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THE AUGUSTA DAILY HERALD
VOLUME XIX. No. 51.
EXECUTED AFTER TRIAL
BY COURTMARTIAL ON THE
ORDERS OE REBEL VILLA
Act Called Wanton Murder By Friends of Millionaire
Benton, a Subject of Great Britain—Warning of U.
S. at Request of English Ambassador Came Too
Late
SEC’Y BRYAN ORDERS
IMMEDIATE PROBE AFTER
CABINET CONFERENCE
No Single Act of the Revolution
Has So Stirred Indignation.
Villa Leaves Suddenly For
Chihuahua.
Washington.—Secretary Bry»n, af
ter a cabinet conference, ordered an
Immediate Investigation of the killing
of W. 8. Benton, the English ranch
owner, at Juarez, Mexico.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the ambas
sador, asked the state department yes
terday to take steps to protect the
British subject.
Official News.
El Paso. Texas.—Win. S. Benton, of
El Paso, Scotchman, subject of Great
Britain, is dead. That was confirtneu
by Gen. Pancho Villa and was offi
cially conveyed to the widow here by
United States Consul Edwards of
Juarez.
Mystery surrounds the report of the
death. Wm. Benton, a cousin of the
dead man, confirmed the report.
By Military Court.
Benton was executed Tuesday night
after a trial in Juarez by a military
court of which Federico Gonzales Gar
za was the head, according to what
appears to be a correct version of the
affair. The charge against Benton
was that he was implicated in a plot
to take Villa's life.
Villa#-eft for the south this morn
ing.
Benton was last seen alive in Juarez
Tuesday morning. He was going to
Villa's home and said he was going
to "tell Villa what he thought of him,”
for the manner In which his ranch
•'Eos Remedlo," in western Chihuahua,
had been looted by rebel soldiers.
Not Armed.
It Is supposed that Vllla'3 defense
will be that the man was shot because
he entered Villa's office and started
to draw a gun. although the cousin
says Benton did not go to Juarez
armed.
Benton had been in Mexico for about
25 years. He was about 45 years old.
Benton and Villa have been ac
quainted r many years. Benton knew
him wi t n as an outlaw, more or less
accepted as part of the Mexican social
fabric, the then bandit crossed tho
Benton ranch west of the Cits of Chi
huahua. The ranch of 100,000 is con
sidered one of the best In Mexico. It
was well watered, contained fine pas
turage and the owner was particularly
proml of his orchard, which succeed
ing bands of revolutionists cut Into
firewood. Benton paid $125,000 for it
but improvements were said to have
brought the value close to $1,000,000.
Made Complaint.
It was with the assurance of this
acquaintance behind him that the
Scotchman went to Villa with com
plaint of the depredations. Yesterday
Villa, who has consistently denied that
he had Benton in custody, told a re
porter that Benton was armed when
he made his visit.
Quarreled.
In the course of the Interview Ben
ton and Villa quarreled and Benton
was lost to view of his friends.
James Hambleton, an Englishman,
and others, including reporters, ex
hausted every means of ascertaining
the fate of the missing man but ev
erywhere were met with evasions and
denials.
Consul Edwards was the first to
learn the true facts. He gave Mrs.
Benton only a bare outline of the case.
"I have telegraphed ell details at
my command to Washington,” said the
consul, "and If made public Is must
he from there. X pledged my word
to Villa not to make the details pub
lic.”
Asked what disposition had been
made of the body, Edwards replied:
"I do not think It will be seen on
this side of the border.”
Regarded at Flight.
Villa's sudden departure today is re
garded as flight from the storm of in
dignation which was presaged by the
interest manifested in Benton’s disap
perance.
As forenoon wore on talk of a mass
meeting grew but took no definite
shape. Excited groups of American
English, French and German refugees
who have lost their property In Mex
ico or compelled to abandon It tem
' porarily, assert that the time had come
for foreigners to protest against treat
ment being dealt out to them.
LEST YOU FORGET
BRITONS WILL
BE WARNED
TO LEAVE
Washington, D. C.—ln communicat
ing to the British ambassador the
news of Benton's death, Secretary
Bryan added he had ordered a thor
ough Investigation.
Pending that there is every disposi
tion on the part of officials not onlv
of the state department, but also of
the British embassy, to maintain a Ju
dicial attitude.
It was said at the British embassy
today that the action of the state de
partment had been gratlfyingly prompt
and thorough.
Not Responsible.
It was pointed out that the Ameri
can government cannot he held re
sponsible In any sense for Benton's
death. While the state department
has undertaken to extend protection to
British subjects in Mexico where nec
essary this has been done entirely by
courtesy.
