Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-07
PRISON FOR BURTON.
Kansas Senator Sentenced to Six Months in Jail.

ST LOUIS, April Limited States Senator J. R. Burton of Kansas has been sentenced to six months impris- onment in jail and to pay fine of $2,- 50o for using his influence before the postofnce department in behalf of the Rialto Grain and Securities company of St. Louis and for having received payment from the company for his services.
 When Senator Burton, accompanied by his attorney, came into the United States district court Judge Adams spoke of the motions that had been filed for a new trial and for arrest of judgment. The court, after briefly re- viewing the motions, overruled them both. The court then said to the de fendant:
 Have you anything to say as to why sentence should not be passed upon you?'
 Evidently suppressing his emotions with a strong effort, Senator Burton stood leaning with both hands on chair back as he said:
 EYour honor will please allow me to respectfully decline to say anything"
 The courtroom was almost empty with the exception of few persons who had remained out of curiosity, and the silence was almost oppressive as Judge Adams, in low tone, said:
 After q fair and impartial trial by a. jury of exceptional intelligence you have been found guilty of the offense charged in the indictment against you. yr,n%fAr, @rvs a VI nwy %wia iS, wor1rs hO- half has afforded me an opportunity carefully to review and consider the evidence. As result of this am sat- isfied that the jury reached just and true result. The evidence abun- dantly 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. f"Your conviction necessarily results in your punishment Its importance, in my opinion, is not confined to it's eff feet upon you.
 Your exalted station in life and thA character of your offense give unusual significance to your condition. It dem onstrates that the law of the land is equal to any emergency and that it can be administered regardless of the sta- ton of the accused. It also demon strates to all the people that public of- flee cannot be prostituted to self serv- ing purposes aRd that public office is not sure or safe passport to private thrift.
 "The humiliation attending your con- viction and the statutory disqualifica- tions resulting therefrom, which for ever incapacitate you from holding any office of honor, trust or profit under the government of the United States, are in themselves heavy punishment for your offenses and leave but little in the way of severity which could be added.
 Tt is neither my pleasure nor pur- pose to impose any unnecessary pun ishment. I think the majesty of the law will be sufficiently vindicated and the public welfare sufficiently safe guarded by imposing single sentence, warranted as it is, on any of the six counts, indictments on which you were convicted.
 '"This sentence will be that you be confined in the Iron county jail for pGTlOQ OI SIX LuOulAS anu luhI yOu pay a fine of $2.500."
 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 himself 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- captions in the case and offered bond for $1O,000. which was accepted.
 Senator Burton walked to his hotel. He declined to discuss the sentence, but said he would leave at once for his home in Kansas.