Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-06
BURTON SENTENCED
Gets Six Months in Jail and
Fine Of $4,000.
HE LISTENS UNM0VED
JUDGE TALKS IMPRESSIVELY
DURING DELIVERY OF SENTENCE.
Declares Decision is Attained After a
Careful Inquiry Into ALI
r. - Claims for New Trial.
HE LISTENS UNMOVED

ST. LOUIS April 6.-United States Sem
ator j. R. Burton of Kansas was today
sentenced to six months imprisonment in
Jail and a fine of 50, 500 for using his infiu-
ence before the Post Office Department in
behalf of the Rialto Grain and Securities
Company of ST. Louis, and for having re-
ceived payment from the company for his
services.
overrules Both Motions.
When Senator Burton, accompanied by
his attorney came into the Uaited States
district court Judge Adams spoke of the
motions that had been filed for new trial
and for arrest of judgment. The court,
after briefly reviewing the motions, over
ruled them both The court then said to
the defendant:
Have you anything to say as to why
sentence should not be passed upon your?
Evidently suppressing his emotions with
a strong effort. Senator Burton stood lean
ing with both hands on a chair back as he
said:
Declined to Say Anything.
"Your honor will please allow me to re-
spectfuIly decline to say anything"
The COZ It room was almost empty, with
the exception of a few persons who had
remained out of curiosity, and the silence
a low tone, began delivering the sentence.
The court said:
AFTER a fair and impartial trial by a
jury Of exceptional intelligence, you have
been found guilty Of the offenses charged
in the indictment against you."
After Careful Review.
"A motion for new trial in your behalf
has afforded me an opportunity carefully
to review and consider the evidence. AS
result of this 1 am satisfied that the jury
reached the just and true result. The evil
dence abundantly warranted their verdict,
and 1 find no reason. either in the law gov
erning the case or in the proceedings at
tending the trial, for disturbing it.
Conviction Means Punishment.
your conviction necessarily results in
your punishment It's Importance, in my
opinion, Is not confined to it's effect upon
you.
"Your exalted station in life, and the
character of your offense, give unusual
significance to your conviction. It demon
strates that the law of the land is equal
to any emergency, and that 1t can be ad-
ministered regardless of the personality and
station of the accused 1t also demon
strates to all the people that public Office
is not a sure or safe passport to private
thrift
Humiliation Of Conviction.
'"The humiliation attending your convic-
ton and the statutory disqualification re-
sulting therefrom which forever incapaci-
tate you from holding any Office of honor,
trust or profit under the government Of the
United States. are in themselves heavy pun
ishment for your offenses, and leave but
little In the way of severity which could
be added.
"It is neither my pleasure nor purpose
to impose any unnecessary punishment.
II think the majesty Of the law will be
sufficiently vindicated and the public well
fare sufficiently safeguarded by imposing a
single sentence, warranted as it is on any
one Of the six counts of the indictments on
which you were convicted
This sentence will be that you be con-
fined in the Iron county Jail for period of
six months, and that you pay fine of
$25O0."
Burton Scarcely Moved.
At the conclusion of the sentence, SEN
ator 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 eyes on the floor. His at
torney. Judge Krum. Immediately filed a