The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-28
BRITISH INQUIRY BEGINS.
Consul Persevsl In~estisatrs killing
Of william =. Benton.

FL PAso. Feb. 27.-Charies Alexander
Perceval, British Consul at Galveston. be
gan to-day the official investigation for
the British Government into the death OF
william =. Benton at the hands OF the
Mexican rebels under Pancho Villa. The
Consul is conducting the investigation
privately and Is questioning all witnesses
able to throw any Light upon the last
visit OF Benton to Juares
George Il. Carothers, formerly American
Vice-Consul at Torreon, who for several
weeks has been acting as confidential
agent OF Secretary OF state Bryan in ne
eotiations with villa. is assisting Mr.. Per
cevaL He has delayed his departure for
the south and will probably not join Villa
until the British Consul and party have
made a trip TO Chihuahua to examine Ben
tons body. Then, u II the intention OF
Mr.. CarotherS to accompany the rebel
army IN its march against Torreor. to
observe III conduct toward foreigners and
report to the American Secretary Of State.
That the breach between Carranaa and
villa is wide. IL not complete. is the adj
mission Of many along the border In po-
s.tion to know. but the rebel officials In
Juarez still insist that Carranza IL COM
ing here and that hereafter he will be the
only one who will deal with foreign Gov
ernments relative TO the death or impris-
onment OF foreigners
NUbVUOu1 bhVSCteu ~ JuaTeu.
1t Is understood that Carranza is COM
ing to Juarez merely to handle IN. diplo-
matte end OF the Benton and Bauch Affairs
and that he will not make any effort 10 in
terfere with villa. However. the announce
ment that Carranza Is coming is not the
frst. similar announcements have often
been made. on November - when villa
captured Juarey IL was announced that
the supreme chief of the revolution
/ a Ina n
headquarters. Villa never made any such
announcement. but others did. Carranza
said nothing OF H. Then Carranxa started
south and the announcement was made
that h. was going by way OF Culiacau
TO Guadalajara to NEE, Villa in his march
10 Mexico city. CsrrsnIa went south. but
came back. Several times announcements
were made by villa lieutenants that
Carranxa had sen, troops to Juarez to
reinforce villa, but the troops never came.
Then came the Benton affair and re-
quest OF the United States upon the sup
posed supreme Chief OF the Cons,itu-
! tionalists" for an explanation. Csrranza
sent messengers TO Juarez and then to
Chihuahua to confer with villa and see
what could be done. The messengers have
not vet returned.
/ villa wired to his lieutenants in Juarex
to-day that he would hereafter inform
the American Consul OF all arrests OF
Americans AS soon as they were arrested.
We will notify Consul Edwards when
ever a foreigner is arrested here" said
Federico Cara. prominent Juarex Off
/ cial. to-day. Gen. villa has given orders
10 this effect. He hopes that this course
will tend to lessen the chances OF inter
national Misunderstanding and complica-
tons,
From now on all o,icial and unor,clal
negotiations between the American or
British Governments and the Constitution
a. n I'd n a 10,
/ casss--as well as any others which may
arise regarding foreign citizens-must be
conducted through Gen Carranza instead
OF Gen. Villa or other authorities In Chi
huahua."
The same man said: III tn. United
/ States or England wishes to ark any ques-
tons regarding the case of Benton or
I Bauch IL must ask them of Carranza
himself. for he IL the only one with the
authority ID answer them. Orders have
been received at these headquarters to the
effect that henceforth Gen. Carranza him
self Will be the only one 10 speak for the
Constitutional cause in all matters relat-
{ ing TO foreign affairs This means OF
course that the Benton and Bauch cases
are Included in the Instructions. 80 IL IL
useless to ask any more questions regard
Ing the affairs OF Gen Villa or the local
authorities All the information Ne have
will be sent to Carranxa and he will use
his own judgment in the matter"
Cara added that a house was being
prepared in Juarez for the visit OF Car
rama.
villa has given out the names OF tn.
foreigners discharged from his army Al
Chihuahua and ordered to the border. Ir
the list there are none OF these who have
been inquired for by relatives lately. Moth
ing has been heard further of GustA,
Bauch. the missing American last seer
alive IN prison In Juarez last Wednesday
message came from Alpine. Tex
900 miles east Of here. to-day. saving tina
tho body OF a dead man had been founc
there which had been partially Identified
as that Of the missing American. tn,
message said the face looked much lik,
the picture OF Bauch printed In Loca
papers. A further investi gation is to b,
made. The body was found last sunda,
near AlpinA -
The Americans a. Chlhuehaa. who raw.
been discharged by Villa and ordered &c
the border include the following: Charlie,
2. Bauer. Waits. Cal Henry Ryan, I;
BrewSter street. South Boston, Mass
Charles Ridgewsy. =. o. Box. Sb3, Poin
Marion. IA; william Kessek 81 Rowan
avenue. Detroit Mich; p. J. Darcy