The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-25
BURTON ON WAY.
Indicted Kansas Senator Starts
for st. Louis.
Says He Has Nothing to Add to
Statement.
PENALTY is SEVERE.
Law Provides for Two Years in
Prison and Heavy Fine.
Can Not Be Arrested During
Session of Congress.
OFFICIAL BLUNDERS.
They Began Almost as Soon as
He Was Elected.
Rialto Company Was One of
Many of Its Kind.
Law Provides for Two Years in
Prison and Heavy Fine.
Can Not Be Arrested During
Session of Congress.
OFFICIAL BLUNDERS.
They Began Almost as Soon as
He Was Elected.
Rialto Company Was One of
Many of Its Kind.

Washington, jan Ex-senator ]. r.
Burton of Kansas, indicted by the fed
eral grand jury, left for ST. Louis Sun
day afternoon on the Baltimore & Ohio,
accompanied by his wife.
Mrs. Burton stated that she and her
husband had been planning to leave for
Topeka next Tuesday, but that they
were fastening their departure on ac
count Of the action of the federal grand
jury in st. Louis.
/ Senator Burton said he had nothing to
add to his statement of Saturday night,
although he had thought of several
points after it was made which would
have made it more clear in detail.
IF I could photograph to the world
my conduct, my every act in connection
with the Rialto company or Major Den
mis- by raising my right hand,'' he said,
my hand would go up instantly"
He was engaged. he added, as general
counsel and was earning a legitimate
attorneys fee when he accepted en-
ployment from Dennis and his company.
He said he had telegraphed friends in
ST. Louis to meet him and would make
no further statements, except to Colonel
Pat Dwyer, upon whom he would call
undecided as to his course, not having
seen the indictment, but he would prove
to the court, the jury and the world
that he was innocent of any wrongdofng
and that he had been employed in per-
fectly proper business
/ In reply to the question whether he
would demand an immediate trial. he
said his course would depend on the ma
ture of the indictment. However, he
was positive of being able to establish
his innocence. He stated that he had
received no official notification Of his
indictment, but he would not wait for ii.
He gave no intimation who would
represent him as attorney in the case.
Chester H. Krum and Thomas B. Har-
: Ian are in the cases as the attorneys for
the Rialto company, and Major Dennis
and Senator Burton will probably show
that he held the position of general
counsel, subject to consultation at all
times with reference to the different
) cases against the company.
THE PENALTY.
The penalty provided upon convection
for the offense with which Senator Bur-
ton is charged is a penitentiary SEN
. tence OF not more than two years and a
fine of not more than $4,000 and on
, being so convicted shall be rendered in
capable of holding office of trust honor
or emolument under the government.
WHAT HE RECEIVED.
Washington, Jan. 25.-"Was there
nothing incompatible with your duty
as a United States senator in your be-
ing employed as counsel for this COM
pany?" was asked of Senator Burton
before he left Washington for St
Louis.
Senator Burton did not dodge the
question, but promptly RESPONDED: my
acting for Mr.. Dennis as an attorney
was not incompatible or in conflict in
, any way with my official duties as a
senator. I shall not meet this case or
technicalitjes. but on its merits and
am satisfied that the court and the Off
oin nIc he 7x,i11 OF
that ] have not only not violated any
, law, but that l have not been guilty
of even an improperly"
Questions designed to bring out more
specific information as to the payment
of money to him by Dennis and Ma
; haney were met with the statement:
Yes, 1 received a check for $500, anG
received aAmuch as 81 400. That is moi
all 7 received but. of course. that is E
matter of my private business. as i
was the fee for legal services, and
am no cheap lawyer
Again, later Senator Burton gave
statement in which he said: Il say
candidly that. while 1 may not be en-
t tirely familiar with the laws governing
the conduct of a United States senator
, | I have never tried. directly or Indirect
2 ly, to influence any department in any
! ! shape in this or any other case since
: : have been a United States senator.
= have not violated any law, nor is it my
> intention to seek vindication by any
5 technicalit-"
MAY WAIVE RIGHTS.
$ Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Bur
ton CKas) against whom a fedora
, grand jury on Saturday returned al
I indictment for accepting a bribe from
5 the Rialto Grain company has indi
} Gated to his friends his intention o.
! waving all his rights United
States seantor and accepting service il
: the case at once. He left for ST. I4oui,
last evening, expressing his determine
ton to force tie matter to an imrne
] diate issue
r MAJOR DENNIS ON TRIAL.
e ST Louis. Mo, Jan 25-Major Hugl
C. Dennis, president of the Rialt,
Grain and Securities company went oil
trial in Judge McDonald's division o
the circuit court today on the charg,
of grand larceny, preferred by I4esli
Perrin The specific charge is that oil
August 6. 1903 Dennis, under the pre-
tense that he would invest the none.
in grain for Perrin, received from Per
rim two express money orders aggre
eating S71s0 and that instead of max
ing an investment he kept the none,
for his own uses. On motion of tn
state the trial was continued for on
: day, as the principal witnesses had no
: arrived
n BURTON IN ST. LOUIS.
t st. Louis. Jan. 25.-Not the least in
= teresting feature in connection with tn,
: Indictment of u. S. Senator Burton is tn
: relation which it bears to politics il
E Kansas. In that state, the politicians
are familiar with the fact that the ex