Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
First Representation to Him.


Benton Was Not Armed;
Slain in Villas Office,
Officials Here Are Told
Unarmed instead Of having q revolver
as has been charged. William S. Benton.
the British subject slain at Juarez. was
shot to death In Villas office is the in
formation. in a form which officials here
consider unreasonable, which reached
Washington last night.
No official statement was given out to
this effect. but there was q notable lack
Of interest in the proposed post-morten
on Benton's body as result Of the state
ment.
Benton, according to Information re-
ceived here last night, spent two hours
waiting for the interview with Villa that
ended In his death. walking back and
forth in front Of the office building. He
was shot through the stomach after he
entered the ONCE and received other
wounds afterward, although the first was
mortal
The post-mortem. 1t is said. may serve
to confirm the character Of the wounds,
l00UBu inc PROBABLE 9IAto VI INC uouy III
Q tropical climate eleven days after
death may defeat even this purpose.
Instructions for Post-Mortem.
General instructions as to the method
Of examination to be pursued at the COM
fng post-mortem were issued yesterday
by the State and War Departments to
their representatives at Ell Paso. It Is
realized that local conditions must de-
terrnine the details and only broad lines
were drawn In the directions.
It was not known exactly yesterday
when the commission would start for
.ns as Of aep ths special
train which Villa has promised to pro-
vide for the transportation OF the party.
Secretary Garrison early In the day au.
the post at FL Paso. to detail two
army surgeons to make the medical ex-
animation of the body. and Acting
Secretary Moore Of the State Depart
iector Of customs and the United States
district attorney at Ell Paso to select
two representatives Of the State De-
partment. These representatives. 1t was
said, probably would be chosen outside
Of the consular service.
II is expected here that the members
of the international commission will
journey to Chihuahus on the special
said the commissioners would choose
the time of their departure as well as
the time for the examination of Ben
toms body.
q. S. to Be in Charge.
The examination Of the body is to be
conducted entirely by the United States
authorities, the British view being that
the responsibility rests upon the State
Department. which has undertaken to
get at all the facts just as It would
in the case of an American citizens
murder. The British ambassador has
taken frequent opportunity to make
evident the satisfaction which his gov
State Department In this matter, adj
ding another tribute to the activity
which has marked the prosecution Of
was made upon villa for access to the
body Of Benton. Sir Cecil Spring-Rtce
spent an hour with Acting Secretary
John Bassett Moore going over the de-
tails Of the case, SO far as they have
developed. afterward reporting its status
to the foreign office.
What effect II any Gen. Carranza's
message to the State Department saying
he will not treat with the American gov.
ernment regarding the death Of an Eng
Iish subject, will have upon the participa-
tion of representatives Of the United
States IN the post-mortem examination al
night It was thought not improbable
however. that the plans in this respect
may be abandoned by the United States.
Viewed With Amusement.
John Bassett Moore. acting secretary o,
state, refused to comment for publication
last night on the news Of Carranxa',
message. saying no Official word Of It hat
been received by him. From q higi
source. however. It was said that tn,
administration views this latest develop
msnt with amusement.
The American government has treatet
with constitut1onaiist officials before THU
rsgarding the affairs Of citizens Of for
elm nations. II was said. This was no
puAlicly known before. This fact make
the more unexplainable to State Depart
ment omcials Gen Carran1a's present at
tituda.
me only explanation they could dive 4
that Carranza has seized upon the Bento,
incident to make himself strong witt
Mexicans By refuting the constant CLAIM
that he 10 Washington's candidate TO
President Of Mexico. and at the sam
time attempt to have England recogniz
him a. being In dc facto control Of tn
northern Mexico states.
No comment on the Carranza messag
was forthcoming from the British EN-
bassy last night. but the word was for
warded to London.
Az to Money Indemnity.
Runners that tentative efforts hay
been made by the constitutionalists I
piaeats the British government by tn
ofrer Of Q money Indemnity to the wido,
prove to be groundless.
At any rate It Is certain that no sue
proposition has been made to any re
al nd tu trNA l.
IL would not be entertained II made
Therefore II is believed that when tn
facts connected with the killing Of Ben
ton are fully developed. unless the Unite
States government feels called upon I
demand reparation. the British govern
Inent may simply docket this case an
place it on file To be presented to tn