Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-04-13
BURTON SENTENCED
He Declines to Say Anything in De-.
fenSe of Himself
DEGRADED FROM HIGH POSITION
Judge Adams Says the Verdict of the
Jury Demonstrates That Public Of
flee Cannot Be Prostituted to Self.
Serving Purposes.

st. Louis, Special-United States
Senator j. II. Burton, of Kansas. was
sentenced to six months imprisonment
in Jail and fine of $4,000 for using
his influence before the Postoffice De-
partment in behalf OF the Rialto Grain
and Securities Company, of st. Louis,
and for having received payment from
the company for his services.
When Senator Burton. accompanied
by his attorney, came into the United
States District Court. Judge Adams
spoke of the motions that had been
fled for n new trial and for arrest OF
judgment. The court. after briefly re-
viewing the motions. overrulcd them
both. The court then said to the de-
fendant:
Have you anything to say rs to
why sentence should not be passed
upon you?
Evidently suppresslng his emotions
with a strong effort Senator Burton
stood leaning with both hands On a
chair back as he said:
Your honor will please allow re to
respectfully decline to say anything
The court room was almost cmpty
with the exception cf 4 few persons
who had remained out Of curiosity and
the silence was almost oppressive as
Judge Adams. in low tone began de-
livering the sentence. The court said:
Il am satisfied that the jury reached
the just and true result The evidence
abundantly warranted their verdict
and | found no reason. either in the
law governing the case or in the pro-
ceedings attending the trial. for dis
turbing it.
Your exalted station in life and the
character Of your offense give unusual
significance to your conviction. 1t de-
monstrates that the law OF the land is
equal TO any emergency and that it
can be administered regardless of the
personality and station of the accused.
1t also demonstrates to all the people
tnat public office cannot he prostituted
To self-serving purposes. and that pub
Ec office is not sure or safe passport
TO private thrift.
The humiliation attending your
conviction and the statutory disqualiti-
cations resulting therefrom which for
ever incapacitates you from holding
any Office of honor. trust or profit
under the government of the United
States are in themselves heavy punish
mcnt for your offenses. and leave but
little in the way of severity which
could be added.
1T is neither my pleasure nor pur-
pose to impose any unnecessary pun
ishment.
Il think the majesty of the law will
be sufficiently vindicated and the pub
lie welfare sufficiently safeguraded by
imposing a single sentence. warranted
as it is on any one OF the six counts
OF the indictments on which you were
convicted.
This sentence will be that you be
confined in the Iron county jail for
period OF SIX months, and that you pay
fine of s2.500."
At the conclusion of the sentence
Senator Burton, who had not taken his
eyes from the court and who had
scarcely moved. as he supported him
self by the chair back. turned and sat
down, with his head bowed and his
eyes on the floor. His attorney, Judge
Krum Immediately filed q bill OF eX-
ceptions in the case and offered bond
for $4,000. which was accepted.
Senator Burton declined to discuss
the sentence. The case now will be
appealed to the United States District
Court OF Appeals.