The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-04-07
PRISON FOR
SEN. BURTON
Kansas Senator Must Serve
Six Months.
he IS ALSO FINED $500
Burton Was Convicted of Selling
His Influence as a
Senator.
HE IS ALSO FINED $500

ST. LOUIS, April limited States
Senator j. X. Burton Of Kansas has
been sentenced to six months impris-
Onment In jail and TO pay a fine of $2,-
800 for using his influence before the
postotice department in behalf Of the
Rialto Grain and Securities company
of st. Louis and for having received
payment from the company for his
services.
When Senator Burton, accompanied
by his attorney, came into the United
States district court Judge Adams
spoke of the motions that had been
filed 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-
fendant:
Have you anything to say as to
why sentence should not be passed
upon youT
Evidently suppressing his emotions
with a strong effort Senator Burton
stood leaning with both hands ON
chair back as he said:
Your honor will please allow me to
respectfully decline TO say anything"
The courtroom was almost empty
with the exception of a few persons
who had remained out Of curiosity, and
the silence was almost oppressive as
Judge Adams, In a low tone, said;
After a fair and impartial trial by
jury Of exceptional intelligence you
have been found guilty OF the offense
charged in the indictment against you.
"a motion for new trial in your De-
half has afforded me an opportunity
carefully to review and consider the
evidence. AS a result OF this am sat
isfed that the jury reached a just
and true result The evidence abun-
dainty warranted their verdict, and l
find no reason, either in the law gov
ernlng the case or in the proceedings
attending the trial, for disturbing 1t.
Your conviction necessarily results
in your punishment Its Importance,
In my opinion, is not confined to its ef-
feet upon you.
Your exalted station in life and the
character Of your offsnse give unusual
Significance to your condition. 1t DEM
onstrates that the law Of the land is
equal to any emergency and that It can
be administered regardless of the sta
ton OF the accused. 1t also demon
Strates to all the people that public Of
fce cannot be prostituted to self serv-
ing purposes and that public office is
not sure or safe passport to private
thrift.
"The humiliation attending your con-
viction and the statutory disqualified
tons resulting therefrom, which for
ever incapacltate you from holding any
office of honor, trust or profit under
the government of the United States,
are in themselves heavy punishment
for your offenses and leave but little
in the way of severity which could be
added.
"It is neither my pleasure nor pur-
pose to impose any unnecessary pun
ishment. l think the majesty of the
law will be sufficiently vindicated and
the public welfare sufficiently safe
guarded by imposing a single sentence,
as it is, on any of the six
counts, indictments on which you were
convicted.
"This sentence will be that you be
in the Iron county jail for a
period of six months and that you pay
4 fine Of $2,500."
At the conclusion of the sentence
Senator Burton, who had not taken his
eyes from the court and who had
scarcely moved as he supported himself
by the chair back. turned and sat
down, with his head bowed and his
syes on the floor. His attorney, Judge
Krum. Immediately filed a bill of ex-
oeptions in the case and offered bond
for $4,000, which was accepted.
Senator Burton walked to his hotel.
he declined to discuss the sentence,
but said he would leave at once for