The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-25
'BENTON'S REP.
ON THE BORDER
Benton was Hot-Tempered, His
Friends Say, but Generous, Hon.
est and Brave

FL Paso, Feb. 25.-Interest in the
execution of William S. Benton by
Gen. Villa last Tuesday continues
with little abatement.
Consul Edwards at Juarez said the
state department request that Ben
tons body be turned over to the wild
ow, had met with no response from
Gen. Villa, who is at Chiahuahua.
The request was telegraphed last
Saturday and it is reported that Con-
sui Letcher at Chiahuahua will re-
new his plea.
Believe Benton was Murdered
Bentons friends assert that while
Washington may for diplomatic rea-
sons accept the official version of a
court-martial which the rebels allege
tried Benton and found him guilty of
attempting Villas life, there still is
no disposition among them to change
their own verdict of murder
They are working tirelessly ana
with some hopes of finding witness
to the shooting upon whose word
they can rely There is said to be
evidence that an American witness
ed the shooting, but that his associa
tfons with the rebels make it unlike
ly that he will speak unless unusual
pressure is brought to bear on him.
The federal junta, which has en-
ergetic secret agents at work as we'll
as many smypathiZers, is engaged
also in an attempt to ascertain the
details for the purpose of discredit-
ing the constitutionalists.
Rebel agents are frequently to be
met with within public places volub-
ly explaining what a hot-tempered
man Benton was. Their favorite
story was that Benton in the Foreign
Club at Chiahuahua once asserted
hotly that he wished his skin was
darker so that he would not be mis-
taken for a damned gringo."
The incident is said to have oc-
\. Cured a year ago and to have result
ES in a fist-fght between Benton and
Rhil Mclaughlin, newspaper man
then resident of Chiahuahua. The
pair returned from the field of bat
tie on a friendly footing. These oc-
casional outbursts of the fiery
Scotchman never affected the real
friendship which the Americans felt
for him because of his known integ-
rity and blunt honesty.
Was British Subject
''I have lent Benton as much as
$4,000 without the scratch of pen,
related an American, we'll known in
Mexico, but now among the refugees
here. At Chiahuahua it is said that
Villa is trying to find in the court
records sonthing to show that Ben
ton had become Mexican citizen,
but his cousin, William Benton, in
this city, says Benton was very care
full to maintain his status as Brit
ish subject, and that in a number OF
legal papers he was scrupulous to
have this fact set forth.
Anxiety over the fate of Gustav
Ii,
tally reported by Villa to have been
removed to Chiahuahua for review
of his case wherein he IS charged
with being a spy. today cropped out
anew when it was reported that Con
sui Letcher, who had been instructed
by the state department to safeguard
the prisoners interests, had been un.
able to see him.
- Legal documents setting forth
Bauch's birth by German parents in
New Iberia. La. received here BY
Mrs. ]. VI. Paterson, his sister, will
be forwarded to Chihuahua.
There still is no trace of Harry
Compton, Roger Laurence or the
ranchman, Curtis, who have d1sap
peared in Mexico. nor is there an!