Although it will be for the British
foreign office to decide what shall be
done after investigation establishes
the facts In the Benton case, the un
derstanding is that one Immediate re
sult will be formal warning by the
British government to all Its subjects
in the country occupied by the consti
tutionalists immediately to repair to
places of safety. -
Fear Consequences. „
El Paso.—lt is understood among
border newspaper men that names of
foreigners who divulge news are not to
be made public for fear of conse
quences when they set foot on Mexi
can soil again.
Did Villa Shoot Him?
The fact that the alleged execution
of Benton took place Tuesday night is
thought to mean by many that Villa's
court-martial report was given out to
cover the fact that Villa personally
shot his visitor during their quarrel.
The disagreement, the court-martial
and the execution, all In part of one
day, Is thought to be too rapid for le
gal procedure across the river. .Villa’s
sudden departure Is also considered in
connection with this theory.
Talking with a reporter over the
telephone, Consul Edwards made a re
mark: "I have officially reported
Benton dead because his death was
officially reported to me. Personally, 1
may have my hopes and my doubts. I
will say nothing more.”
TOOK POISON IN TAXICAB
WHILE WITH SWEETHEART
Worcester, Mass. —Harry F. Lambert
committed suicide by taking poison
while in a taxirab with his sweetheart,
Katherine Larala, early today.
She had refused to attend a dance
with him last night but went with a
relative. When she emerged Lambert
was waiting for her. He called for a
taxicab and they entered it.
The poison was taken while on the
ride to the girl's home, Bhe told the
police.
OUTSIDER WINS.
Liverpool.—The Waterloo Cup, the
derby for greyhounds, was won today
by Dilwyn, a fawn dog nominated by
A. F. Pope. The runner-up was Leu*
ceryx, a black puppy nominated by
Major Robert McCalmont. Both hounds
were outsiders. The winner takes the
cup, valued at SSOO, and a prize oi
$2,500.
BLACKHAND BOMB.
Chicago.—Three buildings were par
tially wrecked, a dozen persons were
Injured by flying glass when thrown
from their beds, and windows a block
away were shattered early today when
a bomb was exploded In the doorway
of Leonardo Metone's grocery, In the
Italian quarter.
The grocer said he had received
blackhand letters
LOBT HER RUDDER.
Queenstown, Ireland. —The big
Dutch oil tank steamship Rotterdam
was towed Into port here today. She
lost her rudder during a gale when
eight days out from Amsterdam for
New York.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. FRIDAY AFTERNOON. FEBRUARY 20, 1914.
GENERAL EVANS
PUBLIC ADDRESS
AT TOE ARAAORT
Brigadier General Evans, U.
S. A., Was Expected to Speak
on “The Army League of the
United States” at 5 O’Clock.
Brigadier General Evans, of the De
partment of the Gulf of the United
States Army, was scheduled to deliver
an address at the Armory on Ninth
street at 5 o’clock this afternoon on
the subject: “The Army lx ague of the
United States."
Invitations were issued to the citi
zens in general to attend the lecture
and particularly the .members of the
Merchants and Manufacturers’ Asso
ciation, the mayor and city council, the
members of the local militia, the ca
dets of the Richmond Academy, the
Daughters of Confederacy, the Daugh
ters of the American Revolution,
ladles’ Memorial Association, local
camp of Spanish War Veterans and
officers and members of the Augusta
Cotton Exchange.
Adj. Gen. Nash, of the Georgia
state militia Is also here with Gen.
Evans and the visit of the two dis
tinguished officers is significant In the
fact that while they are here a per
sonal effort will he made hy Major
Levy, the head of thP Augusta mili
tia, to establish a brigade army post
at Augusta. . A number of arguments
aro being advanced in support of the
proposition.
CORPSE TAKEN FROIvTn. Y.
BURNING AUTO HEARSE
New York.—The sight of an auto
mobile hearse containing a body nnd
a blaze from end to end attracted two
thousand pedestrians on lower Broad
way yesterday. Horry Duris, the
chauffeur, swathed In a big fur coat,
also caught fire. Tho body was re
moved from the blazing hearse by
the police. Firemen then put out tho
fire. It had caught from the motor.
WANTS 16 MEMBERS ON
INTERSTATE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C.—lncreasing the
membership of the Inter-state com
merce commission to sixteen and di
viding the country Into five districts
with headquarters at Washington, At
lanta, Chicago, Kansas City and Han
Francisco was proposed In a bill to
day by Senator Kenyon. Three com
mlsloners In any district might decide
a case which could be appealed to the
entire commission.
