Arizona republican., 1914-02-22
Proceedings Before Alleged Court-Martial Are Made Public at Juarez and Cause Sneers from the Friends of Dead Man REBEL OFFICER
 DEPENDS" HIM Papers Show How Alleged Attorney Takes Oath to Defend Benton Loyalty, But No Further Activi- ties Are Reported
ASSOCIATED PRESS D1sPATcHl


 FL PACO, Feb. 2l.-The record or the alleged court martial of William $. Benton, made public at Juarez this afternoon, asserts that Benton was present and was represented by a rebel official as his attorney and permitted to testify. The session was public. He was executed for attempted violence against Villa, declares the record and found guilty of giving aid and com fort to enemy by giving them cattle.
 This information renton's friends on this side of the Rio Grande received with sneers. They asserted they knew Benton for many years and that he never carried a pistol. They assert their friend was deliberately murdered
 The record opens with a statement that the extraordinary council of war was convened at 4:15 o'clock Tuesday afternoon by Colonel F'idel Avila and the council convened a court martial with Major Jesus Rodriguez as presi- dent, assisted by four other judges.
 "The accused" says the report, was arraigned and advised of the name of the counsellor who would defend him. Captain Mariana Tamez was designated and warned to defend Benton loyalty"
 No further activities on the part of the captain are mentioned and it does not appear that Villa testified. Major Manuel Banda and Adries Farias were witnesses against Benton. They testi- fled he had called on Villa. at an in- opportune moment" The witnesses nrhn bn, that Benton said he wished permission to return to his ranch in western Chi huahua because of depredations upon it and Villa refused the request, saying Benton was well known sympathizer with Huerta. to whom he had given in formation of the movement of our troops
 The witnesses said the accused answered in harsh and violent terms and asserted no human publican could keep him out Of Mexico. or cause him to desert his property to further depre- dations'
 Then he said he was as good a man as Villa and at the same moment drew his pistol from his hip pocket, but Villa jumped for him and struck him. At the same time persons present inter- fered to prevent the attempt on the life of Villa"
 The witnesses were firm in the be- lief that had they not been present that Villa would have been murdered. At the court martial Benton said he had nothing to do with Huerta or the "red flaggers". and was indifferent to the politics of the country. This was all he had to say and verdict was found of guilty.
 Consul Edwards tonight said he had received private, and official confirma- ton of the reports that Gustave Bauch. n German American prisoner held at JuareZ had been taken to Chihuahua. A cowboy named J. J. Baca, living on ranch near Fl Paso, caused excite ment tonight with story that Bauch had been shot Beca was released from the Juarez jail on Thursday Baca. later said he merely heard the guards make remark to the effect that Bauch had been killed According to Consul Edwards, Baca was locked up to cool off and afterward ordered ont of Juarez.