Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1904-03-31

Post ONCE Authorities Which Could
InnuaGe Them In Their Duties.
st. Louis, March 26.-Previous to
the defense resting its case late yes
terday United States Senator Joseph
Ralph Burton, of Kansas. took the
stand in his own behalf, in connec-
ton with the charge of having lille
gally accepted fees from the Rialto
Grain and Securities company, OF st.
Louis. When he had concluded he
was excused from the stand without
cross-examination by the govern
ment
Senator Burton testified that he had
accepted the offer of the Rialto COM
pany to act as its general counsel be-
cause he had lost heavily in finan
cial panic and needed the $500 n
month for which his contract called.
Il was assured by the company" he
said, that my services would not be
needed in Washington in any capac-
ity. 1t was explained that Maj. Den
mis-, president of the Rialto company,
had become involved in the trouble
growing out OF the operations of the
Brooks Brokerage company and that
part of my duties were to be to de-
fend him in any criminal action that
would be brought against him. The
Rialto company was also to have the
use of my name and my services were
to be used in connection with a Sc
Curities department of the Rialto COM
pany, which at that time was project
ed. | expected to familiarize myself
with the condition of the corporations
offering the securities for sale and be-
come acquainted with the officers OF
the trust companies who make a spe-
cialty of handling securities Of that
character. Senator Burton testified
that he had received a letter from
Thomas Harlan, local attorney for the
Rialto company. notifying him of his
appointment as general counsel On
November 20, 1902.
'Refere..ce was made in that letter
to the indictment of Maj Dennis,
continued Senator Burton, and |
called upon Chief Post Office Inspect
or Cochran at Washington asked
him whether Dennis had been indict-
ed and told him that if it was done
that | expected to assist him in his
defense. Cochran told me that he did
not know anything about it. do not
| remember how the matter arose, but
! ! explained TO Cochran that Dennis
owned the Rialto company and asked
him if there were any complaints
against the concern.
Judge Chester II. Krum. senior
counsel for the defense, asked Sena-
tor Burton why he inquired about the
complaints.
Il had just been employed by the
company as its general counsel" re-
| piled Senator Burton, and wished to
satisfy myself regarding its standing
in the department. Although | was
then its counsel, ! knew very little
about its workings had been as
sured that it was all right, but |
wanted to satisfy myself"
In reply to a question as to whether
at the time Of his preliminary talk
with Attorney Harlan regarding his
employment as counsel, anything had
been said about complaints, Senator
! Burton replied: Harlan said the
was nothing against the company, and
that | could go and inquire for my
self"
Was that the extent of your inter-
view with Inspector Cochran" was
! asked
Il told Inspector Cochran" said the
senator, that should anything come
10 his notice in the nature of COM
| plant against the Riato company |
wished that he would call my atten-
ton to it, as could not afford TO be
connected with company that did NOT
| obey the laws.
Judge Krum asked: inspector
| Cochran stated in his testimony that
you had expressed a desire to him to
form a practice before the departments
in Washington. Did you do so?"
Il told Mr. Cochran" replied Sena-
! tor Burton. that other senator's and
/ representatives had built up large pri-
| vate practices during their terms of
office and that l. in a small way, de.
| sired to emulate them. told him that
| ! was general counsel for the Rialto
company, of st. Louis, and asked him
as a matter Of friendship to tell me
if at any time did wrong. Mr.. Cocb-
ran and are from the same state"
Judge Krum then asked Senator Bur
/ ton to tell the jury whether at any
| time he had ever said anything which
could be construed into meaning that
| his purpose was TO influence them in
| the performance of their official duties
to either Mr.. Cochran, the postmaster
| general, the fourth assistant pOstmas-
| ter general or the assistant attorney
general in charge of post Office affairs.
Senator Burton replied: absolutely
| none whatever"
Col. w. w Smith of Topeka. Kan.
Senator Burton's private secretary
testified that he frequently dictated
and signed letters for Senator Burton
and picked out one of the letters in
PRODUCED by the government as one
which he had probably dictated. He
testified that he had signed three of
| them.
Final Bulletin on Cotton.
Washington, March 26.-The final
report of the census bureau on cotton
ginning showing the total cotton pro.
duction for 1903, gives the following:
Number of commercial bales incndino