Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-24

Chihuahua. Mex, Feb. 23.-General
Villas story of the killing of William
S. Benton. told to reporters today, diff
fers but little from the official state
ment given out Saturday at Juarez.
The Juarez statement declared that
when Benton reached for his hip pock-
ct. Villa knocked him down with a
blow of the fist Villa said today that
when Benton made this move he peheu
his own pistol into Benton's stomach
and then turned him over te the
guards:
Villa insisted that Benton came to
take his life, and referred to Benton
mission concerning the welfare OF ms
ranch as a '.pretext' to gain admit
tance.
According to villa, Benton after the
verdict of the courtmartial, confessed
his guilt and declined TO ask for mer-
cv He merely requested that his
property be turned over 10 ms Wioo".
villa contra dieted his official report
to the American consul at Juarez thae
Gustav Bauch, a German American
accused of being a spy, had peeh
brought to Chihuahua. Villa salo ne
knew nothing of him.
The rebel general marked another
milestone in his political ana mlltars
nrogress from the rustic outlaw Oh
three years ago to the dictatorship OIL
northern Mexico when today he re-
ceived the homage of his ofilcers ana
prominent citizens at the gupernato-
rial palace. He sat in high backed
pilded chair in the big chamber OF
delegates, beneath a canopy of deep
velvet embroidered in gold. A medal
was presented to him by those of his
men who have followed him since the
Madero revolution three years ago.
when he forsook his outlawry and
blossomed into militant patriot.
Regarding Benton's death he said:
Benton gained entrance to my Of
flee in Juarez on the pretext that he
wanted to see me on some personal
business connected with his ranch. As
soon as he entered he began to ad-
dress me In abusive language. l had
some experience with him before and
knew of his violent temper. l know
also that he had mixed too freely in
Mexican politics, but 1 did not suspect
that he was coming into my office to
murder me.
He had not talked long when he
reached for his hip pocket. 1t flash
ed over me that he intended to kill
me. / grabbed his hand and at the
same time thrust my revolver into the
pit of his stomach to stop him. l did
not wish to appear blood thirsty and
therefore did not shoot him myself.
My guards seized him, took his pistol
from him and placed him under ar
rest. 1t was decided to try him by
court martial; this was done in the
regular manner prescribed by law and
the prisoner was executed IS hours
after he made the attempt on my life.
That Is all there is to it. We would
have treated any other offender in the
same way, whether he was American,
Spanish, German or Japanese.
Benton was not only guilty of at
tempting murder. but of other Of
fences for we have proof of his en-
nifty to our cause and of the aid he
rendered our enemies. However, he
was executed for attempting to take
my life. l have nothing to conceal
about it. / know the incident has
aroused comment In the United States
and Europe and that is why / am
making this statement.
"A man who acted as Benton did
would have received the same treat
ment In any country. l would not
have soiled my hands with the detail
Of the execution after the court had
found him guilty.
Statements have been made that we
have executed other foreigners, but
these are untrue. Benton is the only
one"