Intervention Possible.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1914, Page 5

Intervention Possible.

THE BENTON MURDER. AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] lUnited Press Association. 1 Washington, February 21. ilr Bryan, Secretary of State, conferred with Sir C. Spring-Rice, and President V\ ilson conferred with Cabinet regarding the Benton murder. Diplomatic circles generally believe that Great Britain will now press for Lnited States intervention. INDIGNATION IN TEXAS. PROTEST MEETING STOPPED.* New York, February 21. At El Paso, Texas, the police prevented an open-air meeting to protest against Benton’s execution."* Fearing trouble, residents then met at the theatre and condemned American affairs and the American Government’s had management in Mexico. A hundred Mexican refugees joined the protest. Speakers accused the United States of being guilty of aiding the lawless element through its vacillating policy. Benton’s maternal grandfather participated in the “Light Brigade” charge at Balaclava. Other relatives are officers in the British Army. The whole of Texas is worked up into intense excitement, as Benton vias popular throughout the Southern States and was known as a very brave man. His wife, a Mexican lady, is prostrated with grief. She declares that Benton never carried a revolver, and was not participating in any Mexican plots. GENERAL VILLA’S VERSION. RECEIVED WITH RIDICULE. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Washington, February 22. Mr Bryan has been informed through the American Consul at Juarez of Villa’s version of the Benton execution, to the effect that Benton threatened "\ ilia’s life, was court-martialled and shot on a charge of attempted assassination in a full street. Benton’s friends ridicule the idea of any trial being accorded him. They state that he openly boasted that he never carried arms in Mexico.