The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
BENTON SHOT WHILE
TALKING TO VILLA
Convincing Evidence That
Rancher Was Murdered
Is Found.
SENT TO WASHINGTON
British Subject Was Unarmed
When He Went to
See Rebel.
SENT TO WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON. Feb ?s.-Detailcd evil
dence. which Is accepted as impossible
Of refutation. as to how william s.
Benton. the British rancher met his
death has been received In Washington.
This evidence bears out completely the
accounts Of the rancher's fatal encounter
with Gen. villa. which have heretofore
lacked corroboration. and uphoids the
charge that Benton was murdered
This evidence. which has been laid
before all persons in Washington having
an official connection with the Benton
investigation. shows that Benton was shot
while In Villas office in JuareE. II also
establishes the fact that Benton went to
Juares wholly unarmed and that there
fore Villas statement that the rancher
attempted TO assassinate him Is untrue.
oHicials who have had an open mind
toward the case are now convinced that
Benton was first shot either by villa
personally or at his direction. while In
the rebel chiefs office In Juares. As
his body was later fired into II Is not
known whether the first wound inflicted
upon Benton with revolver would have
proved fatal or not.
Inquiry Plan Going On.
These developments caused the solemn
and deliberate preparations now beins
made for a commission OF American ana
British representatives 20 view the BODY
of Benton, said TO be in Chihuahua, 10
pale into a matter OF secondary import
ance. In fact few in Washington take
seriously the contemplated expedition. to
Chihuahua on Villas invitation. although
the State Department In going ahead
with plans for acting ON the rebel leader 3
offer.
In view OF the convincing evidence now
In possession of those most deeply inter
ested in the case there IL talk that villa
should not be honored by the sending Of
commission to chihuahua to view what
ever may be presented as the body OF
Benton. It 10 regarded as almost m
insult to Villas intelligence to assume
that he will permit the body OF Benton
to be viewed in Chihuahua or anywhere
else as long as II 10 In such condition ar
to corroborate what is now the accepted
account OF how the British rancher met
, his death.
1t developed further tonight that in
stead OF yielding to the urgings OF his
advisers to facilitate an adjustment with
the Governments OF the United States and
Great Britain In the Benton case Gen.
Carranza Is adopting such obstructive
| tactics as are available to him. II Is
/ understood he Is likely soon TO make II
known that he considers the United States
Government has no businoIs interfering
| in the. benton case on behalf OF the
British Government and that his official
! conduct as chief Of the revolutionary
forces will be governed accordingly.
/ Cnrransa seeking Recog nttion.
In some quarters this attitude upon the
Z NJ "A CnnRfrtiad m n +
tempt to force the. British Government
| to recognize him and como to him for an
adjustment OF the Benton case. II 30 he
| is wasting his time. according to officials
here for II anything has been clear here
in the last week II has been that Great
| Britain insists on regarding the Benton
case as exclusively In the hands Of the
| United States.
The irtimation regarding Carranxa's
attitude. of which something more definite
10 expected soon. are accepted here as
demonstrating that the FIRST chief Of the
rebel army 10 not proving amenabls to
the desires Of his advisers, particularly
his American counsel 1t Ii known here
that the legal advisers OF the Constitu-
tionalist organization tried tirst to bring
villa to Q realisation OF the difficulties
his conduct had brought upon the revolu-
tionary movement. and failing In tina,
quarter undertook to accomplish their
purpose through CarfansA. They ever
suggested that Carransa offer to pay
Great Britain an indemnity for Benton's
killing. but to-nights indications are tina,
Carranza, far from accepting this sug
gestion, will adopt an attitude dlsappoint.
Ing to the Washington Administration.
Meantime at the state Department to
day preparations went forward for tn,
despatch Of commission to Chihuahus
10 view the body Of Benton. which, viii
says. II inferred In the most honoret
cemstery" In the State OF chihuahua
Mr.. Bryan having sons TO Richmond OF
! . speaking trip for which. Il was said o
his ofiioe. he was to recsive the usua
! compensation, the matter was left to tn,
dirsetion Of John Bassett Moore. counsel
lor Of the State Department.
Whether or not the positive evidsnc,
| recoivsd In Washington to-day resardin,
, the circumstances OF Benton's death vii
J CAUSE ths Hr1tash Government 70 with
| dYaR Ma dnoini0n IA nnaA fsnn eonroenulAa