South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-24
REBEL GENERAL SAYS
BAUCH HAS BEEN FREED
Denies knowledge of Present
Whereabouts of German
American, But Says He Has
Not Been Executed.

l@ONDONs Etb. 1t--OIGdb britain
has refused to accept Gen. Villas un-
supported word as To the fate of VIII
liam S. Benton, the English subject
killed at JuareZ. 1t has sent its own
representative to Mexico 10 make a
full investigation and the American
government has instructed it's consu-
lar representative TO force the eXhu-
nation OF Benton's body.
Formal announcement TO this effect
was made in the house OF commons
this afternoon by Sir Edward Grey,
secretary of foreign affairs in reply to
inquiries by the opposition as to the
Mexican situation.
The L. S. representative, said Sir
Edward Gray has informed Gen.
villa that he must not interfere with
the British consul. who it is essential,
should visit the spot and supply the
most adequate report. The u. S. con-
sui has been instructed 10 press for
the exhumation Of Bentop's body.
Baueh Has Been Freed.
CITY OF CHICUAHUA. Mex. Feb.
24.-Gustave Bauch, the American for
whom Secretary of State Bryan has
demanded fair trial from the consti-
tuuOnalists. has been freed, accord
ing to an announcement made by Gen.
Villa Tuesday. The statement of the
rebel leader was received with reserY-
atiOns here because he said that
BauCh had been released at Juarez,
while rebel officers at Juarezz de-
Clared last week that the American
prisoner had been taken 10 this city
by Villa TO stand trial on charges of
being a spy.
Villa also declared that he had no
knowledge of three other men, Lau-
renee. Curtis and Compton. whose
friends at FL PasO fear that they have
fallen into the hands of the rebels
and met the same fate as that OF
William 5. Benton, the English sub
ject who was put to death
Villas statement in reference 10
Bauch follows:
Gustav Bauch, the man arrested
more than a week ago i'm Juarez, un-
deT suspicion of being a spy. was set
free in JuareZ. He was not executed
as was reported by an Fl Paso news
paper upon the report of a crazy man,
neither was he brought TO Chihuahua
a prisoner.
To-
1t is being reported in the United
states that YOU killed the Englishman
Benton with your own hand and that
two other Englishmeu. Lawrence and
curtis. were also executed at your
order"
Both of these statements are lies.
declared Villa. II know absolutely
nothing about these men Lawrence
and Curtis 80 far as 7 can recall
never heard Of them before my atten-
ton was called tO the fact that they
were missing Say for me that I did
not order them killed.
Now. concerning Benton, 1 make
this final statement because I realize
that his execution has caused COM
mcnt in the United States and Eu-
rope that is likely 10 be injurious To
the constitutionalist cause.
ct did net shoot Benton III is
true, however. that j knocked him
down He came I'm and began abusing
ne. While he was talking In a very
insulting way he suddenly reached
for his hip pocket. I saw he intend
Cd - shoot me and l jumped upon
him and knocked him down. At the
same moment L pointed my own re-
volver at him. but L did not shoot.
M men rushed forward Co pro-
tect ne. They placed Benton under
arrest and took his revolver away
from him. ] have no doubt ne would
have killed me IL I had not acted as
quickly as I did
Benton had a fair trial After he
had been convicted and sentenced To-
death he confessed his gUut He
asked us 10 see that his wife got his
property.
Calls Villa Liar.
FF, PASO. Tex Feb. c4-''Villa is
a liar. He knows where Gustav Bauch
U.s. DC would not surprise Us IL learn
The American had been executed Sc
Cretly."
This bitter comment was made To-
day by a leading citizen o. FL Paso
who had been helping Mrs. J. NJ. Pat
terson. Bauch's sister. in her efforts
10 md the missing man, when he was
told of Villas statement az chihuahua
that he had no knowledge Of the
Whereabouts OF several men who dis
appeared after going 20 Juarez