The Washington herald., 1914-02-26
EXHUMATION OF
Benton IN DOUBT
Villa Has Not Made Definite
Answer to Demand of
United States.
EXAMINATION is WANTED
State Department Now Making Ar
rangements to Send Party to
Inspect Body.
Rr JOSEPH p. ANNIN.

At a late hour last night the State de-
psrtment was unable to say to what ex-
tent, IL any, Gen. Francisco Villa would
permit satisfactory exhumation and ex-
animation of the body of William S. Ben
ton. the British subject executed by Villa
Contradictory reports. probably the re-
suit Of a vacilIating attitude by Villa, con-
tinued to confuse the Mexican situation,
which for the present centers entirely
around the Benton killing.
Despite pressure from the state Depart
meut. through American consuls: from
Great Britain. through our state Depart
ment, and from Mr.. Pesqueira. confiden-
tiaI agent of the constitutionalists here
Villa continues to leave the world in
doubt.
The State Department, acting on the
assumption that Villa viii stand by one
Of his statements and permit a momen-
tary eNhumdtion and medical examination
OF the body of Benton, is making arrange
ments 10 send party to the scene of
Benton's death. This party will comprise
an American consul, the British special
agent Charles Perceval: an army surgeon
from Fort Bliss and possibly the widow
Of Benton. II the plans for this party be
not interferred with, and Villa permits
the immediate exhumation and medical
examination it can at least be deter
mined. with some degree of certainty,
whether Benton met his death at the
hands of a firing squad or from a re-
volver, supposedly in the hands of Villa.
Serious Effects of Delay.
Every hour of delay has two serious
effects. 1t increases the conviction here
that Villa murdered Benton and refuses
to surrender the body because an ex-
animation would convict him and give
the lie clearly to his story of the trouble.
Further. il brings the body nearer to de-
composition and a state where a medical
examination would be futile.
For the present. the British govern
ment viii be satisfied with a medical eN-
animation Of the body. Upon this il is
iEsistCnt This government also will in
sIst upon this even to the point of taking
drastic action.
The failure OF Gen. CaTrauza. the osten-
sible head Of the constitutionalists, to
inject himself into the situation and or
der Villa TO surrender the body of Ben
ton. lends strength 20 the feeling that
CarraHza has no control over his Chi
hUahuG general
As a matter or fact. this government
has no means of knowing whether th..
lou\ OF Benton Stlti exists, or where II
IS. if il has not been Cremated or other
wise made away with.
Of other missing Americans, the state
Department heard nothing yesterday
The whereabouts of Gustav Bauch. a
GcTman-American held as a spy. remain
Il mystery. Efforts by American consuls
To obtain information concerning his sit
uation have been mavailing The belief
Is growing in acceptance the Bauch has
met fate similar to Benton's of Curtis
and Lawrence, two Englishmen at first
reported to have perished with Benton,
nothing has been learned.
IergarR Has Been Hanged.
The State Department yesterday re-
Ceived confirmation of the report that
rlemente Nergara, an American citi-
zen. has been hanged by the federals
and his BODY left suspended from a
tree near HidalgO. Consul Garrett. at
Nuevo Laredo, has been instructed 10
Investigate and demand possession of
the body.
Secretary Bryan has no intention OF
weakening in his demand for the body
~ Benton. At present he desires TO
have the body eXhumed and examined.
The department is inclined 10 force an
issue on the Benton question. not only
BECAUSE OF the insistence of Great Brit