The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22
Not Subject to Immunity.

Not Subject TO Immunity.
villa takes tho position that 4 for
eiRner who threatened the life of
military officer is subject to no i'm
munity on the rights ordinarily ex-
tended to noncombatants.
Announcement that Benton met death
In Juarez after Il court-Inartial ordered
by villa was made to-day By Score
tary Bryan. who said he had no further
details. His Information came In O
dispatch from Consul Edwards. ut Jua-
req. who said he had read tho court
martial proceedings, which were mail
ed to Washington.
Secretary Bryan communicated Con-
sui Edwards's latest message to Sir
Cecil Spring Rice, the British ambas-
sador. and instructed Consul Edwards
to demand adequate protection and q
fair hearing for Gustav Bauch. an
American citizen for whose safety In
Juarcz grave apprehension has been
felt. Friends OF Bauch in El Paso
have telegraphed to Representative
Smith. Of Texas, that he had been shot
as spy.
No report had been received at the
State Department to-day on the re-
ported disappearance of two other
Englishmen. Lawrence and Curtis, who
were said to have gone TO Juarez to
search for Benton
Bitterly InsuIted villa.
alist agent here, rlado public the fol-
lowing telegram from Constltutionalist
headquarters at Juarez:
Benton entered Villas apartment
very Unexpectedly. demanding protec-
ton for his interests and bitterly In
sulting Villa md the Constitutionnlist
army. General Villa told him that he
considered him an enemy to the Con-
stitutionalist cause and that In order
that he might not continue to work
against II ne. villa: was going TO pay
him the value of his property (Ben-
ton's) In the State Of Chihuahua.
Benton became very exasperated at
this and drew his revolver, Intending
to Kill the general, but the latter i'm
mcdiately knocked him down, disarmed
nfterward tried by special military
tribunal. sentenced to death and duly
executed. all In accordance with the
laws and usages OF war"
Villas Version of killing.
Later to-day Villa telegraphed
Pesquiera as follows:
The attention OF tho commanding
general OF the Division OF the North
| having been drawn to the published
reports In respect to the recent execu-
ton OF William S. Benton, he desires
1t known that the action OF the au-
thorities In that case was entirely JUS
tilted by the laws and usages OF war.
Under article "a of General Order
100. for tho government of tho United
States in the field. 1t Is provided that
armed providers who come within the
line Of the army OF occupation with
hostile intent, are not entitled to the
privileges of prisoners of war. Ar
ticle SIS provides that persons within
occupied territory who employ violence
toward the established authorities arc
subject to the penalty Of death, whether
they arise singly or In numbers.
There is absolutely no doubt but
what Benton. n Huertista sympathizer
and murderer Of Mexican citizens. de-
liberately attempted an act OF violence
against the person. and life Of the com
handing officer. and for that reason.
In accordance with tho laws and usages
OF war. he was tried by n military tri-
! bunal. and executed pursuant to its
sentence. proceeding sustained by
| American and European presidents.
General Jackson In 1918 hung two
British subjects. Arbuthnot and Am
brister. for having given alien sym
/ pathy to hostile Indians In Florida.
General Butler hung Mumford ut New
Orleans in 1862. for morely hauling
down an American flag from over tho