The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-03-31
SENATOR BURTON
IS HELD Guilt
After Fifty-One Hours Fade,,
Jury Agrees in Case Of
kansan.
COURTS INSTRUCTION,
Careful Discussion of the Law a,
Facts in the Case of Judge Adam,
in Sending the Case to the
Twelve Men.

St. Louis. Mo, March 2S.-Josq,s
Ralph Burton, senior United Stats,
senator from Kansas was convicted T.
a jury in federal court here 10 day n
the charge of having accepted com,
| ~pensation to protect the Interests ii
the Riaito Grain and Securities com
pany of st. LOUIS, before the post
office department.. The jury aeliberat4
forty-one hours.
A motion for a new trial was i,nms
diately filed by counsel for the senate
Judge Adams thereupon ordered Sen.
ator Burton to appear in cour eiths
In person or by proxy at 10 O'Clock from
day 10 day, until the court has heaaI
the arguments for u new trial, and n
decided against him to fix his puaisSj
ment.
Burton Entirely Composed.
There was no perceptible change i,
Senator Burton's c~ounteuance when TIL
verdict was read. The court having ais
journed. Burton calmly lighted Il cigstI
and turning to his attorneys and ptI
waite secretary began conversation Il
a To- .one. He appeared %compietesi
composed.
If today's verdict is sustained Bur
ton viii lose his seat in the senate aud
forever be prohibited from holding a5
office of public trust. Each count cor
stitutes a separate offense and BuFtg.
could receive penitentiary sentence d
two years or Sl0.0 0 fine on each ceaE;
Burton's conviction Is the first uEt
der the section of the statute which W..
annnfpI hU ron DrraCC in 1Shl - W4
Burton was indicted in January Lass
and although as a member of congrUs!
he could not be arrested until after th8
body adjourned, he voluntarily sn$
rendered himself to the prosecuting AL
thorities. He still has two years d
serve in the senate.
The case against Senator BurGs
went to the jury Saturday evening
Burton was accused of receiving saS
per month for a long time. for protect
ing the Rialto company, a ~fraudulal
concern, against the possibility OF 6s
Ing denied the use of the mall.
Dramatic Scenes in Trial.
There We're some dramatic scenes i
the trial. The Case said TO be the faa
of its kind to be tried, was given IL
the jury at I: 80 o'clock Saturday eyess
ing, after an almost continuous sessiG
of the court which began at 10 o'cloS
in the morning. The court room has
been crowded the entire day.
During the argument of opposipS
counsel the defendant had sat witt
closed eyes and downcast face. tks
picture of despair, Only once did hN
face light UP, and that was when Judgs
Adams began to read some of the decls}s
rations asked by the defendants eoulS
sci. None of the alleged attempts h
humor INDUCED in by opposing counss
provoked a smile from the Defending:
He left the court room with more hgss;
than for two days. &
Those who had disinterestea
watched the proceedings of the ce243
predicted a hung jury. The attorns
for the defendant expressed the h7$8
Of a verdict Of aeQuittal. The govGS2
ment inspectors who had worked ss
the case were of divided opinions. Se$si
looked for acquittal. The more sa
guine believed there would be a verbs
of guilty. The majority believed ths
would be a divided jury.
An Extenuatins Fact.
One of those declarations of iss
which was especially satisfactory
Senator Rurton's attorneys was ta
the jury must be convinced that lie 49, 49,
tempted to influence the officials al
that the statements he made in his la
ters could not convict him unless ss
actually did what he Y Accused
The fact that he said he h
performed a service was OF no cons
quence. Another declaration OF
court vas that Senator Burtonts Haias4gss
tarily coming into court without PRE-
cess was in his favor.