Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-07
Mexican Dictator Incensed
Because Yankee Went
to Captured Torreon
WASHINGTON IS NOT
AT ALL SURPRISED
Official Recognition Of the
Belligerency of Rebels
Being Considered

Being Considered
Fort Worth, Tex, April O.
United States Judge Meek this
afternoon denied the application
for writ Of habeas corpus filed by
the $500 Mexican internes at
Fort Bliss. Texas.
These were the Mexicans who
surrendered to United States sol.
diers at Preside, Texas, after Villa
had driven them from Ojinaga,
Mex.
Washington, D. c., April 6.-The
cancellation by the Huerta govern
ment Of the exequatur Of American
consular agent, George c. Carothers,
because he sent to Washington dis
patches saying the rebels had taken
Torreon from Huerta forces, failed to
disturb state department officials TO.
day The Huerta government still
denies Torreon has fallen.
Mr.. Carothers obtained his exequatur
when he was accredited to the Ma
dero government and stationed at Tor
recE. Since the outbreak of the Car
rama revolution he has had rowing
commission in northern Mexico and
his exequatur from the Mexico City
government has been of little value to
him, all his dealings being with the
con nstitutionalists. 1t is the intention
of the American government to keep
Carothers with General Villa and the
constitutionalist leaders to- make
prompt representation for the safety
of Americans and other foreigners and
to look after their interests generally.
Should Mr. Carrothers find it neces-
sary to go into Torreon. controlled by
the Huerta government, he may now
/ be unable to do business with its local
authorities but there is no prospect
that he personally will be inconvenien-
ced or prevented from making obser-
vations as an unoffcial representative.
Neither John Lind nor William Bay
ard Hale had an exequatur while in
federal territory.
spainards Deported.
Ohicial advices telling of the expul-
sion of the six hundred Spaniards from
Torreon by General Villa was expected
during the day. Until the Spanish anu.
hassador calls it to the attention OF the
department here. there is little likeli-
hood Of any action by the Washington
government. The United States itself
has issued warning to its own sub.
jects to leave those parts Of Mexico
where military operations are being
carried on and has more than once
intimated that other governments
might well take similar steps. The
right Of deportation is one provided for
under the Mexican constitution and
has been exercised alike by the Huerta
government and the constitutionalists
for alleged military or financial sup
port Of the enemy and various other
reasons.
No Recognition Vet.
No request for recognition of the
constitutionalists has been made by
General Carranza President Wilson
Indicated today that the United States
would be guided by developments in
determining such questions. The
president. however, spoke of the prac-
tice which the American government
had followed with respect to Mexico
previously. and pointed out that the
United States waited almost two years
before recognizing Porfirio Diaz half
century ago.
Villa Exonerated.
Ell Paso, Tex, April civilian S.
Benton, British subject and rancher in
Mexico, was not murdered by Gen. VII
la, he was not executed by court mar
tial order, and he was not killed by
knife stab. He was not even killed in
JusTez.
This will be the report of the COM
mission appointed by Gen. Venustiano
Carranza, first chief of the constitu-
tionaists.' who made an investigation.
The report will say that Benton was
killed at Samalayuca. thirty-two miles
south Of Juarez. and Rodolfo Fierro,
late rebel major and superintendent
Of railways for Villa, will be held re-
sponsible
villa declared, and the report is said
to bear him out in it, that Benton call
ed at his Office, applied many nasty
epithets to him, and threatened him.
whereupon Villa placed him in charge
of troops and ordered him put in jail.
Villa is then said to have placed Ben
ton in charge of Fierro, who was to
leave for chihuahua that nieht. He told ,
Fierro to place Benton in the peniten,
tiary at Chihuahua.
F'ierro is said to have killed Benton
at Samalayuca, on the way south, and
to have reported by wire to Villa that
he was forced to kill the man for try +,
ing to ESCAPE. Villa believed the story !:
90 he couSidpred FiarrO one of his pest /!
friends
Villas legal advisers suggested that I!
tho fake court martial be held. !