The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-11-24

ST. Louis, Nov. 24-lt has been def
niteiy determined 70 dispose Of thee in
dictmont pending against Senator 90
seph r. Burton prior 20 December J. If
there should be hung jury as a result
Of the present trial. Judge Vandeventer
win order a new trial at once in order
that the case may be finished before coh-
eress meets II December. Witnesses
from a distance who had already ap-
peared FOR the government az this trai
made application today to be e'smissea
but were held over to await the result OF
the iurys action
The most important witness for the
government today was William o. Coch-
ran. who was chief post office inspector
at the time senator Burton was indicted
Mr. Cochran had previously been called
! bv the government in laying the foun-
dation for its case. aud today was asked
/ TO relate the details OF the various con-
/ versations he had had with Senator
Buron. Cochran as chief post Office In
I specfsr i,ass charge Of the inspectors
detailed in the Rialto case. He had II
an I'VE interviews with Senator Burton
who standn charged with appearing be-
fsre the department in behalf Of thi
Rialto company. Three Of these inter
views were in Cochran's office in tn
post office department. and two were II
senator Burtons office i9 he Maltb!
building in washington. to which Mr.
Cochran had been summoned by the re
quest Of Senator Burton.
Because He was a Senator.
Cochran testified that on March 2d
An hin
and asked him whether there were an.
complaints against the Riaito company
Cochran Informed him that there hai
lboen complaints filed and told him wha
they We're.
Colonel Dyer for the government aske
Cochran. Would you have given thi
Information TO anyone inquiring?"
CochrlN answered II would not
''Why did you give it to Burtong'
..Because he was a senator OF Ia
United States"
In detailing the conversation whic
occurred between Burton and himself 9
that interview Nj. Cochran said that IA
senator Informed him that the Rial
company was trying to do a good bus
ness ana any trouble IL had was becaus
OF The Brooks company Within tw
weeks after this interview occurred, Sen
ator Burton called again 20 see Cochrai
This time the senator asked whether Il
1.-TWO persons whose names he gave wei
post offiae inspectors and whether nc
were investigating the affairs OF the r
. alto compsny. The witness told hi
!, these men were not post office inspe'
= tors. on the thira visit Burton brougl
? Major Dennis with him, This va
shortly after The time that Dennis, q
president Of the Riaito company hs
. been Indicted Burton said he want'
= Cochran to meet Dennis and see what
e fine looking man he was. aud explain'
that no wanted TO establish harmonic
relations between ths department IA
% the compary.
a Visit to Rrlstow's Office
J. Cochran also told OF a visit that
5. and Burton made 20 the fourth asslsta
az postmaster general. Mr. Bristow VIII
's the case against the Bieito company W
~ talked over During this VISIT the sal
20 statements were made by Burton as b
n. been made previously TO Cochran. Coo
o. ran. Bristow and Burton-the Witus
ar was not sure thai Burton went with n
se at mat ume-went 10 the postmas
io general, aad as result tclegnms We
'e- sent by order OF the postmaster gene
eh 70 inspector Dice at ST.. Louis in rega
as 20 some papers that Dice had IN
he possession that Burton insisted shoW
Ter returned 10 Major Dennis.
Nn Cochran told in detail OF a convcr
wo tion he had with Burton February
be 1908. at the Maliby building. al 9h
,ar Burton urged that the books ia the p
ler session OF Dice be returned ca s
om another occasion. Cochran said. Colo
me smith, tho private secretary OF seua
Rur,os, had asked him 10 come to
gcu Maltby building aud tank with the s
iw. tator. Iu this Interview Burton ur
a that the Dice papers be returned
his ON srn another occasion-after his
OF dicment by the grand jufy-Burton
ans sent FOR Cochran. At this interv
Imr Cochran was accompanied by Mr. vi
s,iy efS al the present time chief post
ued Gee Inspector I'm this interview Sen.
ana Burton had said that he wanted 20
Two with the witness about the indictu
SEQ which had been br0urht against