The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-23
Search Is Being Made For
Harry Compton and
Others
GEN. SCOTT ASKED
TO GIVE ASSISTANCE
Message TO Him Says Direct Appeal
to President Wilson Has Been
Made to Force Constitutional
lists to Give Information

Ell Paso Tex, February 22.-In tele-
gram received today by the American
consul at Juarez, Thomas d. Edwards,
General Villa suggests that the Americans
reported missing in Mexico may be in
cluded in a batch of American recruits,
which he says he has rejected and will be
sent back to Juarez by the first troop
train.
Villas telegram says there were 10
Americans who wished TO join his forces
but he found them unavailable At pres
ent search is being made for Harry
Compton, Oakland. Cal; Roger Laurence
an Engishman. who came here recently
to visit William S Benton. killed by the
rebels last Tuesday; a New Mexico ranch
man by the name of Curtis, said to have
Joined Laurence in the search for Ben
ton, and Gustav Bauch officially re-
ported to have been taken to Chihuahua
for further investigation on the charge
of being spy.
United States consular representatives
at Juarez and Chihuahua have been
searching for a trace of Compton, but he
is in neither the jails or cuartels accord
ing TO copstitutonalisi reports. The
rebels also say they never had him under
arrest A private message from w. E.
Perry of Garden City, Cal. asked for in
formation concerning the missing man. 1t
Is said letter had been received from
Harry Compton dated Chihuahua. saying
he was a prisoner in the chihuahua jail
and was to be removed to Juarez Feb
ruary 10, to be executed
General Scott Requested to Aid
General Hugh l.. Scott also received a
request from citizens of Garden City
Cal, to assist in locating the man.
Inc message to General Scott said
a direct appeal had been made to Pres
ldent Wilson to take steps to have the
|constifutionalists give information con-
cernlns Compton. Consul Edwards was
Instructed by Secretary Bryan today to
locate Compton If possible and to re-
port on the alleged arrest Of the Amer
lean. Siinilsr insirustions ssarep teie-
gfaphed TO Consul Marion Letcher at
Chihuahua. Both consuls immediately
took up the matter.
Consul Edwards called on Colonel FL
del Ayila, Jefe De Las Armas at lJuarez
but Ayila said he had not had Compton
in the Juarez jail. that no Americans
had been executed in Juarez, and that
he never heard of Compton. From Chi
huahua. Consul Letcher telegraphed to
Consul Edwards to relay the report to
the state department that General
Francisco Villa denied knowledge OF
Compton and notified him that Comp
ton never had been arrested or to his
knowledge had been in Mexico.
To Deliver BentOn's Body to Widow
Richard Nj. Dudley telegraphed Sem
ator Fall today asking him to. take
measures to obtain immediate delivery
of the body of Benton to the widow on
this side of the river Mr.. Dudley ex-
planned that he believed a view of
the body would go far to explain the
manner of the Scotchman's death. Dud-
ley, like other Americans here, does
not accept the official legislation of a
corrtmartial as given out at Juarez
esterday.
\ dispatch from Chihuahua that
thore was a possibility in certain con-
tingencies of the states of northern
Mexico forming new republic, was re-
Garded as plausible among refugees
here. 1t was pointed out that for the
last three years, the northern and
southern parts of the country have been
virtually under separate government
and formal session of the northern
states would not materially change the
present status of the country.
In Memory of Madero
In Peace Grove, opposite the Globe
mills, where Francisco Madero estab-
lished his provisional capital of Mexico in
1911. memorial services of the anniversary
of the assassination of President Madero
and Vice President Jose Pine Suarez
were held today. The troops of The
Juarez garrison marched to the little
grove, where platform had been erected,
and were reviewed from the stand by
Col 1del Avia, commander of the Juarez
garrison, and members of his staff
After the review there was a programme
consisting of musical numbers and ad-
dresses.
Juarez was in mourning during the day
in respect Of the memory of the two lead
ers. who met their death a year ago.
All amusements, with the exception of
the races, were closed during the day
and the saloons also were closed
The search of Captain Cootes and his
automobile truck load of troopers around
Las Cruces for filibusterers last night re-
suited in disappointment, but the watch
will be maintained by United States
deputy marshals and detachment of
| troops under Lieutenant Bowman.