The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-02-25
Ell RASO HEARS VILLA
WILL NOT EXHUME BODY.
tBy Associated Preasl

|
El Paso, Texas, Feb. 24.-Gen. Fran
cisco Villa at Chihuahua today re-
fused to give up the body of William
s. Benton, British subject executed
in Juarezs several days ago. His rea-
sons embodied in a private telegram,
have aroused bitter feeling along the
lborder.s IStl2,S4tFlN.: Z :, /, 4
II will not give up the body out of
Irespect to hee.dead,2 Villas message
said. ut was inferred with all re-
ligious observances and a. cross erect
/ ed oyer 1t and win not Nallowt the
saerilege Of its removal"
This sword came In response to q
Etelesra1n sent by one OF Villas subor-
diAates at 5uarez informing him that
no Fersonal idea should keep him
fsonf permitting the transfer OF the
hctiN 20 the widow and informing him
that PERHAPS he was not tfenfiliaraTith
the storm Of critieism That had greet
cd hissfailure to do so.
A definite refusal to give up the
body was received by consular rep
f,ess1 1tative; Of the United States late
today and forwarded TO Washington.
- Many persons here today said the
resssal Indicated to their minds that
Benton wac shnks ly tVilla9 ana.4Lat s4.a
feared TO deliver the body lest It's con-
dittnn Indicate the manner of dei:th as
other than by court martial.
II is hope6 tiiat within q day or
two the statement OF competent Wit
ness to the shooting, alleged by enc
mics OF villa to have taken place In
his headquarters. may be obtained.
Americans ana representatives of the
Mexican federal government are work.
ing TO this, end 80, s,,,.,,--.,...s.ss4ss 5.
Makes Serious Charges.
A telegram in which General Villa
at chihuahua charged the late wills
liam s.. Benton with being a cattle
thief and having committed four nlur-
ders was received at military head
Quarters itiday. THE telegram fol-
lows: Nd M
II. expected tile scandalniis Ameri-
can press to attaelS me abniit the. exc
cntiou lof Benton But + did not have
any other remedy TO avoid new at
temnts of the foreign Huef tistas who,
protected by the flag 0fi tlieir scoiin-
try, believe theynrs authorized to
commit the greatest OF i1nes Ben
ton was all his lEe crin1lnaI Of the
worst kind. In Sha times os Terrasas
and Greei, prot ad Iby slisse men, he
killed more thah -four men without
amy proyocation whatever. Then. af-
ter taking of chihuahua, in common
with the above named individuals and
according to his own confession, he
appropriated more than 1000 head OF
cattle which did not belong to him
and, furtherntore, the. day he. came to
see me, he attempted to kill me. For
tunately anticipated mis- move and
disarmed him. All these motives,
and especially the last named one,
forced tne 10 act severely against Benz
ton without taking into consideration
the fact that he was foreigner. But
these are crimes that ] did not care
TO leave unpunisLed, Therefore he
was executed with eli justice end am
disposed to give an account OF the
execution 20 thu tenslre world, Please
nal lEs ssiijTS ssiijT ss:saoSs Aeciaratinns "a Mr..
ICaTothers and TO the American press,
(Sisnedl 'FRANC5ECo VILLA,
s. klen6 N CHIEF = +
eIasilaS ESse Fes h.l
GIFTED STATES secret eeryice men
today received Information indicating
itlsat stay Barish has mel fate
simiiaf To Benton's Thomas D. iEtls
eparas cbnsnl ~ snAsss. repeate llF
ttflS HeStke eNNSuEe0 that 4lhuSn Ntt@ safe
| in Chihuahua awaiting a review OF
his case wherein ha Is charged with
being q spy.
3a1enfwhile AKarinn Ietcher. consul
ut ClliSSahua. after o search OF jails
aud barracks ane aiiigept inquir3. iras
been gnable % llnd Bauch. villa IN
Newspaper men that he had not taken
NE aernnans Anlerlcatt from Juarel at
aIl.
q IS predicted that 79ishin tha next
Tour month 80. COO OK arscian WAR
rera VIII asttye Ia ths t'aitee States.