WANTON MURDER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 14, 21 February 1914, Page 7

WANTON MURDER.

REBEL AND BRITISHER. ~ SENSATIONAL REPORT. A RANCHER'S FATE. By'*- Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received February 21, 8 15 a.m.) MEXICO CITY, February 20. The disappearance •of Mr William Benton,, a British subject and a ranch owner, is reported. His wife declares that her husband quarrelled with the rebel leader, General Villa, and she believes that the latter executed him. "" The British authorities are investigating. [Francisco Villa is the leader of the rebel forces, which' have , been giving President Huerta and .his Government so hot a time in Mexico. He is like the sljory-book bandit in that he gives . money to the poor''while he robs the rich. Yet report has it that wholesale executions of captured Federal officers have been due to this general's barbaric standards.] SHOT WITHOUT APPEAL. PUBLIC INDIGNATION. . (Received February 21, 11.15 a.m.) .. NEW YORK, February 20. . The 'American Consul at Juarez an- . nounees that Mr Benton has been executed at El Paso, as he was accused" of plotting against General .Villa's life. He - was court-martialled and led before a firing squad without , the slightest opportunity of appealing to his own countrymen for aid. i There is great public indignation at El Paso, the Americans characterising General Villa's action as wanton mur- . der. . ■" A mass 'meeting of ■ protest has been ■ called. •" "' " • WASHINGTON, February 20. Sir C. Spring Rice, the British Ambassador, has placed the details before Mr W. J.. Bryan, of Benton 's execution in ;Mexico. \;h;y nuu;. -m/.: Mr Bryan has" .wired: for further information in order t6 ! Vdv'e dn ! investigation. ■ • "I'VE GOT HIM SAFE." A CALLOUS BANDIT, ' (Received February 21, 11.30 a.m.) *i■" WASHINGTON, February 20. According to information received by Sir C. Spring Rice, Mr Benton was a wealthy ranch owner, and protested 'against General Villa committing depredations on his. .estates. Mr Benton hotly told. General Villa that h 6 considered him a bandit. I American • 'reporters interviewed General Villa after Mr Benton's disapbut, General. Villa;..denied all knowledge of him, except that he said Mr Benton had threatened .him with a revolver. ' He asked the reporters what ought to be done-in such circumstances, and one reporter suggested laughingly that Mr Benton- ought to be shot. • General Villa answered lightly: * I *ve got him safe " - / 54r ! Benton was then dead and buried, as afterwards discovered.