Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-04-13
BURTON SENTENCED
He Declines 10 Say Anything in De.
fease of Himself
DEGRADED FROM HIGH POSITION


st. Louis, special.-United States
Senator ]. r. Burton, of Kansas, was
sentenced to six months Imprisonment
In jail aid d fine Of $4,000 for using
his influence before the Postoffice De-
partment in behalf uf the Rialto Grain
and Securities Company. Of st. Louis,
and for having received payment from
the company for his services,
When Senator Burtoh; accompanied
BY his attorney, came into the United
States District Gouft, Jiidge Adams
spoke Of the motions that had been
fled 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-
fcndant: /.
"Have you anything to say as to
Why sente,itt sh0ula not ,ie passed
upon you?''
Evidently suppresslng his emot.ons
with a strong effort, Senator Burton
stood leaning With both. hands on
chair back as he said:
''Your honor will please allow Te to
respectfully decline to say anything"
The court room was almost empty
with the exception c'' few persons
who had remained out of curiosity and
the silence = S almost opprsssive as.
Judge Adams, In d low tone, began de-
litering the sentence The court said:
az am satisfied that the jury reached
the just and true result. The evidence
abundantly warranted their verdict
and I found no reason, either in the
law governing the case or in the pro-
ceedings attending the trial, for dis
turbing it.
"Youf exalted station In life, and the
character Of your offense. give unusual
significance TO your conviction. 1t 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.
1t also demonstrates to all the people
that public office cannot be prostituted
to self-serving purposes, and that pub
lie office Is notea sure or safe passport
to private thrift.
"The humiliation attending your
conviction and the statutory disQualih-
cations resulting therefrom which for
ever incanacitates SorifrG'.. ", as g
any Office of honor. trust or profit
under the government of the United
States are In themselves heavy punish
nlent for your offenses. and leave Dut
little in the way of severity whleh
could be added.
at Is neither my pleasure nor puf-
pose to impose any min neccssary pun
ishment. ;,
"I think the majesty OF the Law will
be sufficiently yindicated and the pup
lie welfare sufficiently safeguraded by
imposing a single sentence, warranted
az II Is on any one Of the six counts
OF the indictments on which you were
convicted.
"Th!s sentence will be that You be
confined in the Iron county jail for a
neriod of six months, and that you pay
fine Of $4,000.
At the conclusion OF the sentence
Senator Burton, who had not taken his
ewes 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
ewes on the floor. His attorney, Judge
Krum. Immediately filed a bill of eX-
ceptions in the case and offered oono
for $4,000, which was accepted.
Senator Burton declined to discuss
the sentence. The case now viii be
appealed to the United States District
Court Of Appeals.