The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-21
Citizens in Giant Mass Meet
ing Protest Against Afro
cities-A Full Investi-
CATION Is Ordered
WILLIAM S. BENTON
EXECUTED BY ORDER
OF GENERAL VILLA
Action Follows Protest by Britain
Against Outrages Practiced by
Rebels-Incident Brings Stu
alton to Point of Intense
National Interest

Ell Paso, Tex, February 2O.-A
squad of soldiers of troop M, Thir-
teenth calavry, had brush with a
score or more of Mexicans tonight
during which Is or 20 shots were
fired, one Mexican wounded and two
taken prisoners. Captain Henry M.
Cootes of Troop M had received word
that filibusters might attempt to
rush the barracks where his detach-
ment is housed on the outskirts of
the city to obtain arms and ammuni-
fion and his command was on watch.
Ell Paso, Tex, February 20.-A
storm of indignation broke loose to-
day along the borden when it became
known that William S. Benton, a
British subject and wealthy land
holder in Mexico, had been executed
by rebels in Juarez after he had
made a protest.
Asked as to his use of the phrase,
Officially reported dead and if he
.,sarsonally thought the official report
of Villa might have been misleading,
the consul said that inasmuch as the
rebels have been sending Chihuahua
prisoners to Juarez, and Juarez pris-
oners to Chihuahua, he had faint
hope that Villa might, for his own
reasons, have misled him. This morn
ing the consul watched the train bear
! ing Villa and his staff and about 20
others, hoping to catch sight of Ben
ton, but had seen none but Mexicans.
Benton disappeared Tuesday.
Mr.. Edwards made his first inquiry of
Villa yesterday on receipt of instruc-
tions from Secretary Ryran. who made
the request at the instance of the British
ambassador. Sir Cecil Spring Rice.
Mr. Edwards villa is reported as
saying, Mr.. Benton is dead. You are
an official of the American government
and give you this as officially your due.
] have made denials TO other inquiries as
this is not matter for the public. 1t is for
the information of the widow and of the
state department.
What else passed between them, Mr..
Edwards would not say.
The consul teegraphed the bare an
nouncement to Washington last night and
the news reached Eel Paso through press
dispatch when Secretary Bryan made the
information public today.
Generally 1t was believed that villa
who had known Benton for years, was
trying solitary confinement as a correc.
tive, to Benton's well known disposition
TO speak his mind frankly without re,
gard to consequences. Edwards wait
ed until after his last hope fickered
away with the departure of the train
this morning before informing Mrs. Ben
ton that her husband was dead. She is a
Mexican and while highly educated. un,
derstands the English language imper-
fectly.
State Department Censured
A mass meeting was arranged and res
olutions were drawn up censuring the
state department at Washington for il:
alleged suppression of the consular re
port of the Benton case and calling or
Congress to demand from the depart
ment of state a full record of allegec
crimes and outrages against foreigners
In Mexico.
When the tenor of the resolutions ant
of speeches 70 be made at the meeting
were learned by the police, /. N. Da-
Wis. cifaf of the department, said IT,,
meeting could not be held. as the plar
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