Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-29
BLOW TO BURTON
Kansas Senator VisibIy Moved
by Finding of ST. Louis
Jury.
BARS HIM FROM ALL OFFICES
Opinions Differ as to Immediate Eff
feet Upon His Official
Position.

St Louis, March 29.-Calmly light
ing cigar Senator Burton, of Kan
sas, turned to his attorneys in the court
ing him for using his influence as a
United States senator TO prevent the
poStOtfice department from barring the
mails to an alleged bucket-Shop in this
city, had brought in u verdict or
guilty on counts one, two, six. eight
and nine of the indictment against
him. The jury was out forty-one hours,
one juror who differed from the 9TH
er eleven being the cause of the Iorg
siege. \ motion for a new trial was
at once made. The result of the YER
dict if sustained will be that the SEN
ator loses his seat in the senate and
can never hold another public office.
Summary of the Evidence.
The evidence adduced against Sena.
tor Burton may be summarized as fol-
lows: In November, 1902. he accept
ed a proposition to become general
counsel Of the Rialto Grain and Securi-
ties company, concern whose opera
tons at the time were under the
scrutiny of postoffice officials. Bur
ton demanded $500 for his services,
but he was satisfied to be paid in
monthly installmentS of $50O each
Soon after his employment it devel-
Oped that tho federal grand jury was
investigating the Brooks BrOkerag sc
company, with which Major Hugh C.
Dennis, president of the Rialto COM
pany, had been associated.
His Own Letters Against Him.
Numerous letters written by Burton
showed that the senator was using his
Influence to prevent the issuance of
fraud order against the Ria!tO Grain
and Securities company. Eurton sub
mitted regular reports to the RialtO
people, telling them how matters We're
progressing at Washington, advising
them of complaints filed at the post
office department and closing with the
assurance that IF you look after things
at your end of the line l will attend TO
matters here" Testimony of postof-
fee officials was that Senator Burton
had told them he intended to practice
before the department. and that he had
lost $4,000 in the panic and desired
TO make some money as 81 practicing
lawyer"
Declines to Say Anything.
Senator Burton went directly from
the court room TO the Southern ho-
tel after the verdict was rendered,
and retired to his room for rest. Aft
er a time he went down to the hotel |
lobby and sat around talking with |
friends who occasionally dropped in. |
A Apparently he was very nervous, and |
his appearance was worn, the anxiety |
Of the past week having very percepti. |
bly, left its marks. When asked by |
the Associated Press If he had any |
Thing to say concerning the verdict he |
leSitated q few moments. and then
with gesture of his hand, said: Il
refer all inquiries TO my attorneys
You certainly appreciate the situation
md understand that l have nothing so
Iay"
View Taken at Washington.
Washington, March 29.-Members OF
he senate committee on privileges
md elections have discussed r.-'rmal-
Y the conviction of Senator 1rtCn.
,ut until the matter comes before the
committee the members are ioath 10
yive their personal views. 1t will
AXE a formal action by the senate to
sSclare BurtOn's seat vacant, and t!:is
will not be done until a court Of last
esort has passed upon the case