The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-23

WASHINGTON. Feb. % - Presi.
dent Wilson and Secretary Bryan
conferred briefly late today on vari-
Gus phases OF the Mexican situation
NO announcements we're made after
the conference. but n Is understood
a complete report on the execution
at Juarez OF William s Benton. the
British subject. Is awaited before the
view OF this government toward the
incident Is made known.
IL Is understood that Sir Cecil
sSpring-Rlee. The British ambassador.
onice his pleasure at the promptness
with which the American govern
ment has acted I'm seeking TO ferret
out the truth about the killing of a
British subject.
Full details of the execution are
not yet i'm the hands OF the state de-
partment officials. but they are rap
idly being gathered. IL is generally
admitted that the case hinges large
ly on whether or not Benton went TO
General Villas headquarters armed
That he was high-tempered and had
had previous difficulties with the
Constitutionalists Is known. but upon
the single fact of whether he had a
revolver when he accosted Villa de-
pendS TO great extent judgment OF
the whole affair. Benton's friends
deny he carried WEAPONS.
Officials Impartial.
Government officials here are i'm.
partial in their remarks about the
incident. insisting that any Judgment
formed before all the facts are col.
lected necessarily rests upon bias or
prejudice
Upon the truth or falsity Of Villas
statement that Benton tried to kill
h'm Will depend the view which both
Great Britain and the United States
viii take of the affair. The prevalent
belief in official circles Is that i'm the
absence of any satisfactory evidence
TO the contrary ID will be difficult for
his government, at least 10 reject
Villas version. To do so without
satisfactory proof 10 the contrary ~
L. pointed out by some officials.
would be unnecessarily to provoke
unfriendly relations with the Consii-
tutionalist chief who Is in control OF
such a vast territory adjacent TO h"
The United States and wherein are
many foretgners about whose protec-
llnn the United States is solicitious
In the meantime. the Constitution
alist agency here is active in issuing
10 me press kilograms from General
Nllla stating his defense for the
kiIllng. They are along the same
lines as previous messages and Villa
asserts in one OF them that ne SIN
mas Benton's pistol. other telegram !
10 the agency say Penton's record IN
Chihuahua was that OF quarrel -
some man and the charge Is made
mat ne was guilty OF having Mis-
treated poems on bis ranch 10 the cx-
tent Of taking their lives"
oeeasioned No Surprise.
No surprise was manifested offi
clalN here at the landing OF a s1uad
oi German bluejackets for the protec.
ton Of the German legation al Nex.
ico city. This is in line with the
recent action OF the British govern.
ment and is said 10 be- in pursuance
OF an understanding with the Amsri.
can government on this point
The state department il active in
seeking 10 protect Gustave Raucb a
Terman-AmeriCan. who il was 70.
ported last night. had been executed
In Juarez along with Benton Secre.
taTy Bryan received word from Con
SUI Edwards today saying the latter
was informed Bauch had been re-.
moved 10 Chihuahua American CON.
|, SUI Letchcr there has been instruct.
y ed 10 sec that Bauch is protected
lhere has Gocn p report current that
bauch was q witness of the aIterco
uon which Benton had with Villa
ana FOR that reason was spirited
away. state department officiaIs
thus FAR have not learned that anv
witnesses 10 the Benton affair have