The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-02-26
Mexican Federals Hang U. S.
Man at HidaIgo.
VILLA DEFlEs GREAT BRITAIN
Saebsi Leader Asserts That He VIII
Not Permit the Removal Of Ben
toms Body From Republic
Wilson and Bryan Confer.

Representations nave Dttu hdue ~
me BY the American consul OF thi:
city to the effect that ! must at once
give orders that William s. Benton
body be delivered into the hands o.
his family. This / will not do. / told
Mfr Marion F. Letcher, the American
consul, that was very willing to have
representatives of Great Britain, the
United States or Benton's family
come down and see the body which
/ buried in the local national GENE
terry, but out of respect to the dead,
could not permit the body to leave
Mexico.
rBenton's body Was brought to Chi
huahua on my own train, encased i'll
a fine cotin, and was buried next day
with all honors, including services OF
followers, etc, and a cross to mark
the grave"
The is Americans and other foreign
ers ordered deported from Chihuahua
by General villa will be sent from
Chihuahua to Juarez on today's train.
All have been in the cavalry OF Gen
eral Villas army.
Villa Calls Benton Cattle Thief.
Juarez. Feb. ia telegram in
which General Villa at Chihuahua
charges the William S. Benton, who
was executed, with being cattle thief
and having committed four murders
was received III military headquarters
here.
Cheer Bryan In Parliament.
London, England, Feb. 25.-Sir Ed
ward Grey. British foreign secretary,
told the house OF commons of the lat
est developments in the Mexican stu
alton He said Sir Cecil Spring Rice
British ambassador at Washington,
had been instructed TO inform the
United States government that Great
Britain considered it essential for a
British consul to visit the spot where
William s. Benton was killed. Con-
sui Perceval at Galveston. he assert
Sd, had been selected for this purpose
and he was to send the best reports
possible regarding Bentons death and
concerning the two missing English
men, Laurence and Curtis.
Sir Cecil was instructed to ask the
United States government, as Great
Britain had no means of communicat
ing with General villa, to instruct the
United States consul at JuaFeZ TO In
form Villa and TO request an assur
ance that the British consul should
not be interfered with.
Cheer Bryan's Statement.
Sir Edward Grey read communica-
ton from the state department al
Washington to Sir Cecil Spring-Rice,
which the British ambassador cabled
textually to the foreign office. 1t was
az follows:
The state department desires to
advise the British embassy that in
structions had been sent heretofore
TO the American consul at Juarez to
make a most searching inquiry into
the circumstances attending the death
Of William s. Benton. The consul has
been Instructed TO make every effort
30 secure the elimination and exam.
nation or the body OF the deceased, to
take the statements OF any and all
the Witnesses he can find, 10 employ
IN his Investigation medical and legal
assistance as far as may be desira.
bic and TO do everything in his power
TO elicit the facts"
The comprehensiyeness of the
American governments instructions
called forth hearty cheers in the house
Of commons. Sir Edward Grey added
that no reply had been received to his
communication concerning Consul
PerceVal
Wilson and Cabinet Confer.
Washington. Feb. 25.-A cabinet
meeting gave President Wilson an OBJ
portunity to talk over with his off,
cial advisers the latest information
about the execution OF William 8. Ben
ton, the British subject, at Juarez by
General Villa, rebel general
Before the meeting half hour was
set aside by the president for a con
ference with Secretary Bryan. who
wished TO present more details on the
Benton episode as received IN over
night dispatches. Mail reports from
American consular officers also were
due TO reach here laet night
Villa Fails 10 Turn Over Body.
Relatives OF Benton say the deeds
20 his Mexican property refer to him
as British subject and that he always
was careful there should be no doubt
On this point
In the meanwhile the request OF the
state department at Washington for
handing over the body OF Benton has
met only with silence. General Villa
has received kilograms not only from
many citizens In the United States
but from London, Paris and Berlin ask.
ing for an explanation OF the manner
OF Benton's death. All the replies sent
70 inquirers have given the same story
of conrt.martial and execution.
The finding In the Imperial valley
California, or Roger Laurence. The
Englishman reported missing In Meri-
co. leads TO the belief here that his
companion, Curtis. also is safe In the
Tinted States. No traces. however.
" Harry Compton. for whom the