Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-06
SAID He HAD NOTHING TO SAY.
His 0fiense Was Receiving Fees He
gally from the RialtO Grain and
Securities Company,
COURT SAYS VERDICT WAS lust
Evidence Abundantly Warranted and
Judge Could Find No Reason
For Disturbing II,

Kansas CITY, Mo-, April Ga special
to the Star from ST. Louis says
United States Senator Joseph K, Bur.
ton of Kansas, recently convicted OF
receiving fees Illegally from the Rialt0
Grain and Securities company, as their
attorney, was today given a sentence
OF six months In Jail and was fined
s. 800 by Judge Adams. in the United
States district court here,
IMPOSING THE SENTENCE.
st. Louis, April Ex-senator Burton,
accompanied by his leading attorney,
Judge Chester VI. Krum, came into the
United States district court, at l2i30
o'clock A case was being tried and
Judge Adams granted recess in that
case TO take up the Burton case. Judge
Adams summoned Senator Burton 10
stand up, and then spoke OF the motions
that had been filed for new trial and
for arrest OF judgment The court, al
ter briefly reviewing the motions, over
ruled them both. The court then said
to the defendant: Have you anything
to say as to why sentence should not
be passed upon you?'
his emotions with a strong effort. Sem
ator Burton stood leaning with both
| hands on chairback as he said:
Your honor will please allow me TO
| respectfully decline to say anything
The courtroom was almost empty
| with the exception Of few persons
| interested in the previous case who
| had remained out OF curiosity and the
| silence was almost oppressive as Judge
| Adams, IN low, m0dulated tone, began
| delivering the sentence to be imposed.
JUDGE ADAMS SPEAKS.
The court said.
After a fair and impartial trial by
| jury Of exceptional intelligence, you
| have been found guilty of the offenses
| charged in the indictment against you.
"A motion for new trial IN your
| behalf has afforded me an opportunity
| to carefully review and consider the
| evidence As a result Of this, | am
| satisfied that The jury reached the just
| and true result. The evidence abund-
| antly warranted their verdict and |
| find no reason. either In the law gov
| erning the case. or IN the proceedings
| attending the trial for disturbing It,
Your conviction necessarily results
in your punishment Its Importance,
| In my opinion. IL not confined TO its
effect upon YOU.
| "Your exalted station IN life and the
| character OF your offending give UNI
| usual significance to your conviction.
| II demonstrates that the law OF the
land Is equal to any emergency, and
that 1t can be administered regardless
OF the personality or station OF the
accused II also demonstrates to all
the people that public office cannot
be prostituted 10 seli-serving purposes,
and that public office Is not sure and
cafe passport to private thrift.
HUMILIATION or CONVICTION.
THE humiliation attending your con-
vIctiOn and the statutory disqualified
tons resulting therefrom which for
| ever inCapaCitates YOU from holding
| any office OF honor or trust under the
| government, ia In itself heavy pun
ishment for your offense and leave lit
tie In the way Of severity which could
be added
1T Is neither my pleasure nor pur-
| pose "a impose any unnece ssary pun
ishment.
81 think the majesty OF the law will
be sufficiently indicated and the vel
fare sufficiently safeguarded by i'm
posing a single sentence, warranted,
as IL Is, on any one Of the six counts
OF indictments on which YOU were con-
victed,
THE SENTENCE,
This sentence viii be that you be
confined IN the Iron county Jail for a
period Of SIX months, and that YOU pay
a fine Of $500 b."
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 hy the chair back turned and sat
down, with his head bowed and his
eyes on the floor
| Atty. Judge krum Immediately flled
a bill Of exception in the case and OF.
fcred a bond for $4,000, which was &C
cepted and court took a recess until
O'Clock 10 resume the previous case,
Senator Burton and Judge Krum then
hurrIedly departed from the courtroom,
In the corridor Senator Burton stopped
long enough to light cigar and then
walked to his hotel, lie declined 10
discuss the sentence but said he would
depart tonight FOR his home In Kansas,
WILL APPEAL CASE.
The case will now be appealed TO the
United States district court OF appeals,
the highest tribunal IN the matter.
senator Burton. who Is senior senator
from Kansas. was convicted after an
exhaustive trial, In which various let.
ters from him to the Rialto Grain &
Securities company the checks which
h. received In payment for his services
In behalf OF the concern before the
postonce and the testimony of numer.
Gus agents Of the government were IN.
troduced
Senator Burton's defense was that he
was acting merely In the capacity Of an
attorney. and dld not employ his sena-
torIal influence In the work
At the Southern hotel Senator Burton
said 20 the Associated Press:
II have nothing whatever 10 say re.
garding the verdict must respect
fully refer YOU 10 my attorneys on all
questions concerning the matter"
Senator Burton then went directly 10
his room, Five minutes later Hugh G.
Dennis, president Of the Ralto Grain &
Securities company knocked on the
door and was admitted and the two
| cOnyersed together for some time,