BEVEN POWDER WORKMEN DIE.
Glasgow, Scotland.—Seven workmen
were killed, a large number Injured,
and many buildings destroyed today
at Ardeer, hy an explosion at the No
bel Gunpowder Works.
COSTS $1,085.19 A YEAR FOR
AVERAGE FAMILY OF FIVE.
Washington, D. C.—lt costs the
average family of five $1,085.19 a
year to live in New York, Daniel
Goldschmidt, a government clerk,
there told the house civil service
reform committee today. Govern
ment clerks have been getting the
same pay for *9 years, while the
cost of living has been soaring, he
declared.
SATURDAY’S AND WEDNESDAY’S are the two Big Bargain Days of the week in Augusta. The Herald of Tuesday and Friday alawys carries 1
•‘‘VERY SPECIAL” offerings of Augusta’s leading and most progressive merchants. From a dollar and cents motive it will pay you to read tne ad
vertisements in today’s Herald. It’s the advertising merchant always who CAN and DOES sell the cheapest. : ■ ■ • ‘
REORGANIZATION
DEP’T OF AG'E
RIEL IN HOUSE
General Appropriation Meas
ure Carrying $18,947,000
Presented By Chairman
Lever Today—Many Items of
Especial Interest to South
Radical Changes Proposed.
Present System Declared
Cumbersome. Systcmization
of Bureaus Contemplated.
Cost of Living Problem.
Wash ington.—The agricultural ap
propriation bill, carrying funds aggre
gating $18,847,000 ami proposing a gen
eral re-organization of the department
with a view to co-ordinating Its vari- i
otis activities, was (reported to th)
house l>y Chairman Lever today.
The hill would change the name ol
the hureuu of statistics tn the bureau
of agricultural forecasts and would
increase from $50,000 to $200,000 tn •
appropriation for the new office of
markets. The hill prrqmses a specific
appropriation of $353,060 for the of
fice of public roads. That includes
$145,000 for investigating the heat
methods of road making, "especially
ordinary sand-clay and dirt roads,”
$36,260 for investigations of the chem
ical and physical character of road
materials, and $60,000 for field experi
ments in road oonstr-iction.
Cattle Tick in South.
For cattle tick work In the South,
$400,000 Is proposed, an increase of
$75,000, of which $50,000 Is to he used
In live stock demonstration work in
the tick-free areas; testing of the
waste, tensile strength and bleaching
qualities of cotton as standardized by
the government, $60,000, an increase ol
$50,000. For investigation of the cans
syrup and beet sugar industries, $41,-
495 Is proposed.
Cost of Living.
Provisions for attention to cost of
living is made In several Items. For
Investigating the preparation for mar
ket, handling, grading, packing, free
ing, lining, storing and transporting
of -poultry and eggs, a $60,000 appro
priation would be made.
Oysters and other shell v flsh also fig
ure, with an appropriation or $5,000 to
Investigate their packing, handling,
.storing, and shipping In the United
States and border waters.
He Admits Mutilation of
Man; is Held For Murder
Greensburg, Pa.—Dr. Martin E. Grif
fith, of Monessen, Pa., held In Jail
here under a coroner’s charge of mur
der for the death of Wm. L. Robin
son, a music teacher whom lie was
alleged to have mutilated when he
found him attacking Mrs. Griffith, Jan.
26, was admitted to hall here today.
Judge Doty said from the bench that
while the evidence showed premedita
tion It also showed provocation and
warranted no higher charge than sec
ond degree murder. Tho mutilation
was not denied.
Third Daughter of Late
Mayor Gaynor Engaged
New York.—Mth. Wm. J. Gaynor,
widow of the late mayor of New York,
announced today the engagement of
her daughter, Helen, to E. T. Bedford,
second son of Mr. and Mrs. F. H
Bedford, of Brooklyn. Miss Helen la
Mrs. Gaynor’s third daughter. She
Is 19 years old. Three of her sisters
are married.
Her fiance Is a grandson of Ed
ward Thomas Bedford, formerly a
vice-president of the Standard Oil
Company, and later president of the
Corn Products Refining Company.
Wants Lieu’t Genl if Six
Vice Admirals Created
Washington.-—Chairman Hay of the
house military committee had before
him today a letter from Secretary
Garrison suggesting In connection with
the proposed legislation to create six
Vice-admirals that If this grade Is to
he revived for the navy the grade of
Lieut. General ought to be restored to
the armr.
SCHUMANN-HEINK DIVORCE.
