Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-04-14
BURTON SENTENCED.
The Senator Gets Six Months in
Jail and Is Fined $4,000.
BILL OF EXCEPTIONS At ONCE FILED.


st. Louis, April limited States
Senator J. R. Burton, of Kansas, was
sentenced to six months Imprisonment
In the Iron county (Mo.) jail and fined
$4,000 for having been convicted of
using his influence before the post
Office department in behlf of the Rialto
Grain and Securities company, of St.
Louis, and having received payment
from the company for his services.
Judge Adams, after briefly review
ing the motions for new trial. over
ruled them, and then said to the de-
fendant Have you anything to say
as to why sentence should not be
passed upon your"
Trembling and evidently suppressing
his emotions with a strong effort, Sen
ator Buron stood leaning with both
hands on chair back as he said:
your honor will please allow me to
respectfully decline 10 say anything"
The court then said: After a fair
and impartial trial by jury Of excep'
tional intelligence, you have been
found guilty of the offense charged in
the indictment against you. A motion
for new trial In your behalf has af-
forded me an opportunity to carefully
review and consider the evidence. AS
result Of this, | am satisfied that the
jury reached the just and true result !
The evidence abundantly warranted
their verdict, and | find no reason,
either in the law governing the case,
or in the proceedings attending the
trial, for disturbing It Your conviction
necessarily results In your punish.
ment. Its importance, in my opinion
Is not confined to its effects upon you,
Your exalted station In life, and the
character of your offending, give nnu-
sual significance to your conviction. 1t
that the law of the land
Is equal to any emergency and that It
can be administered regardless Of the
or station of the accused.
II also demonstrates to all the people
that public Office cannot be prostituted
10 self-serving purposes, and that pub
lie ONCE is not a sure or safe passport
10 private thrift
The humiliation attending your
conviction and the statutory disquali-
ications resulting therefrom which
Iorever incapacitate you from holding
my ONCE of honor, trust or profit un-
Ter the government Of the United States
ire in themselves heavy punishment
or your offenses, and leave but little
n the way of severity which could be
ldded. It is neither my pleasure nor
purpose to impose any unnecessary
punishment I think the majesty Of
he law will be sufficiently indicated
md the public welfare sufficiently safe
Tuarded by imposing q single sentence,
as II Is, on any one of the
tx counts Of the indictments on which
'ou were convicted. This sentence will
'e that you be confined in the Iron
ounty jail for q period Of six months.
nd that you pay ane Of s2,5OO" /
At the conclusion OF the sentence
ienator Burton, who had not taken
lie eyes from the court and who had
carcely moved as be supported him
elf by the chair back. turned and sat
own. with his hesd bowed and his /,
yes on the floor.
Judge Krum. Buttons attorney. i'm
lediately hled q bill Of exceptions In
be case and offered a bond for Sl0,-
%, which vas accepted.
The bill Of exceptions Is . voluni-
Gus docunsnt comprising mora than