Evening journal., 1914-02-28
DAMAGES FOR
BENTOND DEATH
ARE SPURNED
ReCOmpense Cannot Be Con-
Sidsred IIEHCIand Knows
Facts In Staying
LAYING PLANS TO
EXHUME The BODY
By JOHN =. NEvIN.

BY a United States stan Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S.-The Con-
stitutonalist leaders in Northern
Mexico are willing 10 pay money
damages for the death Of William 8.
Benton. While defending Villas ac-
tion In executing the British rancher.
word reached here unoficially today
that Carranza and his chief advisors
would willing compensate the widow
should England indicate that such
action would aid IN closing tho incl
dent. But Il Is stated from a high
British source unless Il is found that
Villas original story that Benton
threatened his (viila's) life and that
he Was slain either In self-defense
or after q court-martial. Is true.
monetary recompense cannot be con
sidered. villa Is held responsible by
Great Britain for Benton's death and
tho burden Of proof Is ON him. the
embassy here holds, 20 show that the
killing was iustihable.
Having taken this position. Eng
land viii take no further move until
after the investigation now IN
progress by this government is con
cluded. Secretary OF State Bryan
was In touch with Consuls Edwards
az Juarez and Letcher at Chihuahus
City ondeavoring TO arrange for the
special train which will take the
American and British Representatives
10 the National Cemetery At Chihua-
hua City 10 examine Beuton's body
Two pcremptory demands in this con
nection have been sent TO villa The
first is that he Het forth in writing
how complete an examination he will
permit Of tho body. The second ia that
he agree 10 safeguard the party and
convince General Hugh Scott that ho is
IN o position 20 make the latter prom
isc good. As soon as these prcliminor
les arc complete. the personnel of the
party, already decided on. will be made
public. At the State Department to-
day, no attempt was made TO forecast
the time for its start In fact. II poe
aible this will be withheld from the
public as II is felt any attempt OF
: newspaper correspondents 20 join the
; party would defeat the purpose OF the
, expedition.
Meanwhile the state Department Is
e bcnding every effort to gel satisfaction
y In tho case AZ Clcmentc Ncrrara. fht
> American roncher. slain ncar Hidalgo
e Chafgc O'Shanghncssv has receive,
n from Consul Garnet. who investigated
1 the killing the names of the men Do
g considers responsible and O'Shaughncs
D ~ has demanded Of the Mexican for.
r cign Office that they be arrested and
p punished. Later ON claim for none
] tary damages viii be filed. Huerta'a
7 contention that Vergara is a Mexican
= Is denied here, Consul Garret having
wired that he was an American citi'
zen.
Officials admit the attitude assumed
: by Governor Colquitt, Of Texas, 10 =
Q decided menace TO the entire Moxicar
:, situation. The governors threats thai
% he viii send rangers into Mexico e
protect Texans n necessary, and tha'
. his men will not hesitate TO shoot
; across the border. loomed up big to
. day as a grave angle. Staying o.
I Mexicans-Whether ConstitutlonaiistI
, or Federals-by Americans at thll
J time, would establish a critical situa
! ton under International law. Tn,
. regular army border patrol has beer
ordered 10 increase It's efforts Il
maintain peace and keep the bordel
clear In doing so. however. ths
danger OF a clash between the troops
4 and infuriated Texans may becom'
serious.
Carranza's delay in assuming com
5 piete charge of the Constitutionalistl
in Northern Mexico Is embarrassing 4
: this government. He has been frankly
D told that the United States consider
this action necessary. And on papel
b he had seemed TO have assumed thu
T. initiative when Il was announced tha
Continued on Page Two.