The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-22
Rebel Version of Trial and
Conviction of Benton Is
Furnished State Department
at Washington.
BENTON IN DEFENSE
DENIES ALL CHARGES
Overwhelming Testimony Pre-
sented Against Him By
Rebels With Villa at I Time of
Alleged Attempt at Assassi-
nation-Points Raised.

=
J Ell PASO, TEXAS, Feb. 21.-wiiliam
5. Benton, the British subject, who was
executed Tuesday in JuareZ by Pancho
villa, was permitted to testify before
the court martial which condemned
him, according 10 the official report OF
Bentons trial, furnished to the state
department at Washington. I
The Mexican rebel versoA OF tho
court martial shows that Benton do
clared on the stand that he had no in
tention Of harming Villa when he CALI
ed upon him last Tuesday, and that he
did not attempt to harm him. Benton'S
testimony. however. did not have
weight with the men who were trying
him. for the verdict of the court was
death. The official report Of the court
martial, according to the Mexican
rebel officials, was forwa rded to Wash
ington today. The following Ia trans
iation;
The Rebel Version.
I'm Ciudad, Juarez, on Tuesday,
February II. 1914, at o'clock in the
afternoon, extraordinary council OF
war was assembled by the military
commander of the place. Colonel Fidel
villa, joined by citizens: Lieutenant
Colonel Thomas Orenelas, as president:
and Lieutenant-Colonel Carlos Car
Captains Dionicico A. Gomez, and
Eduardo e. AMAZON, being assisted by
Major Jesus Rodrigues judge instruct
or and there were present Captain
Jesus Gloria, IT. agent OF public min
lister, and Lawyer Adrian A. Benavides
as assessor, with the object, Of trying
the English subject. William Benton,
accused of transgression. insults and
violence against the general in chief
of the division OF the Northern con-
stitutionalist army, General Francisco
Villa, and for the crime of conspiring
against the peace of the republic to the
service of the usurper of the constitu-
tionalist government of the republic.
Victoriano Huerta.
The accused was arraigned. and
having been advised to name his de-
fender, there was explained to him
article 800. OF the law of penal pro-
ceedings in time of war. Captain
Marine TANNER was designated for
this post, and warned to defend him
Loyalty. AT AIS the president declared
the tribunal in session. and open for
public session
THE witnesses were then called.
They were Major Manuel f. Banda
and Engineer Andres l.. Farias. The
court then commenced the examina-
ton Of the prisoner. William Benton
said to be native of Scotland. forty
resident of FL Paso. Texas, where he
has his residence. and then, after he
had been advised to tell the truth
about the whole affair, he said.
Benton's Testimony.
THAT today at 10 O'Clock or III
o'clock in the morning he came 70
see General Villa to tell him that
revolutionists. at times parties of ban
dts, had done much damage to his
ranch, Los Remedies destroying prop
erty and stealing cattle, He said that
General Villa made charges that he
mad lent aid to the federls, and the
Orozquistas, and that he desired him
ito quit the country. at the same tin,e
paying the price. He said to the gen
eral that this was not Just. and sew
eral other things that annoyed the
general; that he did not use any arms.
but on the contrary. he believed that
nc general thought he intended to
do him harm. and he protested that
ne did not have, and never did save.
any bad intentions toward the general
cr anyone else. He also declared that
he did not have anything to 10 with
Huerta or the rebels, being in !ifferent
to the politics of the country, which
was all that he had to say.
Hear Witnesses Separately
1.-THE witnesses were examined sep
arately. Major Banda said Mt IL
o'clock in the morning he waS IN the
room occupied by General Villa as his
Rome and office, when for gn"r the
same who Is sitting here, came In and
said to General villa that ne came 10
make complaint that the rebels had
committed destruction on his prop
erty, Los Remedies.
AT tas he said, General VH'a re-
piled that II as not advisa - z S'ia
20 come to this side of the border, for
it was too we'll known that he was
an active sympathzer of the enemy,
to whom he had given help In many
ways giving the information OF the
movement OF our forces, intimate
friendships with the principal red
flag chiefs (Salazar and Orozco) and
CHASING or considering the constitu-
tionalists as rebels and bandits.
villa continued that on account II
the fact that he was foreigner his
property had not been confiscated. but
that he would be forced to forbid Ben
ton TO return to Mexican territory to
cause danger to the republic, AZ he
was an element to destroy order and
peace.
say He Pulled Pistol.
AT this the said stranger answer
ed In hard and violent words say
ing that there was no human power
that could oblige him to live outside
Of Mexico an dleave his property to-
of Mexico and leave his properly q
< us * rad already suffered. Thau no
declared he was as good a man -
General villa. and In that m0nneNe
when he said this to General yi1lA ~
pulled the pistol that was In the tn9l
pocket cf hia trousers But -
S Nh ss$s