The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-02-20
William Benton is Tried by
Court Martial and is
Found Guilty.
PLOTTING AS AN ASSASSIN
General Villa Expresses Pro-
fame Indifference toward
An Appeal by a Briton.


Ell PASO, Feb. 20.-William s. Ben
ton, OF Ell Paso, Scotchman, subject
OF Great Britain, is dead. The death
OF this man is confirmed by General
villa and was officially conveyed to
the widow here by United States Con-
sui T. d. Edwards, OF Juarez. Mystery
surrounds the report OF the death.
William Benton, a cousin or the dead
man, confirmed the report.
consul Edwards told Mrs. Benton,
he said, that her husband was dead In
Juarez The consul said Villa had
confirmed this but said that Villa had
asked him not to make public the de-
tails except in official dispatches 70
his government
Benton was executed 1uesday hlsul
after a trial by military court, ac-
cordfng TO what appears to be a cor
rect version of the affair. The charge
against him was that he was 1mpl-
Gated in n Mot to take Villas life.
BENTON was last seen alive in 5uarez
Tuesday morning. He was making
his way to Villas home and sala ne
was going to tell Nlila "naL ~ -.
thought of him." for the manner IN
which his ranch in western Chihuahua
had been raided and looted by reDel
soldiers. Instructions had been SEM
nv the state department yesterday 10
Consul Edwards, it is reported, TO see
that no harm should come to Benton
The instructions being sent at Ihe re.
ouest of the British am AMBASSADOR d
SNashin gton. The warning, u no"
,aneara came too late. 1t is sup
nosed that Villas defense VIII be thas
the man was shot because he enteTeu
Villas office and started to draw
eun although the cousin says tAat
penton was not armed. Benton anu
villa have been acquainted lot uanS
years. Benton knew him, when as az
o,tIaw more or less accepted as
ouIiaSt' ~ The Mexican social fabric,
+,a +ban bandit crossed the Benton
1.onch west of the city OF Chihuah ia
rho ranch of 100000 acres IS CON
.iderad one of the best IN Mexico.
Ienton maid S125,O00 for II but M
proyements are said to have brods1t
the value close to $i,oOO, wv
VOC zcitn the assurance OF TINS ac-
l',,.intance behind him that clinton,
SI,aintance behind him that Benton
admired. went to villa with the com.
liant of the depredations committed
on his property. Yesterday no
who has denied that he had Bentoii
in custody. told reporter that zen
tor, was armed when he MADE ms NiStl'
TTriends of the ranchman assert lhaI
panton while OF fiery temper ana
7-aadv to use his fists, was OF soDeF
habits and never known TO carry d
gun. His great reason for going IN
armed was his own knowledge OF ms
temper. In the course OF the ihlel
view Benton and Villa quarreled and nc.
Benton was lost to view OF ms ms
friends. James Eambletor. an Eng
Herman and Others, including re-
porters, exhausted every means OF as $
pertaining the fate of the MISSING
man. but everywhere were met with
eyasions and denials. Consul Ed
wards was the first TO learn the g
facts. He gave Mrs. Benton only
hare outline of the case.
Il have telgraphed all details a.
my commend to Washington sata
the consul, and if made public II
must be from there. pledged my
word to Villa not to make the details
Asked what disposal had been
made of Benton's body, Edward re-
piled, Il do not think it viii be seen
on this side of the border"
Villas sudden departure with ms
STAFF for the South this morning IS
regarded as fight from the storm Oh
EDAfUrotinr