The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-07
FROM Mr.. DEWEY.
He Gives Out Statement AbOnt
Burton Case.
Says That the Charge Was Not
Bribery.
THAT RIALTO CONCERN
CLAIMS That the Company Was
Not Fraudulent.
An Immediate Verdict of People
Often Wrong.
THAT RIALTO CONCERN

T. E Dewey, supreme court reporter
and formerly partner of Senator Bur
ton, has returned from st. Louis and
has given out a formal statement de-
Tending Senator Burton. It is as fol-
lows:
Upon the request Of Senator Burton
I went to st. Louis Saturday for the
purpose of consulting with him and
his attorneys concerning certain de-
tails of the bill of exceptions which
was being prepared for the purpose of
appeal. In going through the record
I gained an impression from the un-
disputed facts that is quite different
from the one made by the press re-
ports. The Transcribed testimony shows
that Senator Burton's employment was
arranged by H. W. Kastor & Sons,
the well known advertising agents,
through a sense of gratitude on their
part Some years ago the senator
aided them in getting some large con-
tracts and from that time until now
they have sought to repay him by rec
ommendation to any of their patrons
in need of the services of an attorney.
can say on my own responsibility
that much of that kind Of correspon-
dence and business came through his
Office at Abilene and none of it was of
a questionable character. The Kas-
tors were doing the advertising
throughout the land of the Rialto COM
pany, and in that way their recon-
mendation of the senator was made to
Major Dennis, the owner of that com
pany.
THE Rialto Grain and Securities
company was organized in September
1902 with an actual paid-up capital of
$25, 900. The articles of Incorporation
were prepared by and under the super
vision of Hon. Chester H. Krum, for
merly United States district court at
torney, and Thomas B. Harlan. who is
now the law partner of Hon. Matthew
Reynolds. Both of these men are dis
tinguished and reputable attorneys of
St. Louis. This company was organ
lied for the purpose of dealing in
grain, cotton, provisions, bonds AMI
securities, as most commission COM
panies are organized to do. On their
letterheadS and in their advertising
matter they referred, by permission. to
such distinguished financial concerns
as the Fourth National bank, Com
monwealth Trust company and the
Germania Trust company all of ST
Louis. At the time OF Senator Bur-
toms employment he was advised, and
had every reason to believe, that the
RialtO company was not violating any
state or federal law. There was no
cial circles. About that time it had
$50, 900 in cash and on deposit in st.
Louis banks.
Major Dennis. who owned the COM
pany. had been an insurance man. and
in the summer of 1902 bought out a
speculative concern called the Brooks
Brokerage company This concern be-
came involved in difficulty by the il
legitimate practices Of the man in
charge of it. When Ma or Dennis dis
covered the affairs of the company he
closed out the business and organized
the Rialto company When Senator
Burton was employed Major Dennis
was alarmed lest he himself should be
indicted for the crooked transactions
of the man who had ruined the Brooks
Brokerage company and it turned out
that he was indicted within a week af-
ter the senator's employment. He had
already employed local attorneys and
also a barrister from Montreal. 1t was
Just at that time that the Kastors
stepped in and recommended Senator
Burton as an able criminal lawyer
Major Dennis sent Harlan to Wash
ington to confer about the Indictment.
He himself then went. and subse
quently had the senator come to St
Louis for consultation with the other
attorneys. It will be noted that all
this trouble was about the Brooks
Brokerage company. In the matter Of
the defense of Major Dennis in the
prosecution tor the sins Of that COM