Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-22
BURROWS LETTERS READ
Correspondence Between senstOr und
Rialto Grain Company in Court.
CONTRACT CALLS FOR $500 A MONTH
Burton Agrees 60 watch WRshingtOn
End OF Line and Promises No
Action VIII He Taken
without Notice.

ST. LOUIS Mo. Nov 2l-The introduce
ton of letters and kilograms exchanged
between Senator Burton and Thomas B.
Harlan, an attorney for the Rialto Grain
and Securities company, this afternoon was
the important feature of the second day
of the trial of United States Senator
Joseph Ralph Burton Of Kansas in the
United states circuit court on an indict-
ment charging that he agreed to accept
and accepted compensation from the Rialto
company for using his influence, while
member of the United States senate for the
benefit of the Rialto company in matters
pending before the Postohlce department,
and in which the government was inter-
ested. The effort to introduce this evil
dence by the government brought frequent
objections from the counsel for the defense.
which in only one instance were sustained
by Judge Vandevanter. The court ruled
that one telegram which was said by the
government to be a reply to one sent to
Senator Burton by Harlan was not rele-
wants
In no case did the defense question
the authenticity OF the letters or kilograms,
basing their objections upon the grounds
that the contracts we're pertinent to the
allegations made in the indictment.
Mr.. Harlan, who at Senator Burton's
former trial was called as a witness by the
defense, was placed on the stand by the
government today and called upon to iden-
tify letter-press copies of letters sent by
him to Senator Burton and originals OF
letters received by him from Senator Bur
ton.
Letters In the Case.
The first letter submitted was dated No
vember Is, 1902, addressed to Senator Bur-
ton and signed by Harlan. Following is
an excerpt from this document:
l hope you received my message to the
effect that this company (meaning the Ri
alto company accepts your terms to act
as. counsel at a salary of $500 a month,
said service to begin Immediately; that is
Of this date, November IS, 1902.
In reply Senator Burton wrote Harlan
I'm part as follows:
l called at the department this morning
and find that there are two complaints
Bella Evans and the other by Mrs. X. c.
Hont, both of Albany, n Y. Without
knowing anything about the merits of the
same. l would advise that all complaints
receive special attention by your company.
against you without my first being noti-
PLANTATION or hearing will be had.
In return, II agreeable, you may make
remittance for my first months pay.
The following is taken from letter dated
DeCeIlDeI = lSOI, sent 10 senator Burton Dy
Harlan: ~
The cases here indictments against Dem
mis- president Rialto company are set for
trial on January 6, and Judge Krum and
l are preparing now for the trial.
Burton Writes of inspectors.
In reply to letter from Harlan stating
that an alleged postoffice inspector had
tried to extract money from the Rialto
company by virtue of his official position.
Senator Burton wrote the following:
There is no man by the name of J. n.
Bowman who is a postofice Inspector
The man operating in Colorado is also a
fraud. There has gone from this ohlce
no instructions Whatever about the Rialto
company and TIERS Is nothing In this office
against you at ftAjs- time. The-inatter In
81 t 6Gs tS e. you know is in the bands Of
/ would suggest that you prepare care
fully the case Of Dennis for early next
month. . ..te.-s.. - ..,.
the line
Four checks for $500 each. sent by the
Rialto company of st. Louis 20 Senator
Burton while he was in Washington D. c.
were submitted by the government. and
while objected TO by the defense on grounds
of relevancy, Senator Burton acknowledged
the Endorsements on their backs.