The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-03-31
JURY'S VERDICT
IS ONE OF GUILTY
SENATOR BURTON, OF KANSAS,
IS CONVICTED.
END OF TRIAL IN ST. LOUIS
Charge of Accepting Money for Use
of His Influence Is Sustained
The Penalty Is Not
Yet Fixed.

st. Louis, March 29--Joseph Ralph
Burton, senior United STATES sena-
tor from Kansas, was convicted by a
jury in the United States district
court Monday on the charge Of hav.
ing accepted compensation to protect
the interests Of the Rialto Grain and
Securities company. of ST. Louis be-
fore the post office department The
jury deliberated Al hours.
A motion for a new trial was imme-
diately filed by the counsel for the
senator Judge Adams thereupon or
dered that Senator Burton appear in
court either in person or by proxy at
ten o'clock from day to day until the
court had heard the arguments for
new trial. and If decided against him
TO fix his punishment.
Disagreement Threatened.
For time there threatened to be
disagreement in the jury. The jury
was brought before Judge Adams, who
asked the cause for the long delay. He
was told that II jurors had agreed.
but the twelfth stood alone. The
court admonished the lone juror that
the expense of new trial should not
be incurred because of him failing to
agree with the majority of the jurors.
A precedent was quoted showing that
the majority of the jurors should de-
eide the case before them, and YER
dict rendered accordingly. The jury
was then told to go back and poll its
vote once more. Soon after the jury
reported, bringing in verdict, but
Judge Adams found that the third
count in the indictment had not been
considered, and again he sent the jury
back to consider the case. without hav.
ing announced the verdict returned.
The third time the jury entered the
courtroom the result OF its DELHI
orations was announced, and United
States Senator Burton stood convicted
IN the charges brought against him
in the indictment.
Penalty for the Offense.
There was no perceptble change in
Senator Burton's countenance when
the verdict was read. He appeared
completely composed, II the verdict
is sustained. Senator Burton will lose
his seat in the senate and forever be
prohibited from holding any Office OF
public trust Each count constitutes
a separate offcnse, and Senator Bur
ton could receive penitentiary sen
tence of two years or a 10000 fine. on
each count. Senator Burton's con.
viction is the first under this section
of the statute, which was enacted by
ccOgress in 1864.
Senator Burton was indicAh in Jan
uary last. Although as a member OF
congress he could not be arrested un
til after that body adjourned, he vol
UNFAIRLY surrendered himself to the
prosecuting authorities. He still had
two years to serve in the senate.
The Evidence.
The evidence adduced against Senator
Burton may be summarized as follows;
In November, 1902, he accepted prop
osition to become general counsel OF the
Rialto Grain & Securities company a con
Germ whose operations at the time were
under the scrutiny OF post office officials.
Burton demanded 81 500 for his services.
but he was satisfied to be paid in monthly
iLstallments of $500 each. Soon after his
employment 1t developed that the federal
Grand jury was investigating the Brooks
Brokerage company, with which Maj.
Hugh c. Dennis, president Of the Rialto
company, had y zen associated. Numer-
Gus letters writ,at BY Burton showed
that the senator was using his, influence
TO prevent the ISSUANCE Of a fraud order
against the .ialto Grain & Securities
company. Burton submitted regular re-
ports to the Rialto people. telling them
how matters were progressing at Wash
ingtOn, advising them of complaints filed
at the post Office department. and clos
ing with the assurance that III you look
after things at your end Of the line. will
attend to matters here" Testimony of
post Office officials that Senator Burton
had told them he intended to practice be- !
fore the department: that he had lost
$40 600 in the panic, and desired to make |
some money as a practicing lawyer"