The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-02-26
SAYS BRIT0h TRIED
TO KILL! GEN. VILLA
Record Ascribes Execution Of
Benton to Defiance Of Chief.
BRITAIN GIVES CASE TO U. 5.
Government Requests Ambassador 70
Got Complete Report Of Murder
80 From eryan-Fssr Felt for
''' Other AIfsas. '" '''

~. - .-.s@
JuSrez, Feb. 23.-Resist&nce to Gen
srsl Villas barring him from Mexico
brought on the execution OF William
3. Benton, British subject and owner
OF q 10o,009-aere ranch In Chihuahua,
according to the record Of the court
martial that condemned Benton" to
death. 1t was charged that he tried
to murder Villa while resisting the
generals decree. Ill.,. s.-@' a e..
The accused" says the report,
was arraigned, and having been sd-
Vissd to name some one & to defend
him, Capt. Mariana TameE was degig.
mated for this purpose, and was
warned to defend Benton loyalty" 80
There was no further mention Of &C.
tiyity on the, part OF the captain.
villa" continues the report, States
that because Benton was, a foreigner
his property has not bee ncoufscsted,
but he must remain out OF the coun-
try because he was an element de-
structive OF the peace and prosperity
of the country. t'a ...' 1f.f
"Drew Pistol on Villa"
The accused answered in harsh and
violent terms and asserted that no hu
man power could Keep him out OF
Mexico or cause him to desert his
property to further depredstions
Then he said he was as good q
man as Villa and at the same moment
he drew a pistol from his hip pocket
But the general was ready and jumped
for him and struck at the same
time the persons present .lespef on
him that he might not make. an At.
tempt on the life of General Villa
The record gives Bentofi's testimony
indirsctlyiss follows: ."Iit =. ~ -
} He said he came at 10 or IL O'Clock
In the morning to see General villa
and inform him that revelutionists or
ate times parties Of bandits had done
much damage to his RANCH destroying
PROPERTY and stealing cattle { He had
come to tell villa OF these wings, but
the general accused him OF being
friendly TO, the. fedsrals. and suggested
that the rebels buy the ranch, Ssas the
with ess< was not wantedsin Mexico. !
The wftness told General Villa that
he WAS unjust and ! several other
things that annoyed the e easrals hut
witness had no intentionS Of .harInins
the general or any one else He said
he had nothing to de- with Huerta o.
the red fiaggers and was Indifferent
to the politics of the country. This
was all he had to say -, -, -, :
~ , Bryan Seeks Al Facts. p, $:
Washington, Feb 23 - Secretary
Brysn has ordered ,far-reaching, mi.
vsstigation OF the killing OF William s.
Benton. He announced that until all
the facts had been gathered from all
available sources no opinion would be
expressed by the state department
All information received will be, trans
nitted to the British government; =
The seriousness OF the MEXICAN sit
uation furnished subject Of grave
discussion in the senate while in ex.
/ scutiye session '..,,F..'' .'|': Z
A telegrsm from r. N Dudley of 81
Paso. Tex, to Senator Fall declaring
Benton was murdered like q dog
was read In the senate at the Tequ est
OF Senator Fab. He also had read
telegram from the Ell Paso mass
meeting which had denounced the Nd.
ministration's handling Of the Mexican
sitHa ton 40 \. *. a.: = re H.
Fear for Two Britons. 49,,
Ell Paso,, Tex, Feb 23.-After .
night thrilling with the excitement
over news OF the execution OF William
8. Benton and the indignation meeting
which ensued, Ell Paso trembfed with
anxiety and conjecture as to the fate
Eof Gustav Baueh and Of two English.
men who disappeared In Juarez last
"Wednesday. s'''3. -F.-'. -
'.-" Britain Presses inquiry.
| London, Feb. 23.--The British gov.
ernment has not taken any action
In regard to the execution of William
s. Benton beyond instructing Sir CA.
tel Spring Rice. ambassador at Wash
ington, to obtain nom Secretary Bry.
an all possible Information on the AZ
fair. "-,>.. -'J'1@-'E = =. "a .ar,ss u
Sunday Conference at White House.
I Washington, Feb. 23.-The anxiety
Of the administration over the killing
IN MEXICO of William s. Benton, g
British subject. was emphasized b,
a Sunday conference at the White
| House between the president and his
secretary OF state. After consulting
with officials of the latin division Of
the state department. Bryan h1rriee
to the White House and laid the --latest
reports before the president. Presi
dent Wilson Immediately ordered al
evidence bearing on the Benton mys
terry brought to him for persona
perusal. E+s, sil ,r-sa.. Is, s,is-. Ifit
= American Reported Slain. -
=, EI Paso. Tex, Feb. 23.---Anothsi
| American citizen has been arrested In
Mexico and it 10 believed here that he
has been executed. He is Harry Comp
ton OF Oakland, Cal. HH's E'..E.
Rebels Leave Cape Hsitisn.
Cape Haitien, Feb, EX-SENATOR Do
vup,ar rShaodora rahal .stoa da,. NJ