Chicago.—The divorce bill filed here
hy Mrne. Ernestine Hchurnann-Helnk-
Rapp, the grand opera singer against
Wm. Rapp, Jr., of New York, was
amended today so as to carry a statu
tory charge against Rapp. ”K. E.
Deane” was the name given in the
amendment as that of the woman in
the case.
FINAL HEARING TODAY IN
HABEAS CORPUS WRIT
,-.-1
By ’SB
(Latest Photo of Thaw Taken
at Concord, N. H.)
THAW RENEWS
LIBERT! FIGHT
Opening Arguments Today on
Habeas Corpus Petition at
Concord, N. H. Two Points at
Issue.
Concard, N. H,—Harry K. Ttinw's
fight for liberty whs renewed today
before Jdederal Judge Aldrich.
There were two points at Issue the
discharge of the prisoner on a writ of
habeas corpus, thus preventing Ills ex
tradition to New York as a fugitive
from Justice,.the alleged offense being
conspiracy to escape from Matleawan
and the right of Thaw to ball pending
the disposition of the ease tiy the fed
eral courts.
Opening argument upon the habeas
corpus pci llion was made by Former
Governor Stone of Pennsylvania, who
held that Thaw was not subject to ex
tradition upon the charge In tire in
dictment against him In New York.
Mr. Stone said that the indictment did
not charge an over act or crime, hut
the court pointed out Hull Gov. Glynn's
requisition charged Thaw with con
spiracy.
Admiral Fletcher's Wife
and Daughters Enroute
Washington, D. C.—While Secretary
Daniels Is encouraging matrimony In
the navy, lie likewise took eognlzanco
today of the domestic hardships of of
ficers away from home for prolonged
duty.
The secretary sent a wireless to
Rear Admiral Fletcher nt Vera Cruz
asking him if lie would like lo have a
visit with his family and when the
admiral replied, Mrs Fletcher and her
two daughters left on the presidential
yacht Mayflower which sailed today.
Goethals Not To Be at
Opening of the Canal?
New York.—Col. Geo. W. Goethals.
builder of the Panama Canal, may ri d
he presnt when the waterway is form
ally opened to commerce. "It will he
a big show,” lie said yesterday while
here on his way to Washington, "but
I hope I won’t be there.”
lie declared there was nothing sig
nificant In his statement. "You know
I don’t like celebrations,” he asserted.
Former Chief of Police
Found Guilty of Bribery
St. Paul, Minn.—Martin J. Flanagan,
St. Paul’s former chief of police, arid
Fred Turner, former city detective,
adjudged guilty of bribery In the third
degree were sentenced today to serve
each a term of not to exceed ten years
in the state prison at Stillwater. They
were convicted on ari indictment
charging them with acceptance of $3,-
000 from an underworld woman whose
resort was to he accorded police pro
tection.
DAILY AND SUNDAY. $6.00 PER YEAR.
DEAL RESIGNS TO
ACCEPT BIG JOB
SI 0,000,000 TO
BE SPENT BT
SOUTHERN RT
Money to Be Used For Im
provement and Enlargement
of Yards and Shops to Be
Begun Immediately and Push
ed to Completion
In Addition $5,000,000 Will
Be Secured For Acquisition
of Modern Rolling Stock,
Mostly of Steel. Plans An
nounced By Pres’t Harrison
Today.
Washington, D. C. The sale of $lO,-
Ofto.floo five per cent three-year notes
of the Southern Railway Company se
cured hy the general mortgage four
per eent bonds of the company was an
nounced today hy President Fairfax
Harrison.
The financing of a ten-year $5,000,
000 equipment trust also was an
nounced. The short term notes were
sold, it was announced, "pending Im
provement of the market for long term
securities” and ttie proceeds will ho
used for betterments in shops, yards
and terminals.
The Announcement.
President Harrison stated In his an
nouncement:
“The particular Improvements now
to he undertaken are chiefly additional
and enlarged shops, yards nnd other
freight terminals which have been
greatly desired and have been earnest
ly recommended for several years past
to facilitate economical operation and
to enlarge the opportunity of the com
pany for securing competitive freight
traffle as well hh for taking rare of
local business. These Improvements
will lie undertaken at once, and push
ed to completion as rapidly us possi
ble.
New Rolling Stock.
"In addition to the Improvements
provided for Southern Hallway Com
pany has also arranged to finance,
through a ten-year equipment trust
tlie acquisition of additional modern
rollin': stock, largely of steel construc
tion, representing an aggregate cost, of
more than five million dollars Rids
for this additional rolling stock aro
now being received nnd the orders for
immediate construction would ho
placed promptly.”
