The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-28
INQUIRE INTO BENTOA'S DEATH
UNITED STATES SECURES PROM
ISE THAT BODY WILL BE EN-
HUMED AND EXAMINED.
Surgeons Able to Tell Whether Villas
story is True-England Entirely
Satisfied with Amcrica's Conduct OF
the Case. Many Developments.

exh and turned over to Ameri-
can officials for examination, the
Washington government considered
that the first step had been taken in
Its Investigations of the recent execu-
ton at Juarez which has focused the
eyes Of the world anew on the Mex
lean situation.
Just what Gen. Villa purposes to
do about the request for the body ap-
parently was an open question late
today. Early in evening Secretary
Bryan had accepted n message from
the constitutional chief to Consular
Agent Carothers at Juarez Us q prom
ise that the body would be turned
over to American authorities as soon
as the matter could be arranged. This
message was translated to read that
the body would be delivered "but not
Ut this time"
Just before midnight state depart
ment officials made public this an
nouncement:
American consul at Chihuahua re
ports that Villa declines to deliver
Benton's body but will permit the
widow or relatives to visit the place
with American representative, that
for their benefit he will order ex-
humation OF the body which then will
be reintcrred in grave from which il
is removed
Gen. Villa is at chihuahua and il is
supposed Consul Letchner has been in
personal communication with him.
From the character of the wounds,
discovered on Benton's body, physi-
clans wisi-tt able Co gay whether Benz
ton was killed By a pistol shot, as his
friends claim. or by firing squad, as
Villa asserts. Ii is generally admit
ted in Official circles that an exami-
nation will be OF great value in either
affirmation OR disposing OF an i'm
portant point in Villas general expla-
nation.
Developments today were many in
The situation that has arisen out Of
the killing OF Benton. Secretary
Bryan asked American consular rep
resentatives at Nogales to confer with
Gen. Carranza about the affair The
secretary talked with Acting Chair
man Shively of the senate foreign re-
lations committee and then ut length
with President Wilson. The incident
was fully discussed at a cabinet meet
ing. Sir Cecil Spring Rice, British
ambassador. later called on Secretary
Bryan and arranged for the visit Of
sitish Consul Percival to El Paso to
supplement the American inquiry
though not to interfere with X. The
secretary then conferred again to-
night with the president.
News OF the hanging Of ClcmentO
Nergara, an American citizen, by
Mexican fedcrals near Neuvo Laredo.
Mexico, directed attention to the
Huerta government on the subject OF
protection for foreigners. Representa-
tions ON behalf of Vergara had been
made by the state department some
time ago.
Cabinet officers indicated clearly
that official judgment Of the Benton
incident would not be hasty and that
the American government was oC.
cupied carefully just now in gathering
tho facts.
The British ambassador telegraphed
Mrs. Benton that If the body was
produced by the constitutionaiista-
IL probably would be turned over to
the widow-she should immediately
have competent surgeons examine il.
the wounds will establish whether
Lcnton was killed by "a lirins squad
or by pistol shot. These surgeons
also say il would be impossible 10
conceal a murder by afterwards dis
charging rifle bullets into Body be-
cause Of the difference in wounds in
iicted upon a living person and
corpse.
That the interest the american
government is taking in tho Benton
episode ia pleasing 10 Great Britain
was indicated after tho british am
bassador had conferred with Sccrr-
lary Bryan. Sir Cccil remarked:
The United States is treating the
BeSton case exactly US though he had
been ono of their own citizens. They
could not do more"
The ambassador had been inatruct-
"a To- obtain from Secretary Bryan
what atdc uuts to the safe conduct tor
British Consul PcrcIyal who Will in
,cstigltc first hand the circumstances
NJ the killing. Mr. Pcrclval, whose
post is Galveston. Texas, is charged