Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-24
American Citizens in Angry
Protest Against u. SIS .
Watchful Waiting y.
SECRETARY BRYAN
WITHHOLDING FACTS
Charge Is Made That True
Conditions in Mexico
Are Covered Up

Washington, D. c., Feb. 21.-
! White house officials stated today
that official reports from General
! Villa and his friends declared Will
liam S. Benton, the British ranch
man, was executed because he en-
tered the camp of Villa armed and
! threatened the life of the constitu-
tionaIist commander.
In view of this latest report,
there was disposition at the
white house to await full nvesti-
cation of the facts before express
ing any opinion. It was also
stated that Great Britain is hold
ing in allegiance any representa-
tions pending the completion Of "a
report on the affair by the Amer
lean government.
Ell Paso, Texas, Feb. 21.-The official
announcement that William S. Benton
a British subject had been executed
by Mexican rebels at Juarez Tuesday
night, the adoption of resolutions con-
demning the United States government
for it's handling Of Mexican affairs at
a mass meetinr h2re and exchange OF
shots between nlambers of the Thir-
teenth United States cavalry and a
score or more Of Mexicans and uncer-
tainty as to the fate of Gustave Rauch
an American and two Engl shmen,
John Lawrence and man named Cur
It's, We're the developments of the last
"a hours, here.
Following in rapid succession these
incidents served to bring public feeling
to high pitch and today every official
agency was engaged in bringing to
iighr further details.
The Official report Of Benton's death
came yesterday through the American
consul at JuareZ. and was telegraphed
TO the state department at Washington.
Almost Immediately following the an
noulcement General Francisco Vill
and staff hurriedly left Juarez for chi.
huahua. - w. r,@ @rae*s go
ID Consul Edwards watched closely at
the station hoping to catch glimpse
of Benton, or any Annc can prisoner
but saw none, but Me. IS board the
train.
Court Martial Hoax.
That there was real court martial
in Bcntons case, none on this side OF
the border preterds to believe. 1t was
known that Benton started for Villas
head uarters to voice his protest
against the repeated raiding of his
ranch in Chihuahua by the Mexican
rebels. Here at least the killing OF
Benton has wiped out whatever con-
fdence was felt in Villas promises.
, These, and other disclosures in the
Benton case, specify crysta1liz pub
Lott II, f1,n
rangements We're complete for mass
meeting Of protest. Unable to hold 1T
in Cleveland square, because Mayor
Kelly regarded an open air meeting
held too great possibilities Of danger.
the gathering was transferred to the
theater. .,s .
!, Mass Meeting Held. -,
Former Gov. CHrrey Of New Mexico
chairman, briefly outlined the purposes
and the resolutions were adopted with
a shout. They were presented by w.
II. Seaman. refugee and prominent
mining man: R. NJ Dudley and Col.
C. H. Hunt Of Ell Paso.
The resolutions characterized as
cold blooded and heartless," the as
sassination Of Benton: charged that
the state department at Washington
had persistently suppressed facts con-
corning true conditions in Mexico de-
clared that cat the present moment
our government is harboring General
Ynez SalaZar. who has committed out
RACES against our people" as well as
MAKING Castillo for many months as
head Of bandit band in northern Mex
leo.
Villa was denounced in strong terms.
The clash between cavalrymen and
Mexicans occurred last night shortly
after Captain Harry M. Cootes had re-
ceived word that filbusters might at
tempt to rush his barracks. After eX-
changing a few shots in which two
Mexicans We're wounded the other in
truders escaped in the darkness.
I. Fire Upon Mexicans.
The two prisoners taken by Troop
NJ, Thirteenth cavalry last night when
fifteen Or twenty shots ware en-
changed between the Americans and a
crowd Of Mexicans. probably will be
released Cg~t. !" on ~ C'oote" said
today after questioning the prisoners
that they appeared to be employees of
the smelter. who inadvertently became
mixed W with the flying Mexicans.
Cootes received information last
Tuesday that plot was afoot to rush
his little outpost on the river, near
the outskirts of the city with the idea
of obtaining arms and horses for a
filibustering expedition, and the close
watch he instituted resulted in the
delegation being detected by Corporal
Jensen of tho Mexicans in an alley.
Jensen was fired upon when he order
ed the Mexicans to halt and he and
his comrades returned a volley.
y The Mexican who went to a local
hospital with an unexplained bullet
wound in his leg is believed to have
been hit by the troopers.
Ell Paso after day and night thrill
ing with the excitement of news of the
execution of William S. Benton and