Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-26

Los Remedies, thought the reoues,
would be wasted, although other for
| eiEners have been CONSIDERABLY treat
ei when asking similar favors Charlie.
Qualey of New York and Mexico g
| friend of Benton's, now here among
| the other refugees, advised him of the
probable procedure.
| villa probably viii, grant your re.
| quest. but he'll give you lecture and
you must not resent the lecture. II
you 40. you may get into trouble
Qualey said.
If he lectures me. I'll lecture back
Benton replied. II have never made n
political move in Mexico and If he ac-
cuses me of it, l have some accuse
tions of my own to make
Benton made the request and his
friends never saw him alive after
| wards. As Mrs. Benton gathered the
story from Consul Edwards. villa de
clined to grant the permit, saying:
Mr.. Benton. you have never been a
4 friend of ours, and l don't want those
cattle taken out of the country. We
can use them ourselves"
At this point. it is understood tn,
quarrel started. Benton was not in accord
with the MIdero revolution, which ex-
| PEELED Porfir1o Diaz from Mexico and in
the foreign club at Chihuahua was wont
TO express his opinions freely. Succeed
ing revolutions also were criticised by
MIN to his friends, but the latter agree
that he never went further. They as
serted unanimously that he kept out of
politics and accepted his losses without
any overt act or attempted reprisal
The many persons who knew him well
In Chihuahua and along the border, in
GLIDING his cousin and widow. assert that
he never owned revolver, and did not
have one with him when he went to
Juarez.
Villa on Wednesday night, talking to a
reporter asserted that he had Benton's
six shooter.
OUGHT TO BE SHOT"
What do you think of a man who would
come here and threaten me?" exclaimed
the rebel general
A Mexican by-stander replied: He
ought to be shot"
| This was twenty-four hours after the
execution had taken place
Villa did not tell the American con-
sui that Benton was court martialled,
but OFFICIAL Juarez was busy to-day with
assertions to that effect Names of those
who sat as court were given out for
publication, and it was stated at the
Jcfetura that Benton's last request was
that his property be turned over to his
widow.
Edwards last night asked Villa for the
body to be brought to this side Of the
river, but the request was denied
Then, as a favor to me and to the
widow will you have the grave marked ?"
asked the consul, This Villa promised to
do.
Benton, ii is said was tried on q charge
of conspiracy against the rebel govern
ment and with provoking and insulting
General villa,
Major Jesus Rodriguez presided; Adrien
Agurre Benavidos acted as legal adviser
to the court and Major Manuel Gloria
acted as prosecutor. Benton is believed
to have been held incommunicado mean
while and it Is admitted that there was
no one there 70 represent him
Benton comes Of an excellent Scotch
family His maternal grandfather, Colonel
Hay Is said to have participated as an
officer In the famous "charge OF the light
brigade" at Balaklava.
Two cousins are in the British army
One of them, Capt. Norman w. Benton
Is with the engineer corps at East
Bourne, England The other, Lieut. Ivan
Benton. is an artillery officer at present
on leave in Switzerland.