The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-26
BURTON TESTIFIES
IN HIS DEFENSE.


know this. I told him that wanted him
to advise me II anything came into the
department which showed that this COM
pany was not doing right. as 1 would not,
| although I was counsel for the company.
defend It in any cause where it antago-
| nized the Government, and that l would
not appear for It before the department
And that If the department found It
necessary to take summary action would
not remain counsel If the company had
trouble before the department"
did you attempt to lead Mr.. Cochran
to take any action or to influence his ac-
tion?" was asked.
mot at ALL" replied the Senator with
emphasis.
II next saw Mr. Cochran after receiving
Mr.. Harlan's letter Of December 8. I dis
covered at this time that the two men
purporting to be Post-Offlce Inspectors
were frauds,
'T did not learn that there were any
more complaints against the company. I
never heard that there were any COM
plants other than those of Evans end
Hout until after I was indicted"
The Senator made this statement In an
earnest tone and emphatic manner.
MENTIONS PRECsDENTs.
The Senator then explained that when
he called on Inspector Cochran with Ma
jcr Dennis, they had first gone to the Of
fee of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General but found that official out, and
that they had called on Cochran. as his
office was near. He said the accounts OF
this visit as given by previous witnesses
were practically correct.
In telling of the call on Mr.. Cochran in
reference to the books OF the Brooks Com
pany, which were being held by Post-ofiice
Inspector Dice, Senator Burton did rot go
into details.
1--WE talked of my position as counsel
for the Rialto Grain and Securities Com
pany." he said. 81 told him that the
employment had come to me and that I
was glad to get It. I called his attention
to men like Senator Edmunds and Conk-
ling, who had built up great practices in
departments and told him that, in a small
way, / wanted to do as they had done.
''I told him OF my experience in the
panic, and how I had lost my fortune. I
asked him to tell me II he saw anything
wrong on the part of the company which
1 represented. That was the last inter-
view with him before I was indicted.
Then the witness said impressively. in
clear tones, "At no time. since I have
been a Senator have 1 attempted in any
way to influence the action OF any Of
ciaL
81 learned that had been indicted from
the representative of the Associated Press
and a short time afterward I received a
telegram from Judge Krum. Within TWEEN
ty-four hours 1 left Washington for St
Louis and reported the morning after my
arrival at this court.
There Is absolutely no truth In the re-
port that requested Mahaney to destroy
the letters which / had written to his
company. The two letters which I de-
stroyed had absolutely no connection with
this case
The Government had no desire to cross
question Senator Burton, and ne was eI-
cused after the direct examination.
The first witness introduced by the de- |
fense was Thomas B. Harlan, attorney for |
the Rialto Grain and Securities Company. |
The main points in his testimony were |
those dwelt on by Senator Burton after
ward. He related the history Of the COM
pany and of the employment of Senator |
Burton.
ACKNOWLEDGE LETTERS.
NJ. G. Price, Post-Office Inspector at Gin
cinnati, said that he had investigated the
Evans and Hout charges against the Rial
to Grain and Securities Company, and |
that he had returned the papers to the
Post-Office Inspector in charge without
a report, as a case was not made.
W. W. Smith, private secretary 20 Sen
ator Burton, was the next witness. Mr..
Smith is an old gentleman of clerical ap-
pearance and bears a decided resemblance
to Chauncey NJ. Depew. He said that he
wrote and signed a great many of Senator
Burton's letters. and that three at least of
those offered in evidence were signed by
him. with the Senator's name. During the
discussion OF his testimony, the defense
declared that there was no intention to
disclaim any of the letters offered. but TO
show that great stress could not be placed
on the mere wording of letter.
Chester H. Krum then took the stand
ard testified that there was no truth in
the statement that Senator Burton was not
brought here to assist in the defense OF
Dennis from fear that It might antagonize
Dice. He said that he (Krun.l dem2 ndsd
that he receive full charge of the case
The witness said that he toll the gentle
men in consultation that he had cut his
teeth on the particular fection of the
statutes which was to be discussed, and :