File No. 312.41/103.
Special Agent Carothers to the Secretary of State.
Sentence just handed me is too lengthy to telegraph. Tribunal composed or seven officers. Two witnesses, Major Manuel Banda and Andres L. Farias, testified they were present at altercation; that Benton drew his pistol on Villa; that Villa disarmed Benton and that if Villa had not been so quick Benton might have killed him; that Benton was well known to be an enemy of the Constitutionalists and had openly assisted Huerta and Orozco, furnishing them information as to their movements. Sentence appears to be in proper form. Penalty of death assessed unanimously. Sentence signed by Major Jesús M. Rodríguez as Military Judge and Raoul López, Secretary. Mass meeting last night presided over by ex-Governor Curry of New Mexico.