Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-11-22
BURTONFACES
NCR|M|NAT|NG
DOCUMENTS
Damaging Letters Are Pro-
duCed in Court.
DEFENSE DOES NOT QUESTION
AUTHENTICITY or LETTERS
Evidence Indicates Senator Accepted
Bribes From Rialto Grain and
Securities Company,

st. Louis, Mo-, Nov. 21.-The intro
duction of letters and kilograms ex-
changed between Senator Burton and
Thomas B. Harlan, an attorney for
the Rfalto Grain and Securities COM
pany was the feature OF the second
day of the trial of United States Sem
ator Joseph r. Burton, of Kansas, in
the United States circuit court on an
Indictment charging that he agreed to
accept and accepted compensation
from the Rialto company for using his
influence while member OF the Unit
ed states senate for the benefit of the
Rialto company in matters pending
before the Dostoffice department and
in which the government was inter-
ested
The effort to introduce this evidence
by the government brought frequent
objections from counsel for the de-
fense, which in only one instance was
sustained by Judge Vandeventer. The
court ruled that one telegram which
was said by the government to be a re-
ply to one sent to Senator Burton by
Harlan was not relevant
In no case did the defense question
the authenticity of the letters or tele-
grams basing their objections on the
pertinent to the allegations made in
the indictment.
Mr.. Harlan, who, at Senator Bur-
toms former trial was called as a wit
ness by the defense, was placed on the
stand by the government today and
called upon to Identify letter press cop
les of letters sent by him to Senator
Burton and originals of letters re-
celvel by him from Senator Burton.
The first letter submitted was dated
Novembey is, 1902. addressed to SEN
ator Burton and signed BY Harlan.
Following Is an excerpt from this doe
ument:
u hope you received my message to
the effect that this company tmeaning
the Rialto company accepts your
terms to act as counsel at a salary of
$500 month. said service to begin
Immediately: that Is of this date, No
venber 1S, 1902"
senator BurtOn's Reply.
In reply Senator Burton wrote Har-
Ian in part as follows:
Il called at the department this
morning and find that there are, two
complaints lodged against your COM
pany. One by Bell A. Evans and the
other by Mrs, X. c. Kont. both of Al
bany, N. Y. without knowing about
the merits of the same, I would ad-
wise that all complaints receive spec
ial attention by your company. No
action of any kind will be taken
against you without me being first no.
titled and every opportunity for full
explanation or hearing viii be had
"In return, II agreeable, YOU may
make remittance for my months pay
The following is taken frim letter
har n
tor Burton by Harlan:
"The cases here indictments
against President of Rialto) are set for
trial on the 9Th Of January, and
Judge Krum and are preparing nov
for the trial +"
In reply to the letter from Harlan
stating that an alleged post0ffice ir-
spector had tried to extract money
from the Ria'lto company by virtue OF
his official position. Senator Burton
wrote the following: There Is no
man by the name Nof ]. H. Bowman.
who Is postoffice Inspector. The
man operating In Colorado is also a
fraud. There have gone from this Of
fee no instructions whatever about
the Rlalto company and there Is moth
ing In this office against you at this
time. The matter In st. Louis, as you
know, is in the hands of Mr. Dice
there.
II would suggest that you prepare
carefully the case of Dennis for early
next month.
Il will take care of things at this
en1 Of the llne.'
Four checks for $500 each sent by
the Rialto company Of st. Louis TO
Senator Burton while he was In WASH
ington. ID. c.. were submitted by the
government. and. while objected to by
the defense on grounds of relevancy,
Senator Burton acknowledged the in
dorsements on their backs.