Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22
Official Version of Trial and
Execution Is Made
Public.
FRIENDS OF BRlTISHER
SHEER AT Statement
Witnesses Said to Have Been With
Mexican Rebel General at Time
Of Quarrel.

Ell PASO, Tex, February 2I.-The Of
fetal version Of the execution of w. S.
Benton was made public here this after
noon. 1t asserts that Benton tried to
shoot Villa, that he was present at the
courr-martial. that he was represented by
rebel officer, as counsel. and that pro-
ceedings were public.
He was executed for attempted armed
violence against Gen: Villa. declares the
record. and was found guilty Of giving
aid and comfort to the enemy by giving
them information.
Benton's friends Oh this side of the
Rio Grande received the report with
sneers. They pointed to their knowledge
of many years that he guarded against
possible serious results Of his high spirit
and temper by never carrying a pistol.
The statements that Benton was allowed
to testify and that the proceedings were
public carried no conviction to the men
who assert that their friend was delib-
erarely murdered
Council of War Tuesday.
The record opens with the statement
that an extraordinary council OF war was
convened at 4:15 o'clock last Tuesday
afternoon by Col Fidel Avila. The coun-
Gil convened a court-martial OF which
Maj. Jesus Rodriguez was president, as
sisted by four other judges.
THE accused" the report says, was
arraigned and having been advised to
name some one to defend him. Capt Ma
riane Tamez was designated for this pur-
pose and was warned to defend Benton
Loyalty" There was no further mention
Of any activity on the part of the
captain.
The witnesses against Benton were
Maj. Manuel E. Banda and Adries Farias.
1t does not appear that Villa testified.
Banda and Farias swore that Benton
called on Villa Tuesday afternoon "at
an inopportune moment.
Witnesses With Villa.
Witnesses were with Villa at the time.
Benton, they said. made complaint Of
rebel depredations on his ranch. Los
Remedies, in the state Of Chihuahua. and
asked permission to return to it.
Villa replied that it was not desired
that Benton sheuld return to Mexico be-
cause he was well known as sympa-
thizer with Huerta, Ito whom he had
given help In many ways; giving infor-
nation Of the movement OF our troops;
having intimate relations with tie red
considering the constitutfonalists as reo-
els and bandits.
Villa" the report continues. states
that because Benton was foreigner his
must remain out Of the country because
he was an element destructive of the
peace and prosperity Of the country.
Accused Answered Harshly.
The accused answered in harsh and
violent terms and asserted that no hui
man power could keep him out Of Mexico
or cause him to desert his property to
further depredations.
Then he said he was as good man
as Villa and at the same moment ne
drew a pistol from his hip pocket. But
the general was ready and Jumped Lor
persons present leaped upon him that he
might not make an attempt on the lie
of Gen. Villa"
Witnesses were finally convinced that
had they not been present Inc ne, genera asd
would have been murdered The record
gives Bentons testimony indirectly. as
follows:
Testimony of Benton.
He said that he came at 10 or L.
o'clock in the morning to see Gen. Villa
and inform him that revolutionists. or
at times parties of bandits had done
much damage to his ranch. Los
stealing cattle. He mad come to .eii
Gen. Villa OF these things, but tine gen
eral accused him of being friendly 10
the federa:s. and suggested that the
was not wanted in Mexico. Witness
told Gen. Villa that he was unjust and
said several other things that annoyed
the general, but witness had no inten-
else. He said he had nothing to do with
Huerta or the red flaggerS, and was in
different to the politics of tile country.
This was all he had to say
Foregoing are the essentials of the
report. The verdict, abounding in the
repetitions Of legal phraseology. repeats
the charges and finds the accused guilty.
1t also appears that Villas name l.
posed. He is mentioned several times
in the document as Gen. d. Francisco
Villa"
Rumor of Rebel Plot.
The report from Mexico City of the
failure of a rebel attempt to bribe
Refugio ,velasco. general comniandant
at Torreon. to surrender. was read with
great interest here, for rumors have
been current for week that Juan
Brittingham Of Gomez Palacio, bank
er, and one of the biggest manufac-
turerS OF Mexico, loSt ms lie as re-
suit of the plot.
Refugees from Chihuahua brought up
the story, but owing to Brittingham's
prominence and wealth 1t was not be-
lieved The story said that Birmingham,
acting for the rebels. offered Velasco
s., ,OO0, 600 to give up the city. Velasco
was alleged to have demanded an addi-
tional million and a guarantee of 100000
The banker was reported to have turned
over the guarantee money. whereat
Velasco laughed and turned him over to
a firing, squad. Juarez officials denied
the story.
..If the constitutional band. whose serv--
ices have been offered by Gen. Villa to
the Ell Paso delegation to accompany
them to the panhandle and southwestern
stockmen's convention at Oklahoma City,
has any military standing the members
will be arrested when they cross the
border,r Gen. Hugh L. Scott said today.
Gen. Scott said he has orders to arrest
all Mexican military men and 80 cannot
hermit the members Of the band to enter
the United States IL they are in any way
connected with the army.
Benton Was Murderer,
ConstitutionaIists Say,