The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-20
William S. Benton Executed Be.
cause of Alleged Plot Against
Rebel Leader
ARE SAID TO HAVE QUARRELEO
Men Were Friends But Victim
Objected to the Iooting of
His Property

FL Paso, Feb. 20.-William s. Ben
ton, a British subject, tried by court
martial, was found guilty of compile
ity in II plot to take the life of General
Villa, the Rebel commander and was
shot by firing squad. The news was
brought to Mrs. Benton by American
Council Edwards of Juarez.
Benton disappeared from Juarez and
was executed Tuesday night. Villa left
suddenly. for Chihuahua today Great
Indignation is expressed at the exc
curion. Benton's friends say it was
"vanton murder
Benton was a man Of brusque ways,
but his friends admired him for them
and many wept over the news of his
death.
No foreigner is safe in Mexico" is
the general comment
The death of Bcnton was confirmed
hy Pancho villa, and by William Ben
ton, cousin of the dead man.
Frederico Cara presided at the mill
itary court that passed ON the charge
that Benton was Implicated in a plot
against Villas life.
When last seen alive Tuesday morn
ing, Benton was on the way to Villas
home 10 tell him what he thought ol
him. for the way in which Benton's
ranch in western Chihuahua had been
looted by rebel soldiers.
Instructions We're sent by the Amer
ican state department: yesterday by
Consul Edwards to see that no harm
came to Benton. This was done on
the request of the British ambassador
IN Washington.
1t is supposed Villas defense will be
that Benton entered his private office
and started to draw a pistol. though
his coulsn says Benton did not go arm
cd.
Eenton and Villa were acquainted fcT
many years. Benton's ranch was one
of the rCst in Mexico 1t is one hun
dred Thousand acres in extent and is
worth Il million. Friends say that Ben
ton knew himself that he had hot
temper ana for that reason he never
went armed
Asked what had been done with the
body of Benton Consul Edwards said:
II don't think il will be seen this side
Gf hn f,,rt ha nj
legged execution is said to have taken
place Tuesday night is thought by
Benton's friends To mean that Villas
court martial report was given out To
cover TIE fact that villa personally
shot Benton in a quarrel.
Bryan Hears the News.
Washington, Feb. 20.-Secretary
Bryan was advised today of the death
of Benton English, ranch owner in
Mexico, recently reported i'm the hands
Of the rebels.
Bryan said he had Il dispatch Civ
ing further information of the death
of Beitcn, but that did not contain
enough facts on which to base an opin-
ion ON the circumstances. Bryan has
ordered an immediate investigation o.
the death of Benton. This action was
taken alter cabinet conference.
Benton was arrested i'm Juarez
Tuesday. He had not been heard from
since. except for an indefinite state
mcnt yesterday by General villa, the
rebel commander, who intimateJ he
knew something about Benton, whom
Villa charged with threatening him
with a revolver When villa was tolj
that the British ambassador in Wash
ington had been appealed To, he with
profane remark, expressed indifference.
The British ambassador asked this
government To take steps to protect
Bcnton. Besides the ranch, he was
interested i'm mining and was reputed
To be wealthy.
II was pointed out that this govern
mcnt cannot he held responsible for
Bcnton's death. The government has
tried to protect British subjects in
Mexico. but this was an act of cour-
tesy. not international right. The AZ
titude at Washington is judicial await
ing the production of evidence of the
circumstances Of Bentons death.
Seventy-Five Spaniards Slain?
Madrid, Feb. 20.-Stories Of the
shooting To death of seventy-ftve
Spaniards, and the burial alive of Il
number of others by Mexican rebels nt
Torreon. were published by many
newspapers I'm Spain today. The incl
dents were narrated by passengers on
the Spanish steamer which sailed from
Vera Cruz January % and which has
arrived AT Cadiz.