The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-25
U. s. INSISTS ON CUSTODY OF
 BENT0N,S BODY Wounds In Corpse Import ant Evidence As to Man
 ner of Death VILLA RELUCTANT TO COMPLY WITHDEMAND England Waits Assurance of Consuls Safety Before
 Ordering Probe

Wash hAhgton, Feb. Further repre- sentations were made by the AIneri- can government today to General Francisco Villa pointing out the inn portance of giving up the body of Will liam s. Benton, the British subject re- gently executed at Juarez, whose death is being officially investigated by both the United States and Great Britain
 Immediately upon the receipt of word from Consul Letcher at Chihz1a-s hua that Benton's body would be ex- humeds for the benefit of Benton's widow and relatives who could visit the cemetery with an American rep resentative a. second request went forth to Villa asking that the corpse be turned over to the widow on Amer ican territory
 Villas refusal to accede to the re- quest for the body has not met with favor by officials here who are seek ing now to impress upon him, through Consul Letcher, the importance the world generally will attach to such a refusal.
 CARRANzA EXPECTED.
 General carranza. chief of all the constitutionalist forces. is expected in Jaurez within a week. It is under stood here that he will take charge Of an investigation of the Benton case upon his own account. A
 Upon the character of the wounds found rests proof of Villas version of the Killing. If the Mpody is found rfddled with rifle bullets officials think the story of an execution after a court martial will be confirmed and atten- ton then will be further directed to a point now carefully being investil gated as to whether Benton had com mitted crimes as Villa charges and was of a disposition to fight with Ire arms.
 vestigation would last for several days. Officials regard the delivery of the body as of highest importance.
 Secretary Bryan visited the White House before going to his office. to. read over night despatches He made no comment on the situation.
 White House officials, after Secre- tary Bryan had left, made this ex- planation of the status of the Inquiry for Benton's body:
 DISPATCHES CONTRADICT.
 Two dispatches were received yes terday, one from Consular Agent Caro- thers, saying Villa, would not permit would do so later. That message came during the afternoon a Late last night message was re- ceived from Consul Letcher at Chihua.- hua, who had been in personal con ference with Villa He reported Villa.
 
 relatives of Benton see the body when it was exhun1ed and that their visit would be permitted in the presence Of represe esentatives to be, designated by the American government.
 The change in Villas attitude as reflected in these two messages, it was said, was the result of representa- tions by the United States that his attitude was not satisfactory. The United States will designate an army surgeon as one of its Representatives and an examination of the body will be made. according to White House officials. While apparently satisfied that an opportunity for medical examination of the corpse has been made, the latest representation to Villa request that after the examination the body be de hvered to the widow for burial wher- ever she may wish.
 GUNBOAT SURRENDERS
 Other overnight developments in the Mexican situation which occupied the attention of officials were the sur render to the constituencies of the federal gunboat Tampico giving them their first naval equipm on the west coast of Mexico, and reports of the hanging aby Mexican federals at Nuevo Laredo of C1emento Vergara, an American citizen.
 Secretary Bryan arranged to go be- fore the Senate foreign relations com cerning the Mexican situation