Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-03-31
The Jury Brings in a verdict
Against the Kansas Senator.
A NOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL FILED.


st. Louis, March 29.--Joseph Ralpl
Burton, senior United States senator
from Kansas, was convicted by jury
in the United States district court Mon
day on the charge Of having accepted
compensation to protect the interests
of the Rialto Grain and Securities com
pany, of st. Louis, before the post Of
ice department. The. jury deliberated
Al hours. A motion for new trial
was Immediately filed by the COUNSEL
for the senator. Judge Adams there
upon ordered that Senator Burton ap-
pear in court either In person or by
proxy at ten o'clock from day ID. day
until the court has heard the argu-
ments for q new trial and, II decided
against him. to fix his punishment.
For time there threatened to be a
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 ex-
pense of a new trial should not be In
Cured because Of him failing to agree
with the majority of the Jurors. A
precedent was quoted showing that the
majority Of the Jurors should decide
the case before them and verdict be
rendered accordingly. The Jury was
then told to 60 back and poll Its vote
once more. Soon after the Jury report
ed, bringing in verdict, but Judge
Adams found that the third count in
the indictment had not been consld-
cred, and again he sent the jury back
to consider the case, without having
announced the verdict returned. The
third time the jury entered the court
room the result of its deliberations was
announced, and United States Senator
Burton stood convicted on the charges
brought against him in the indictment.
Senator Burton's recourse is an ap-
peal to the United States circuit court |
Of appeals, which body is the final ar
bitter in the case. II the verdict is
sustained Senator Burton will lose his
seat in the senate and forever be pro-
hibited from holding any Office Of pub
lie trust. Each count constitutes a
separate offense and Senator Burton
could receive a penitentiary sentence
of two years or q $4,000 fine on each
count.
Senator Burton went directly from
the courtroom to the Southern hotel
after the verdict was rendered and re-
tired to his room for rest After a
time he went down to the hotel lobby
ana sat around taking WIN Inen1s
who occasionally dropped In. Appar-
emily he was very nervous and his ap-
pearance was worn, the anxiety of the
past week having very perceptibly left
its effect When asked by the Asso-
ciated press II he had anything to say
the verdict he hesitated a
few minutes and then with a gesture
Of his hand, said II refer all in
quiry to my attorneys. You certainly
appreciate the situation and under
stand that have nothing to say"
The evidence adduced against SEN
ator Burton may be summarized as
follows: In November, 1902, he ac-
septed a proposition to become gen.
,ral counsel Of the Rialto Grain and
Securities company. concern whose !
operations at the time were under the {
Icrutiny of post Office officials. Burton |
$500 for his services, but {
lie was satisfied to be paid in month
Y installments of $500 each. Soon c
.fter his employment 1t developed that t
he federal grand jury was investigat- c
ng the Brooks Brokerage company,
nth which Maj. Hugh G. Dennis. c
of the Rialto company. had y
cen associated. Numerous letters s
Tritten bv Burton showed that the Il