The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-23
william s. Benton Was Not
Shot as First Reported.
British Consul Perceval Files
Report on Killing.
NO FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS
Recent Parleys at Vera Cruz
Were Merely Feelers.
Everything Waits ON the Out.
come at TOrreOn.

Washington. March 2s.-British
Consul Perceval's official report on the
killing of VIM. S. Benton at Juarez
received at the embassy here today.
says:
mo pistol shots were fired in the
fight which ended in the ranchman's q
DEATH" leaving the Inference that he
was stabbed.
Consul PercevaIs report was the
result Of his investigation conducted
at the order Of Sir Cecil Spring Rice.
the British ambassador. 1t does not
make any definite charge as to the
manner Of Benton's death, further
than to establish that it was not by
shooting as was first said by Villa,
who explained that the Englishman
had been executed by a firing squad
by court martial. Friends of Benton,
on the border charged that Villa him.
self had shot the ranchman with a
pistol.
The broad inference that Benton
was stabbed is regarded as especially
significant in connection with other
information here that the COnstitu-
tionalist commission which investi-
gated the affair has found that Ben
ton was stabbed by one of Villas Of
ficers who is expected to be tried for
the crime.
Consul Percevals report also states
that Benton went to Villa unarmed
and to protest against the theft OF his
cattle and that finding agrees with the
contentious of Benton's friends. T.,
Washington, March 23.-Informa-
ton thus far received by Presldent
Wilson indicates that the parleys at
Vera Cruz, between John Lind and
Senior Portillo Rojas, Huerta's min
lister for foreign affairs, has not reach-
ed the stage of formal negotiations or
definite proposals. The president told
callers today that nothing OF lmpOr-
tance had developed.
Incidentally the president denied
that Charge O'Shaughnessy would re-
sign unless it were on account or III
health, and he hoped that would not
be necessary. Interest OF official cir
cles was focused almost entirely on
the battle at Torreon. Administra-
officials do not expect that peace
parleys or negotiations will crystalline
until after the battle.
Federals Well Fortified.
Rermejillo. Mexico, March 2s.!Onf-
GERS from the extreme front returned
today after viewing some OF the fed
eral Notifications through powerful
field glasses. They reported that the
defenses were elaborate and laid out
according to the latest approved meth
DDS, so that troops may move from
y
themselves. Fresh earth, whose ap-
pearance seemed to be artificial, was
understood to mark the lurking places
of the enemy's big guns. Some Of the
barbed wire entanglements were visible
through the clear air. Troops contin-
ued to pour into this city from the
north today. Practically all Of the sup
plies from Yermo are now here.
Marked by sharp brushes with the
enemy General Francisco Villas specS
tacular march against Torreon which
began last Friday. was nearing an end
today. Only few haciendas and sub
urban towns remained between his
army Of 1900 and the actual siege of
Torreon. Reports are that a more or
less formidable garrison of federals
has been placed by General Figure
Velasco, in Lerda to check the consti-
tutionalists.
Villa is confident that only a few
more hours and little fighting will pass
before his army is investing Torreon
proper. He maintains that his force is
so great as to completely overwhelm
any outposts which they may meet be-
reaching the city of Torreon. believ-
ing that General Velasco has kept the
Torreon garrison intact to repel the
rebel advance.