Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-02-24
Rebel Chief Gives Newspaper
Reporters Story Of Incident
Substantially as Told by Him
to Consul Edwards,
FORMER BANDIT SITS
IN CHAIR OF STATE
Followers of Commander Pay
Homage 10 Him in Cover
nofS Palace and BeStoW on
Him Medal of Honor
iuy aosslro loYaaAl srselAl lr.sso mssi

Chihuahua. Mexico. Feb. 23-Gen-
oral Villas story OF the killing Of VIII
liam s. Benton. told TO reporters here
today. differs but little from the Of
ficial statement given ont Saturday az
Juaroz.
The Juarez statement declared that
when Benton reached for his nip
pocket, villa knocked him down with
a blow OF the fist villa said that
when Benton made this move he
poked his own pistol into Benton's s
stomach and then turned him over
To the guards.
Villa insisted that Benton came 10
take his life ana referred TO Benton's
mission concerning the welfare of his
ranch ats "A "preteXt' TO gain admit
tance
According to villa, Benton, after
the verdict OF the court martial, eon7
fessed his guilt and declined to ask
for mercy. He merely requested that
his property be turned over to his WI
dow
Villa contradicted his official report
to the American consul at Juarez that
Gustav Bauch. Gorman-Amerlcan
accused of being spy, had been
brought 70 Chihuahua villa said he
knew nothing of him.
Sits in Governors Palace.
The rebel general marked another
mile stone in his political and mill
tary progress from the rustic outlaw
who could scarcely write his own
name. three years ago, 10 the dictator
ship of northern Mexico. when today
he received the homage Of his officers
and prominent citizens at the guber-
Material palace. He sat i'm high
backed gilded chair In the big cham
her of delegates, beneath "a canopy OF
deep red velvet embroidered ia geld,
looking ON the scene from wide set,
glowing black eyes, saying but little.
A medal was presented him 10y
those of his men who have followed
him since the Madero revolution three
years ago, when he forsook his out
lawry and blossomed into a militant
patriot
ON Bentons death, he SAID
Benton gained entrance 10 my Of
flee IN Juarez on the preteXt that he
wanted to see me on some personal
business connected with his ranch
Los Remedies. near the city Of Chi
lhuahua As soon as he entered he be-
gan to address me In abusive lam
guage. ] had had some experience Of
him before and knew of his violent
temper. I knew also that he had mixed
too freely In Mexican politics, but
did not suspect that he was coming
into my office to murder me. lie had
not talked long when he reached for
his back pocket. II flashed over me
that he intended to Kill me.
Regular Court Martial.
II grabbed Bentons hand and IA
the same time thrust my revolver into
the pit Of his stomach TO stop him.
did not wish to appear hloodthirsty
and therefore did not shoot him my
self. My guards seized him, took his
pistol away from him. and placed him
under arrest IL was decided 10 Try
him hy court martial and this was
done in the regular manner presefib-
ed by law and the prisoner was exc
cuted eighteen hours after he made
his attempt on my life. That was al
there was TO II. We would have treat.
ed any other offender i'm the same way
whether he was American, Spanish
German or japanese.
"Benton was not only guilty Of at.
tempted murder, but Of other Of
fenses for we have proof Of his en-
nifty 20 our cause and OF the aid h'
rendered our enemies. However, he
was executed for attempting 10 TAKE
my life. ] have nothing 90 eoneea
about It. l know the incident has
aroused comment in the United statei
and in Europe and that Is why ] an
making this statement. A man wh'
acted as Benton did would have re-
ceived the same treatment I'M an.
country. | want to emphasize the fac
that / did not XIII Benton myself
would not have soiled my hands witt
the detail of the execution after th'
court had found him guilty After th'
verdict. Benton confessed. lie did no
appeal for mercy but asked that hi
property be secured TO his wife. W.
promised that this would be done.
Statements have been made tina
we have executed other foreigners
but these are untrue, Benton IS tn
only one"