The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-25

Washington, February 24.-with q
promise received tonight by Secretary
Bryan from General Francisco villa.
that the body OF William S. Benton,
British subject, will be, exhumed and
turned over to American officials for
examination. tho Washington govern
ment considered that the flrst import
ant step had been accomplished in It's
Investigations OF the recent execution
at Juarez. which has focused the eyes
or the world anew on the Mexican sit
uation
Villas message came to Consular
Agent Carothers at Juarez. and as
translated 1t said Bentons body would
be delivered. but not at this time"
This was accepted by Mr.. Bryan as a
promise that the body would be turned
over as soon as the Constitutionalist
leader could arrange it,
From the character OF the wounds
discovered on Benton's body, physicians
VIII be able to say whether Benton was
killed by a pistol shot, as his friends
claim, or by firing squad, as Villa
asserts 1t generally Is admitted in
officinl circles that an examination will
be OF great value in either affirming
or dlsprovlng an important point IN
Viiia's explanation OF the AFFAIR.
Many Developments.
iCSNciOpiIcHlS lo-Qty were nlnv In
the situation that has arisen out of
the killing Of Benton. Secretary Bryan
asked American consular representa-
ives at Nogales to confer with General
Carranza about the affair. The secre-
tary talked with acting chairman
Sh!vely, or tho Senate Foreign Rela-
tons Committee and then nt length
with President Wilson. The Incident
was fully discussed at Cabinet meet
ing. Sir Cecil SPRING Rice, British
ambassador. later called on Secretary
BRYAN and arranged for the visit OF
British Consul Perceval to Eel Paso to
supplement- the American inquiry,
though not to interfere with it, The
secretary then conferred again tonight
with the President.
News Of the hanging OF Clemento
Vergara. an American citizen. by Mex
lean Federals. near Nuevo Laredo,
Mexico. directed attention to the Huerta
government on the subject for protec-
ton for foreigners. Representations
In behalf OF Vergara had been made by
the state Department. some time ago,
but no information about his where
abouts or the reported execution had
been received here tonight
Cabinet officers clearly indicated that
official Judgment of the Benton inct-
don't would not be hRsty. and that tho
American government just now was
occupied carefully In gathering tho
facts
Inquiry IL Fnr-Rearhing.
Details OF the character of the Ameri-
can Investigation were not officially
known here until the publication of
disnatches from London to-day. giving
the text OF Secretary Bryan's message
to the British ambassador The fact
that the United States had instructed
Its consuls TO have the body exh,imed
and examined; and 70 employ legal as
sistance and examine witnesses. indi-
Gated the far-reaching nature OF tho
Inquiry.
: In addition to this, Secretary Bryan
announced that communication had Z
been teleGraphed for presentation to
General GRrranza by an American con-
sui. asking the Constltutionalist COM
mandcr-in in chief for information about
the Benton incident The secretary
denied this took the form OF anv gen
erai petition. saving It was confined to
the Benton incident In some quarters
the sending of communication to Car. .
rama about Villas act was regarded &
rs involving technical recognition
of Carranzas Jurisdiction over villa.
hut Secretary Bryan tonight said he
regarded to-day'a message as similar
to others which previously has been
presented by American copsuis 20 Cnr-
rama and dc facto authorities In Next
co. Dealings with the do facto officers
In the north, Mr., Bryan regards as no
different from the informal reiations
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