The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-02-27
SAYS BR|TQN TRIED
To KILL GEN. VILLA
Record Ascribes Execution of
Benton to Defiance of Chief.
BRITAIN GIVES CASE TO U. S.
Government Requests Ambassador to
Get Complete Report of Murder
From Bryan-Fear Felt for
Other Aliens.

Juarez, Feb. 24.-William S. Ben
tons resistance to General Villas bar
ring him from Mexico brought on the
execution of the British subject and
owner of 100,000-acre ranch in Chi
huahua, 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.
THE accused" says the report,
was arraigned, and having been adj
vised to name some one to defend
him, Capt. Mariana Tamez was desig-
mated for this purpose, and was
warned to defend Benton loyalty"
There was no further mention Of &C.
ttvity on the part Of the captain.
Villa" continues the report, States
that because Benton was a foreigner
his property has not bee nconfiscated,
but he must remain out Of the coun-
try because he was an element de-
structive Of the peace and prosperity
of the country.
THE accused answered in harsh and
violent terms and asserted that no hui
man power could keep him out Of
Mexico or cause him to desert his
property to further depredations.
Then he said he was as good a
man as Villa and at the same moment
he drew pistol from his hip pocket.
But the general was ready and jumped
for him and struck, at the same
time the persons present leaped on
him that he might not make an at
tempt on the life OF General Villa"
The record gives Benton's testimony
indirectly as follows:
He said he came at 10 or II o'clock
In the morning to see General Villa
and inform him that revolutionists or
at times parties of bandits had done
much damage to his ranch, destroying
property and stealing cattle. He had
come to tell Villa of these things, but
the general accused him of being
friendly to the federals, and suggested
that the rebels buy the ranch, as the
witness was not wanted in Mexico.
THE witness told General Villa that
he was unjust and several other
things that annoyed the general, but
witness had no intention of haxming
the general or any one else. He said
he had nothing to do with Huerta or
the red 1aggers and was Indifferent
to the politics of the country. This
was all he had to say"
Washington, Feb. 24.-President
Wilson and Secretary Bryan conferred
briefly on various phases Of the Next
can situation Saturday. It is under
stood complete report on the execu
ton at Juarez of William S. Benton,
the British subject, is awaited before
the view of this government toward
the incident is made known. The
British embassy has asked that in
Quiry be made as to Laurance and
Curtiss, two Englishmen who are re-
ported to have gone to Juarez with
Benton, and that CONSUL Edwards
has been asked to investigate.
The state department is active in
seeking to protect Gustave Bauch, a
German-American, who, it was report
ed, had been executed in Juarez along
with Benton. Secretary Bryan re-
ceived word from Consul Edwards
saying Bauch had been removed to
Chihuahua.
A telegram from R. N. Dudley of Ell
Paso, Tex, to Senator Fall, declaring
Benton was murdered like a dog"
was read in the senate at the request
of Senator Fall. He also had read
a telegram from the Ell Paso mass
meeting which had denounced the ad-
ministration's handling of the Mexican
situation.
London, Feb. 24.-The British gov
eminent has not taken any action
in regard to the execution of William
S. Benton beyond instructing Sir Ce-
Gil Spring-Rice, ambassador at Wash
ington, to obtain from Secretary Bry-
an all possible information on the at
fair.