The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
Charged With Plotting Against
Life of Rebel Chief.
IS TRIED BY COURT MARTIAL
After Being Arrested in Juares
Tuesday Morning.
Secretary Bryan Is Notified by
the American Consul.


Great Britain. is dead. The death Of
the man is confirmed by Pancho villa,
and was officially conveyed to the wid-
ow here by United States Consul T. D.
Edwards OF Juarez.
Mystery surrounds the report Of the
death. william Benton, q cousin of
the dead man. confirmed the report.
Consul Edwards told Mrs. Benton"
he said, that her husband was dead in
Juarez. The consul said Pancho Villa
has confirmed this but said Villa had
asked him not to make public the de-
tails except in official dispatches to his
government
Benton was executed Wednesday
night after a trial by a military court
in Juarex, Of which FREDERICK Gonzales
Cara was the head. according to what
appears to be a correct version OF the
AFFAIR. The charge against Benton was
that he was implicated in plot to take
Villas life. Villa left for the south to-
day on a special train. Benton was
last seen alive in Juarez Tuesday
morning. He was making his way to
Villas home and said he was going to
tell Villa what he thought of him" for
LOS Remedies" in western Chihuahua
had been looted and raided by rebel
soldiers.
Warming Came Too Late.
Instructions had been sent by the
state department yesterday to Consul
harm befeIl Benton. the instructions
being sent on the request OF the Brit
ish ambassador at Washington. The
warning, 1T now appears. came too late.
It is supposed that Villas defense
will be that the man was shot because
he entered Villas office and started to
draw a gun, although the cousin says
Benton did not go to Juarez armed.
Benton had been in Mexico for about
25 years. He was about 45 years old.
Benton and Villa have been acquaint-
ed for many years. Benton knew
him when, as an outlaw, more or less
accepted as a part OF the Mexican So
cial fabric the bandit crossed the Ben
ton ranch west OF the city Of Chihua-
hua. The ranch of 100000 acres is
known as LOS Remedies, and is con-
sidered one of the best in Mexico.
1t was well watered, contained fine pas
turage, crops grew abundantly and the
owner was particularly proud OF his
orchard, which succeeding bands OF
revolutionists cut up into fire WOOD.
Benton paid $125, 1000 for 1t but improve
ments are said to have brought the
value close to 81 100000.
Carried Complaint to villa.
II was with the assurance Of this
acquaintance behind him that the
doughty Scotchman, whose courage, II
not his discretion was admired. went
to Villa with the complaint Of the dep
relations committed on his property.
Yesterday Villa, who has consistent
" denied that he had Benton in GUS
tody, told reporter Benton was armed
when he made his visit. Friends OF
the ranchman assert Indignantly that
Benton, while of fiery temper and ready
to use his fists, was OF sober habits
and never was known to carry a gun.
His reason for going unarmed was his
own knowledge of his temper. In the
course of an interview Benton and villa
quarrelled and Benton was lost to view
of his friends.
James Hambleton, an Englishman
and others. including reporters. ex-
hausted every means OF ascertatn1ng
the fate of the missing man but every
where were met with evasions and de-
malls. Consul Edwards was the first
to learn the true facts. He gave Mrs.
Benton only a bare outline OF the case.
IT have telegraphed all details at
my command to Washington" said the
consul, ''and If made public it must
be from there. 1 pledged my word to
Villa not to make the details public. y
Asked what disposal had been
made of the body, Edwards replied:
II do not think 1t will be seen on this
side of the border"
F1ees From the Storm.
Villas sudden departure with his
staff today is regarded as flight from
the storm of indignation which was
presaged by the interest manifested in
the disappearance of Benton.
AS the forenoon wore on, talk OF
mass meeting grew but took no defi-
mite shape. Excited knots Of Ameri-
can, English, French and German
refugees, who have lost their property
in Mexico or were compelled to aban-
dnr ION 0d
time had come for foreigners to voice
their sentiments and otest against
the treatment being dealt out to them.
Since the revolutions began they
have never had such a meeting, but
have accepted their burdens stoically.
1t is understood among newspaper
men, the names of foreigners who di-
vulged news, are not to be made pub
lie for fear of consequences. when
they again set foot on Mexican soil.
The fate of Gustav Bauch, the Ger
man-American charged with being q
spy. still is being discussed. Accord
ing to official report he is said to be
held incommunicado, but for all his
friends know, he may be dead. Off,
cial Juarez Is able to keep secrets.
villa May Have Shot Him.
The fact that the alleged execution
took place Tuesday night Is thought to
mean by many that Villas court mar
tial report was given out to cover the
."et tisAt vita PRESUMABLY SnOt MS WIS.,
itor in the course of their quarrel The
disagreement. the court martial and
the execution all in part Of one day
is thought to be too rapid for legal pro-
cedure even across the Rio Grande
Villas sudden departure also is consid-
cred in connection with this theory
Talking with a reporter, over the
phone, Consul Edwards made a cryp-
tic remark:
II have officially reported Benton
0Rsld h<a0n r. ~SovH ~
l.