Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-28
Inquiry Into Death Of Benton
of Vital Bearing on Mexi-
can Affairs.
NOW LOOK TO CARRANZA
TO SAVE THE SITUATION
Constitutionalists Here Confident He
Will Meet Requirements of
International Law.

The future Of the revolution against
Gen. Huerta rests largely on the outcome
OF the investigation into the killing at
Juarez of William S. Benton, a British
subject, according to indications made
plain by developments today. In official
circies equal attention was being paid to
the 1acts concerning the death of Glenn
ente Versara, an American, near Laredo.
Inc possibility of trouble between Gen.
Ca1Tanza and Gen. Villa over the Ben
ton Killing was mentioned in well in
formed circles. but friends of Carranza
salo ne Is well qualified to handle the
situation and that Villa will follow his
oiFecuons. They insisted that Gen. Car
rama Will now take full charge of the
foreign affairs Of the constitutiona,;st
movement, and that Gen. Villa will go to
the front and fight
Carranza's Course Defended.
Criticisms Of Gen. Carranza's failure to
hurry 70 Juarez to take personal charge
OF the Benton investigation were met by
the reply from his friends that no is
transacting business Of gerat Importance
at Nogales, but that he will 90 to Juarez
within the next few days.
The usual course followed when a citi-
zen or one government is killed by the
authority Of officers of another country
is that a formal apology is made. a money
payment rendered to the heirs of the per
son Killed and the guilty official removed
or otherwise punished. The nrincinai
question at issue in the present case, it
Is said, is whether the killing of Benton
was justified. 'o'
Inc following statement was given out
.ooa3 regarding the Benton matter BY
the constitutionalist contidentfaI agencv
here: oeeneS
heiative to published reports regard
ing the Benton matter, there is as vet
no authority for any statements as to
what Will be the attitude of Gen. Car.
rama, who can hardly be expected to
define his position until he is in fuil nos.
session OF the complete details of the
case.
There Is reason to believe however,
that Gen: Carranza will at the proper
time fulfill every obligation falling on the
constftutionalist government under inter-
national law
Commission to View Body.
The personnel of the detail of repre-
sentatives Of the American government.
with the two army surgeons and the two
British subjects. to compose the official
party which will observe the examination
of Benton's body and the autopsy to de-
termine the manner of his death, is
claiming the attention of the State De-
partment. In view Of the necessity for
haste, it Is expected that the arrange
ments will be completed with the least
possible delay.
The matter is now in the hands of John
Bassett Moore. counselor for the State
Department and acting secretary of
q q nf
on lecture trip to Richmond, Va. The
detail. as tentatively arranged. has been
submitted to his consideration.
Whether it will be necessary to COM
municate further with Gen. Villa is not
determined. A special train to carry the
party to Chihuahua where Benton lies
buried in the principal cemetery, has been
promised by him. It may be necessary to
communicate to him the preparedness of
the party to proceed. in order that the
train may be made up for the purpose.
The necessity for haste is evident
Every moment that the body of the dead
Scotchman lies in the grave will render
more difficult determination of whether
some of the wounds which may be found
upon him were inflicted before or after
death.
Interest in Vergara Case.
Officials here discussed with much in
terest today the report Of Capt. Sanders
of the Texas State Rangers. saying
Clemente Vergara. an American citizen,
reported hanged. had really been kid
mapped and shot by Huerta's federals
While Consul Garrett has been order
ed to make an extended inquiry and
vigorous representations demanding
reparation have been made to the
Huerta government at Mexico City,
there was little official information to-
day on the Vergara killing, which has
admittedly stirred the Washington gov
eminent just as much as the recent
execution Of William S. Benton, Brit
ish subject. at Juarez.
Charge Algara of the Mexican embassy
here Is expecting a full report on the
Vergara case today or tomorrow, and
will at once transmit it to the govern
ment here.
Charge o'shaushnessy reported today
that he had made representations con-
corning Vergara's death. and that the