The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-04-14

he, peeIiaes 10 So. AH,thisg in De.
fense of Himself
DEGRADED FROM HIGH POSITION
Judge Adams Says the Verdict Of the
Jury Demonstrates That Public OF.
flee Cannot Be Prostifuted to SELF.
Serving Purposes.

St Louis. Speclal.-rBited States
sentenced 10 six months lmprison nc III
In jail and fae Of ss.5o0 for using
! bic influence before the PostoriCc De
:artmen, In behalf OF the Rialtc Grain
! and securitie. Company. OF St Louis.
and for having received payment from
/ the company FOR his services.
When Senator Burton. Accompanied
/ by HE attorney. came into the United
+ States District Court, Judge Adams
+ spoke Of tire motions that had been
+ h,ed for new trial and for arrest Of
I judgment. The court. after briefly re-
I viewing the motions. oyerFuled them
| both. The court then said to the de-
+ fondsnt:
Have yoi anything 10 say as TO
why sentence should not he passed
upon you'"
Evidently suppressing his emotions
With a strong effort. Senator Burton
stood leaning with both Eakds on
chair back as b. said
Your honor will please allow me to
respectfully decline to say anything
The court room was almost empty
/ with the exception Of a 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-
cecdings attending the trial, for dis
tUrbing It.
'1our exalted station in life, and the
character ct your Offense, give unusual
significance TO your conviction. It 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
Il also demonstrates 10 all the people
IitSAt ptDllI CilIc tdtliiOI nc piOSlllClcu
To self-serving purposes, and that pub
Ec office is not a sure Or safe passport
to private thrift,
The humiliation attending your
conviction and the statutory disqualifi-
cations resulting therefrOm which for
ever incapacitates you from holding
any office Of honor, trust or profit
under the government OF the United
Sta,cs are In themselves heavy punish
ment for your offenses, and leave but
little ii the way OF severity which
could be added.
ut is neither my pleasure nor pur.
pose to impose any unnecessary pun
ishment
Il think the majesty Of the law will
be sufficiently indicated 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 $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 bill Of eX.
ceptions in-the case and offered bona
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.