Storm Warning Ordered
Put Up at Charleston
Charleston, 8. C. Tho following
storm warning has boon received by
the weather bureau officials here:
"Northeast storm warning at 9:35.
Storm central off South Carolina
coast moving northeast. Will cause
high northeast winds shifting to
northwest this afternoon.”
The barometer here at 8 o’clock
this morning was holow the normal.
It Is now stationary.
Time For Filing Judge
Speer's Brief Up Today
Washington.—-Ooimlderatlon of tho
charK<’tt FVdural Judg#* Kpeor
of a<*orgln, probably will bo ronumud
tomorrow by tb<* house Judiciary nub
committee. Th* limit of time for filing
of Judge Hpeer’n brief expired today.
Action on tho can* probably will be
delayed until the truat legislation pro
gram in dlapom-d of in the houne.
Excited By Reports of
Killing 75; Burial Alive
Madrid, Bpain.—Stories of the kill
ing of seventy-five Spaniards and the
hurkil alive of a number of others hy
Mexican rebels at Torreon are publish
ed at length In most or the newspapers
of Madrid and the provinces today.
The incidents were narrated by pas
sengers on hoard the Spanish steamer
Antonio Lopez, which sailed from Vera
Cruz on January 27 and has arrived a-
Cadiz.
PLEADS “NOT GUILTY."
Chicago.—" Not guilty.” was the plea
of Wm. Cheney Ellis, former Cincin
nati leathe# merchant, at the opening
of his trial today, on the charge that
he murdered his wife in a hotel here
last October.
iecomes Vice President and
General Manager of W. N.
Coler & Co. With Headguart
ers in New York
PARDEE AND DUER
EXPRESS KEEN REGRET
AT LOSING MR. DEAL
aowever, Offer to Head Great
Operating Company is Too
Attractive to Be Met By Au
qusta-Aiken. Spofford Acting
General Manager.
The resignation is announced of Mr.
•I. ,C Deal, vice-president and general
manager of the Augusta-Aiken Rail
waj & Fleet rio Corporation, to be
come vice-president and general man
ager of \V. N. Coler & Co., of New
York.
Announcement is also made of the
appointment of Mr, R. W. Spofford,
now railway HUperlqt-ndent, to he act
ing general manager.
The news that Mr. Deal has tendered
his resignation to the directors of his
corporation will come as a distinct
surprise in Augusta.
Mr. Ileal was made general manager
of the Augusta-Aiken Haltway ft Elec
trlc Corporation several years ago
when J. G. White Sr Company and as
sociates acquired the property from
the llarriman interests. I.ast year Mr.
Deal was made vice-president and
general manager.
Vice-President J. 11 Pardee, of the
Augusta-Aiken, who is also president
of the J. G. White Management Cor
poration, in announcing the resigna
tion of Mr. Deal expressed his keen re
grets at Mr. Deal leaving the com
pany.
"We were unable to keep Mr. Deal.”
said Mr. Pardee, "In the face of such
an attractive offer as W. N. Coler &
Company made him. We regret ex
ceedingly to lose Mr. Deal, as he has
made a highly efficient officer, having
rendered our company very able serv
ice throughout his tenure of office. He
has perfected an organization in Au
gusta with our properties which ia in
splendid working order and he leaves
the company with the very best
wishes of every officer and director.
Here Temporarily.
"Mr. Deal has kindly consented to
remain as vice-president of the com
pany temporarily. It Is the policy of
our company never to stand tn the way
of the advancement of any of our em
ployes and while we regret losing Mr.
Deal and would have kept him if we
yould, sit 111 we congratulate htm on his
promotion and also, W. N. Coler &
Company In securing his services."
Mr. B. W. Duer, vice-president and
general manager of I he. Georgia &
Florida Railway, and a member of the
hoard of directors of the Augusta*.
Aiken Railway ft Klectrlc Corpora
tion, also pays a high tribute to Mr.
Df*al.
"We certainly regret losing him.”
said Mr. Duer, “mid if we could have
retained him hy making him any rea
sonable inducements wm would have
done so. However, his offer Is too fil
tering for us to meet. Mr. Deal haa
given (he company splendid ser\t*’a
and wo are loath to give him up. The
concern with which he goes la one of
the largest operators of street rail
roads and lighting plants In the coun
try, having plants all the way from
New England to Spokane. Wash.
"Mr. Hpofford, who has been made
acting general manager, will corry out
(Continued on Market Page}.
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