The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-24
EXPLANATION BY VILLA
Rebel General Says Foreigner
Was Armed, Had Personally
0uarreIed With Him., Had
Been Disarmed, Tried by
Court Martial and Executed
for Attempting His Life.
by he Associated rress.j

by lie Associated Press
Washington, ID. G.. Feb. 21.-Sec-
rotary OF State Bryan has ordered a
far-reaching investigation Of the kill
ing of William $. Benton, the British
subject, at Juarez. He announced
today that, until all facts in the case
had been gathered from all available
sources, no opinion would be express
cd by the State Department. All in
formation received will he transmitted
10 the British government. Explana-
tions made by General Villa TO Thorn
as d. Edwards and George G. Caroth-
crs. the American consular represent
tatives at .IuareZ, together with the
courtmartial record, are to be supple
mcnted by further information. In
-tructions went forth TO American
Consul Letcher at chihuahua to get
additional details from Villa, ana it is
understood that inquiry through in
dependent sources will be carried on
at JuareZ. Mr.. Carothers is consular
agent at Torreon, temporarily assist
ing Mr.. Edwards.
AdNiccs received by the State De
partment up TO late today. giving
Villas version of the affair, We're that
Benton was armed, had personally
auarrelled with Villa, had been dis
armed, tried by courtmartial and exc.
,uteO on the charge of attempting the
lie of villa.
Villas Explanation.
Villas explanation. as telegraphet
by him today to the ConStitutionalists
.gency here, was unofticially exhibited
10 state Department officials and
though read with interest, brough
no Army officers TOOK par
ticular interest in The reference t
Benton as an armed prowler" and
as such. not entitled to the protectio.
of the rules of war. The arme
prowler' described in order 100" @
the American army is essentially
guerilla. 1t generally was admitte
that il Benton made a murderous as
Sault on Villa with a weapon h
might have been subject to the deaf
penalty: but on that point evidenc
- wanting and army officers are IL
serving Judgment.
Unless there are other instruction
from the Foreign Office. the BIRTHS
embassy here will make no furth'
move DciiUlnS the outcome ol the IL
v~estigation with the State Departmel
has undertaken. 1t is underStot
that Ambassador Spring-Rice has ell
phaSiZed the unofficial character
the representations he has made
the state Department thus far on Il
ground that The British governme
claimed no legal obligation on Il
part of the United States to look a.
ct the welfare Of British subjects
Mexico.
No DemaDd From England.
The action of the State Depal
nent directing ConSuls TO extend
British in Mexico the same degree
protection as Is given to America
has been rgarded as an act of cour
~ for which the British governme
was duly grateful.
For this reason. il is said. there
no basis for the expectation that a
demand will be made on the Uni,
States government to obtain e
ton for the killing of Benton, a
determination of the proper course
be pursued towards Villa conseque
IN is to be left entirely TO State |
partment officials.
One result OF the Benton incid
has been TO create a feeling of
prehension in diplomatic circles as
the safety of the foreign element
Mexico SO far, resident diplom
have feSteu content IN the bellef [
the undertaking by the Ameri
state Department to look after
welfare of their people in Me1
would be sufficient to insure pro,
ton guaranteed by the rules of ci
ICED warfare.
Closely following the news of
killing OF Benton, under conditi
which European diplomats are
clined 10 regard as violative of S
ruleS. has come n report OF the
ing Of two Spanish subjects in NJ
90. The Spanish Goyernm