The Van Buren press., 1904-04-02
BURTON Of KANSAS
IS FOUND GUILTY
The Jury Says He Used His Official
Influence for Money.
WORKED FOR RIALTO GRAIN co.
The Verdict, IL Sustained, VIII For
ever Bnr Him From Holding
Public OfBce in the Unit
ed states.

ST Louis, March 29-Joseph Ralph
Burton, senior United states senator
from Kansas, and a political leader Of
wide influence throughout the west
was convicted by a jury in the United
States district court, Monday. on the
charge Of accepting compensation to
protect the interests Of the Rialto
Grain & Securities Co., a so-called get
rich-quick" concern, before the post Of
flee department
Apart from the maximum penalty Of
$4,000 fine and two years imprison-
ment which the court may impose, SEN
ator Burton is forever barred from
holding any public Office in the United
States.
The minimum penalty prescribed by
the statute is a one-day's jail sentence
and a 81 fine.
The conclusion Of the case. which has
been in progress before Judge Elmer
Is. Adams since last Monday, marks
the first conviction in the history Of
the nation Of a member Of the United
States senate.
Further the case establishes a prece-
dent Of a prosecution under section
1882 of the Revised Statutes of the
United States, which prohibits mem
bers Of congress for accepting COM
pensaton for their services in any case
which involves the interest of the fed
eral government
Senator Buttons recourse is an ap-
peal to the United States circuit court
Of appeals, which body is the final
arbiter of his case. Pending the final
action Of that tribunal he may give
bond and secure temporary freedom
The evidence adduced against Senator
Burton may be summarized as follows:
|. In November, 1902, he accepted a
proposition to become general counsel
Of the Rialo Grain & Securities Co.,
a concern whose operations at the time
were under the scrutiny of post Office
officials.
2. Burton demanded s. 800 for his
services, but he was satisfied to be paid
in monthly installments of $500 each
3. Soon after his employment it de-
yeloped that the federal grand jury
was investigating the Brooks Broker
age Co., with which Mai Hugh c. Dem
mis- president of the Rialto company,
had been associated.
A. In December, 1902, Dennis was
indicted, and appealed to Burton for
help.
5. Numerous letters written by Bur
ton showed that the senator was using
his influence TO prevent the issuance Of
a fraud order against the Rialto Grain
& Securities Co.
G. Burton submitted regular reports
to the Rialto people, telling them how
matters were progressing at Washing
ton, advising them Of complaints filed
at the post Office department, and clos
ing with the assurance that If you
look after things at your end Of the
line, ! viii attend to matters here
Testimony Of post Office officials
that Senator Burton had told them he
Intended to practice before the depart.
ment, that he had lost $4,000 in the
panic, and desired to make some
money as a practicing lawyer"
Senator Burton was indicted in Jan
uary last Although as a member Of
congress he could not be arrested until
after that body adjourned, he yolun-
tarily surrendered himself TO the pros
eCuting authorities.
He was elected TO the senate Janu-
AIRY I 1901. 80 that he sull has two
years 10 serve.
Burton's counsel Immediately fled
motion for a new trial