Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-24
sAYs aENroN CONFESSED.
Villa Gives His Version of Alleged
 Attack Upon Him.

Chihuahua. Feb 23.lGeneraI Villas story of the killing of William :. Ben- ton, told to reporters here today, diff fers but little from the official state ment given out Saturday at Juarez.
 The Juarez statement declared that when Benton reached for his hip pock- ct Villa knocked him down with a blow of the fist Villa said today that when Benton made this move he poked his own pistol into Benton's stomach and then turned him over to the guards.
 Villa, insisted that Benton came to take his life, and referred to Renton's 8 mission concerning the welfare of his ranch as a "pretext" to gain admit tance
 According to Villa, Benton, after the verdict of the court martial. con- fessed his guilt and declined to ask for mercy. He merely requested that his property be turned over to his widow.
 Villa contradicted his official report to the American consul at Juarez that Gustav Bauch, German-American ac- cused Of being a spy, had been brought to Chihuahua.
 Villa said he knew nothing of him.
 Villa Presented Medal. The rebel general marked another milestone in his political and military progress from the rustic outlaw of three years ago to the dictatorship of northern Mexico, when today he re- ceived the homage of his officers and prominent citizens at the guberna- torial palace
 He sat in high backed gilded chair in the big chamber of delegates, be- heath a canopy of deep velvet en- broidered in gold. 4 medal was pre- scented to him by those of his men dero revolution three years ago, when he forsook his outiawry and blossom ed into a militant patriot.
 Regarding Benton's death he said-
 Benton gained entrance to my of fee in Juarez on the pretext that he wanted to see me in some personal business connected with his ranch, Los Remedies, near the city of Chihuahua As soon as he entered he began to ad- dress me in abusive language 1 had had some experience with him before and knew of his violent temper. knew also that he had mixed too free ly in Mexican politics, but l did not suspect that he was coming into my office to murder me.
 Was Tried by Court Martial.
 i'He had not talked long when he reached for his hip pocket. It flashed over me that he intended to kill me. I grabbed his hand, at the same time thrust my revolver into the pit of his stomach to stop him. l did not wish to appear bloodthirSty and therefore did not shoot him myself My guards seized him, took his pistol from him and placed him under arrest It was decided to try him by court-mardal: this was done in the regular manner prescribed by law, and the prisoner was executed eighteen hours after he made the attempt on my life. That is all there is to it. We would have treated any other offender in the same way, whether he was American, Span 1 ish. German or Japanese
 Benton was not only guilty of att tempting murder, but of other of fences, for we have proof of his en- nity to our cause and of the aid he rendered our enemies. However, he was executed for attempting to take my life. I have nothing to conceal about it. know the incident has ] aroused comment in the United States and Europe and that is why l am mak- 1 ing this statement.
 Claims Benton Confessed. "A man who acted as Benton did would have received the same treat nlsat in any country. l want to em- 1 phasize the fact that l did not kill ] Benton myself. I would not have soil- ed my hands with the detail of the 1 execution after the court had found 1 him guilty, After the verdict Benton ] confessed. He did not appeal fer mer- l cy. but asked that his property be se- , cured to his wife. We promised that this would be done.
 statements have been made that ] we have executed other foreigners, but these are untrue. Benton is the only ! oHe'