The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-04
BENTON, UNARMED,
SHOT WITH PISTON
Official Washington Receives C0nclu.
s1ve Evidence. Slain at Villas Office

Official Washington Receives C0nclu-
sive Evidence. Slain at Villas Office
Washington, February 2S.-William
S. Benton, the British subject slain at
JuareZ, was unarmed and was shot to
death in Villas Office, pistol bullets
through the stomach ending his life,
according to conclusive information,
which has reached Washington OFF,
cials.
While no statement to this effect was
forthcoming today, slackening Of Of
mortem on Bcnton's body was evident,
the belief being that the examination
would be useful only in that it might
serve to supplement the evidence of
timid witnesses, who possibly other
wise would withdraw their oral state
ments.
Benton carried no arms when he ap-
preached Villas Office in JuareZ, ac-
cording to information; he spent two
hours waiting for the interview that
ended in his death, walking back and
forth in trout Of the Office building;
he was shot through tho stomach after
he entered the Office and received 9TH
or wounds afterwards, although the
first was mortal
Method OF Injury.
General instructions as to tho meth
od Of invcstgatio.1fHse> be pursued were
today issued by &NAatc and war de-
partmcnts to thcfG@prcscntativcs at
FL Paso. 1t is realized that local con-
ditions must determine the details and
only broad lines were drawn in the
directions.
1t was not known exactly today
when the commission would start for
Chihuahua, as that largely will depend
on the availability Of the special train
which Villa has promised to provide
for the transportation of the party
Secretary Garrison early in the day
authorized Gen. Scott, in command Of
Tie post at El Paso, to detail two
army surgeons to make a medical cX-
animation OF tho body; and Acting Sec
rctary Moore, OF the State department,
said it had been left to the collector Of
cusoms and the United States district
attorney at IIl Paso select two rep
rcsentativcs Of the State department.
These representatives, it was said
probably will be chosen outside Of the
cOnSular service
Tho examination Of Bcnton's body
will be conducted by the United States
authorities, tho British view being
that the responsibility rests on the
State dcpartmcn.
England Pleased.
The British ambassador has taken
frequent opportunity TO show the sat
isfac,ion his Government feels at the
attitude OF the State department, add
III" another tribute today TO the activ-
ity which has marked the prosecution
Of the inquiry, Sir Cecil Spring Rice
spent ar hour with Acting Secretary
John Elssett Moore today, going over
details OF tho case, afterwards report
ing its status to the foreign Office.
RumOrs that tentative efforts have
been made by the Constitutionalists to
placatc the British Government by tho
offer of money indemnity to the
widow proved to be groundless. At
any rate. it is certain that such prop
osition has been made to responsible
persons.
1t is believed that when the facts
connected with the killing Of Benton
are fully developed, unless tn nited
States Government feels callo. upon
to demand rcparation. the British Gov
crnment simply will docket the
and place it on file, to be presented
to the future government of Mexico
for settlement when the day of reck-
oning comes.
No answer has been returned to the
latest query from Governor Colquitt,
Of Texas, as to whom he could address
reQuisition for the surrender of the
Fcdcrals who killed Vergara, the Texas
rapchman
WHAT'S INDJGESTJON9