New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-27
PERCEVAL DROPS
HUNT FOR BENTON
British Consul Decides Not TO
Search for Body in Juarez
or Chihuahua.
Il. rolesrsnh 10 10 TrLbane !

rs, To,csrsph 10 The Tribune.
I5i paso. Tex. Feb 26.-No search Will
be made i'm Juaroz or Chihuahua city for
the body Of William S Benton by Ar
thur Charles Pcrccyal. British Consul at
Galveston. who has been detailed by his
government 10 investigate the British
subjects execution in Juarcz This deh-
nitely was decided upon here to-day. Con-
sal Perccva will conduct his inYestsa-
ton from the American side. and the IN
vitation extended by Pancho Villa for
him 10 visit Chihuahua and see the
body of Benton" which Villa says he
took there from Juarcz, viii not be ac-
cepted al this time.
This unexpected change in the plans
for the investigation has started flood
of rumors in FL Paso. The reason. unof-
ncialy given here, that it was feared
villa would have gone 10 the Torreon
battle before Perceval and his escort
could reach Chihuahua City, and the trip
there would be in vain. is not generally
accepted as the real reason.
Villas repeated refusal to permit the
, body Of Benton to be removed from
Mexican soil and his insistence that the
investigation be made at Chihuahua City,
~ miles from the American border. are
believed here TO he regarded with such
suspicion by the Washington government
that Mr. Bryan will not advise Mr.. Per
ceval to make the trip. Il is not believed
by any of Bentons friends that the body
is in Chihuahua City. They declare t
is either buried in some obscure place in
the Juarez cemetery or has been burned,
as Mexican residents Of Juarez have sad.
chihuahua. Mex. Feb. 26.-At confer
cnce between General Villa and Marion
Letcher American consul. to-day. Villa
agreed that a commission 10 examine
Bentons body would be received here,
and that it should consist Of two Ameri-
can and two British representatives and
medical examiner.
II Will provide a special train for the
use Of the commission and the physician
viii lie allowed 10 make the closest scien-
tiic diagnosis Of the number and nature
of BentOn's wounds said the rebel chief.
by Telegraph 10 The Tribune
Juarez Mexico. Feb 26.-Three Juarez
iails-the Quartet, the dungeons under the
theatre and the municipal prison-were
searched Systematically to-day by Juarez
officials and Americans for Gustave Bauch,
the missing German-American. The man
was not found. but prisoners. including
twelve Americans. told the officials that
Bauch had been taken from the jail on
Wednesday afternoon. February 49, by
squad of soldiers and that they had not
seen him since
The search for Bauch was made on the
initiative of Federico Gonzales Cara per
sonal representative of General Pancho
villa, who led the search. With CARA
were Edmund Behr. OF FL Paso F. Mar
tinez a rebel secret service agent Lieu
tenant Colonel Tomas Ornelss and Gun
Their Leasing. an FL Paso attorney
Bauchs disappearance apparently is as
much puzzle 10 Juarez officials az 10 his
friends on this side. The American Con-
sui. Thomas -. Edwards. talked with
Bauch on the afternoon Of February IS,
and. according TO the prisoners. he was
taken out by soldiers soon after the
American Consul had talked with him.
At least two Juarez residents say they
saw Bauch taken 10 the execution place
that cay but one Of them says II was in
the morning.
Cara says he has asked Villa for a fun
statement of the Bauch case and he ex-
poets an answer soon.
Strong representations have been made
10 Washington and 10 Governor Colquitt
i'm the Bauch case. and dispatch from
Austin tonight says that Governor Cot
Quilt is greatly exercised over the treat
mont Of border Americans by Mexican
rebels and lrcderals and is seriously con
sidcring ordering several companies OF
state troops 20 border points.
The search OF the Juarez jails revealed
the following twelve American prisoners
none Of whom is held on political charges:
Edward Trabaud. II. r. Davis. Matt Cid
dings. Joel Thornton Of Fort Worth;
Paul Zamora. Rober, O'Bridges. G. Banly.
4. O. Bales. H. J. Erwin, John tarris.
oscar Walton and Charles Willis.
train from chihuahua arrived In
Jnaroz tonight bringing the Americans
villa had said ne would send back To the
border and several Americans who mad
been in the Chihuahua prison on minor