The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-22


definite information of the present pro-
ceedings before the federal grand jury
Mr.. Harlan reviewed the relations of
Hugh c. Dennis to the Brookes Brok-
erage company, and his letter concludes
as follows:
Il do not know what reports have
been sent to the postof1ee department
at Washington nor am prepared to
say that the government intends to
make case against Major Dennis, but
if you can ind it convenient to in
quire of these facts at the department
you may be able to perform for us a
great service at this time Should
any action be taken here by the grand
jury I viii wire you at once
Mr.. Harlan also identified a letter
he had received from Senator Burton
in reply in which the senator re-
ferred to complaints against the
Rialto company and said:
II should like to be advised what
there is in these complaints With
out knowing anything about the events
of the same I would advise that all
complaints receive special attention of
your company and If possible satisfy
the compliments, especially should
this be your motto until this Brooks
have arranged with the department
to be advised in case any complaints
are made against your company and
have arranged for a special hearing If
any iSa4 MS S4AouAd beCOlHS Heces-
A Burton Check.
A check for $500 drawn on the
Commonwealth Trust company of ST.
Louis, made payable to the order of
]. r. Burton and signed Rialto Grain
No, by Hugh c.. Dennis, president,
was offered. The check was fndorsed
on the back J. r. Burton.
A second letter written to Senator
Burton by Harlan was offered in evil
dence. In part Mr.. Harlan wrote:
1.-The question is, how to meet the
situation as it now exists. AS was to
be expected, the fact of the indict-
ments was telegraphed as a news item
all over the country Today's mails
have brought in several communica-
tons threatening in their nature, and
the balance of the week viii probably
bring great many more.
1t is where parties lost money by the
action of the market that will give US
the most trouble, as they will under
take to blackmail the company into
paying them something that they are
not entitled to. In all such cases we
have determined to stand strictly on
our rights and the result will prob
ably be numerous complaints pouring
into Washington from different parts
of the country. We will be able to
meet each one of these cases indi-
vidually and show the postofice de-
ktrAA llliEAlk d ClGdE record
Locally L believe we will be able to
control the situation, as this business
has been pretty thoroughly gone over
by the inspectors At vo1Ir
end of the line you will of course use
you roWn Judgment in handling the
situation. We will at all times be
glad to observe any request made bv
the postoff1oe department or submit to
any examination that it may direct
Watch the Jury.
A letter from Senator Burton to Mr..
Harlan, under date of December 9, was
read, in which Senator Burton, among
other things, wrote:
L would suggest that you prepare
carefully the case. of Dennis early for
next month, and have learned to know
that you must watch carefully that the
jury is not set up against you. BY the
way, can you get a fair trial before
Judge Adams? There are all important
questions that you must carefully con-
sider''
A third letter to 4dr. Harlan, written
by Senator Burton on the letter heads
of the committee on forest reservation,
of which he was chairman, was offered
and identified by Mr. Harlan. It said in
part:
Il will be in St. Louis the fore part of
next month, so soon as congress adj
journs, and shall remain several days.
Be sure and keep me advised if there is
anything to do at this end of the line
before going away. I have tried to keep
the department in a good humor with
Major Dennis and think have succeed
ed. If agreea bic on receipt of this I
wish you would have my months pay
sent in, so I can reach it by Monday
next"
Burton Wanted His Pay.
Two new letters were introduced and
identified, which were not presented at
the first trial. One of them was on
the letter head of the senate and dated
January 10, 1903. It follows:
ITO Mr.. Thomas B. Harlan. st. Louis,
Mo-My Dear Sir: You told me when
promptly to notify you. AS you recall it
was due the 18th and this is the 18th.
After this shall I mail draft on the 18th?
Have heard nothing from you about the
case. Please tell me how you came out.
Faithfully yours, J. r. BURTON"
On January %, 1903. the following let
ter was written:
ITO Hon. J. r. Burton, U. S. Senator,
Washington, D. G. My Dear Senator I
was Mortified today to learn from Mr..
Harland that check fdT your current
months salary had not been sent you.
This matter I had left entirely in Mr..
Harland's hands and supposed that it
was always attended to. His industry
j in the federal case against me, which
closed las you probably know by the
court throwing the case out without me
/ being called on to offer a single line Of
! evidence is exceedingly pleasing to me
and is doubtless the cause of his over
i looking forwarding your check. have