The Washington herald., 1914-02-21

gathered at the FL Paso 1'heater. One
hundred deputy sheriffs We're scattered
through the auditorium. The place was
soon filed. and a great overflow meet
ing was started. The police were active
here also and every effort was made 10
prevent a disturbance.
Senior Gonzales Cara denied that he
had sat as president OF the court. as
reported. or that he knew anything about
the findings of the court until after
sentence mad been pronounced. He said
he was merely acting as legal advisor
to Col. Avila on international questions
which came before him.
Report Coming Here.
The official report Of the execution of
Benton has been forwarded by the
Juarez officials TO Gen. Venustiano Car
rama. first chief OF the cUnstitutionalists,
and request has been made OF him TO
make a statement regarding the affair,
in order to place the constitutionalists
in a right light before the nations of the
world. No reply has been received from
Gen CarranZa thus far. The officials
have also furnished George e. Carothers
representing the State Department, with
a copy of the sentence pronounced by
the court. which has been forwarded to
the Department of State at Washington
ne CldlIiS OF InG ludl
Benton went before Villa armed is denied
by his cousin. William Benton. OF this
city. and by other friends of the dead
man. Benton talked to several Ameri-
cans before going to call on Villa, and
told them he was going over to see Villa
and ask for permission to remove his
cattle from Mexico and to request pro-
lection for his property which was being
devastated by Villas soldiers. Friends
urged him not to go, but he said he would
CO. and that he did not intend to take
anything from Villa in the way of abuse.
Benton was a Scotchman who had a
habit Of plain speaking. and when he
asked Villa for favors, il is alleged that
Villa accused him of being a Huerta
sympathizer. Villa refused his requests.
at which Benton is alleged to have
berated Villa and his soldiers and TO
have demanded the protection for his
property due TO a citizen of Great
Britain.
No Move by England.
No Americans or foreigners are known
TO have been present at the interview,
but there is a report that blows were
struck. Since Benton entered Villas Of
flee last Tuesday morning. he has not
been seen by foreigners. and there was
a belief today that he was taken out the
back way and Immediately put to death.
Nothing further was heard today from
the British Ambassador, Sir Cecil Spring.
Rice, of Washington, by relatives of Ben
ton, nor has Great Britain sent a repre-
sentative here to investigate. The United
States Department of State has in
structed Consul Edwards to make a thor
ough investigation of the killing and a
report was filed by Representative
George c. Carothers, of the State De-
partment.
Benton had been a resident of Mexico
for twenty years. He was part owner
of Los Remedies Hacienda, near Santa
y-Sabel. Chihuahua He was forty-fiye
years old and was well connected in Eng
land and had two cousins in the British
army.
Efforts to Get Body.
Mrs. Benton, the widow, is now in Ell
Paso. She is a Mexican woman of the
better class. aPd resides in a house which
was fOrmerly'the Mexican consulate.
Efforts lave been made by friends of
Benton TO secure his body from Juarez,
but without success Another request
for the bJdy will be made tomorrow, and
1t is believed that the Mexicans will
comply.
George Curry, former governor of New
Mexico and a Philippine army officer,
called on Mrs. Benton and on American
Consul Edwards and on Juarez officials
this Afternoon and collected all the data
possible. Little more than has already
been brought 10 the knowledge of the
public was secured.
New Orleans. Feb. 20-Followins re-
ceipt OF the news of the death of Will
lam S. Benton at the hands of Mexican
constitutionRlists, the English colony here
held an indignation meeting this after
noon and adopted a memorial asking thu
United States and Great Britain to in
terfere in Mexico.
"WiIson Acts from Hatred
Paris. Feb. eO.-"AIfonso de la Rarra,s
statement that he raised a IS, OOo,OOO loan
In Paris is false" was the statement to-
day at the BanQue de Paris ct des paws
has. He didn't get a cent here and
the July interest on existing Mexico
bonds won't be paid II Huerta continues
appropriating customs revenue for the
maintenance Of his government. The
statement was also denied at the foreign
ONCE. =
yicent Gonzales. prominent Mexican.