The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-03-04
BENTON, UNARMED,
SHOT WITH PISTOL
Official Washington Receives
Conclusive Evidence.
He WAS SLAIN AT VILLAS OFFICE
Secretary of War Issues Instruc-
tions as to Examination of
Dead Mans Body.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-Wllllam Ss Ben
ton, the British subject slain at FJuarez
was unarmed and was shot to death in
Villas office, pistol bullets through the
stomach ending his life, according to con-
elusive information, which has reached
Washington officials.
While. no statement to this effect was
forthcoming today, ,slackening of official
interest in the proposed ,postmortem on
Bentons body was evident, the belief be-
ing that the examination would be useful
only in that it might serve to supplement
the evidence Of timid Witnesses who posi-.
bly, otherwise would withdraw their oral
statements.
Benton carried no arms when he ap-
preached Villas Office in. Juarez, ac )rding
to information: he spent two hours wait
ing for the interview that ended in his
death, walking back and forth in front OF
the Office. building; he was shot through
the stomach after he entered the Office and
received other wounds afterwards, al
though the first was mortal.
~ METHOD OF INQUIRY.
General instructions as to the method
Of investigation to be pursued were today
issued by the State and war departments
to their representatives at Ell Paso It is
realized that local conditions must deter
mine the details and only broad lines were
drawn in the directions.
1t was not known exactly today when
the commission would start for Chihuahua,
as that largely will depend on the availa-
bility of the special train which Villa has
promised to provide for the transportatio
of the party. Secretary Garrison early in
, the day authorized Gen. Scott in command
Of the post at Ell Paso, to detail two army
surgeons to make medical examination
Of the body, and Acting Secretary Moore,
Of the State department, said it had been
left to the collector OF customs and the
United States district attorney at Ell Paso
to select two representatives Of the State
department. These representatives, it was
said probably will be chosen outside of
the consular service. g.. 49,.
The; examination of Benton's body will
be conducted by the United States author
tiles, the British view being that the res
: possibility rests on the State department.
ENGLAND PLEASED.
The British ambassador has taken fire.
quent opportunity to show the satisfaction
his Government feels at the attitude Of the
State department, adding another tribute
today to the activity which has marked
the prosecution Of the inquiry, Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice spent an hour with Acting Sec
retary John Bassett Moore today, going
over details of the case, afterwards report
in5 its status to the foreign Office.
Rumors that tentative efforts have been
made by the constitutioalsts to placate
the Britirh, Government by the offer Of a
money indemnity to the widow proved to
be groundless. At any rate, it is certain
that such a proposition has been made to
responsible persons.
1t is believed that when the facts con-
nected with the killing OF Benton are fully
developed, unless the United States Gov
ernment feels called upon to demand rep
aration, the British Government simply
will docket the case and place it on file, to
be presented to the future Government of
Mexico for settlement when the day OF
reckoning comes. r,
No answer has been returned to the lat
est query from Governor CoIquitt, of Tex
as, as to, whom he could address a requisi-
tion for the surrender of the Federals who
killed Vergara, the Texas ranchman.