen orally believed that Villa, who had known Benton for years, was trying solitary confinement as a corrective to Benton's well known disposition to speak his mind frankly, without re- gard to consequences.
 Edwards waited until after his last hope fiIckered away with the depar- ture of Villas train for the south be- fere informing Mrs. Benton that her MA@band was dead. She is a, Mexican and while highly educated under stands the English language imper- fectly.
 Wanted to Bring Cattle to United
 States.
 The inability of friends of Benton to get definite details had much to do in arousing excitement and the ulti- mate selection of Mir. Curry as an agent to seek the truth. After leaving
 
 jefetura at JuareZ to see Federico Gonzales. Garza, the jefs darmas, but the latter was absent.
 Just what occurred between Villa and his iu-fated visitor last Tuesday may never be known. Through the widow and q cousin, William Benton, and through friends of the decedent, 1t was learned that Benton wished permission to bring to the United States 400 head of cattle on his ranch, Los Remedies, in western Chihuahua. His cousin, who Is part owner of Los Remedies, thought the request would be wasted, although other for eigners have been considerably treat Dudley of New York and Mexico, a friend now here among the other refugees, advised him of the probable procedure.
 Benton Accused of UnfriendIiness.
 Villa probably will grant your re- quest, but he'll give you lecture, and you must not resent the lecture. If Dudley said.
 "If he lectures me. I'll lecture back" Benton replied. T have never made political move in Mexico, and if he ac cuses me of it I have some accusa- tions of my own to make"
 Benton made the request, and his friends never saw him alive after wards As Mrs. Benton gathered the story from Consul Edwards Villa de- clined to grant the permit. saying:
 MT. Benton, you have never been 8 friend of ours, and I don't want those cattle taken out of the country. We can use them ourselves"
 At this point. it is understood. the quarrel started
 Benton Never Owned Revolver.
 Benton was not in accord with the MaderO revolution which expelled Porfrio Diaz from Mexico, and in the foreign club at Chihuahua was wont to express his opinions freely. Sue ceedinR revolutions also Wara eritieizad