The Sentinel=record., 1914-02-24
RELATES INCIDENT OF THE KILLING OF BENTON TO RE.
 PORTERS AT CHIHUAHUA.
SAID BENTON CONFESSED
And Refused to Ask for Mercy, Only Requesting That His Property Be Turned Over to His Wife-ViIla Re ceiVes Homage from Subjects.

Chihuahua, Mex, Feb 23.-Gen. Villas story of the killing of Wm. s. Benton, told to reporters here today. differs bun little from the official statement given out Saturday at Jua, reg
 The JuareZ statement declared that when Benton reached for his hip pocket Villa knocked him down with blow of the fist. Villa said that when Benton made this move he polk ed his own pistol into Benton's stom- ach and then turned him over to the guards.
 Villa insisted that Benton came to take his life and referred to Benton's s mission concerning the welfare of his ranch as a "pretext" to gain admis. sion.
 According to Villa. Benton, after the verdict of the court martial. con- fessed his guit and declined to ask fer mercy. He merely requested that his property be turned over to his widow.
 Villa coltradcted his official re- port to the American consu! at Jua- reg that Gustav Bauch, a German American, accused of being a spy had been brought to Chihuahua. Villa said he knew nothing of him.
 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 wren today he re- ceiyed the homage of his officers and prominent citizens at the palace.
 He sat in a high-backed gilded chair in the big chamber of delegates be- meath a canopy of deep red velvet embroidered iI gold. looking on the scene from wide-set, glowing black eyes, saying but little. A medal was presented to him by those of his men who have followed him since the Ma dero revolution three years ago, when he forsook his outlawry and blossom. ed into a militant patriot. On Benton's death he said.
 Benton gained entrance to my Of flee in Juarez on the pretext that he wanted to see me on some personal business connected with his ranch, Los Remedies, near the city of Chi huahua As soon as he entered he began to address me in abusive Ian guage. l had had some experience with him before and know of his vio- lent temper, l know aIso that he had mixed too freely in Mexican poll tics, but I did not suspect that he was coming into my office to murder me.
 He had not talked long when he reached for his hip pocket. It flash ed over me that he intended to XII me l grabbed his hand and 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 my, self. My guards seized him, took his pistol from him and placed him under arrest. It was decided to try him by court martial and this was done il the regular manner prescribed by law, and the prisoner was executed eighteen hours after he made the at tempt on my life. That is all there is to it. We would have treated any other offender in the same way whether he were American, spanish, German or Japanese.
 Benton was not only guilty of at tempting murder, but of other of- lenses, for we have proof of his en- mity to our cause and of the aid he rendered cur enemies. However, he was executed for attempting to take my life. I have nothing to conceal about it. I know the incident has aroused comment in the United States and Europe and that is why l am making this statement.
 "A man who acted as Benton die would have received the same treat ment in any country. l want to em- phasize the fact that 1 did not kill Benton myself. I would not have soiled my hands with that detail of the execution after the court had found him guilty. After the verdict Benton confessed. He did not appeal for mercy but asked that his prop erty be secured to his widow we promised this would be done. statements have been made that