The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-22
HOW BURTON AIDED
"GET.RICH. H.QUICK''
Former Attorney of Company
Tells How Kansas Senator
Was Retained.

St. Louis, Nov. 22.-When the Bur
ton trial opened today, Thomas B. Har-
Ian, former attorney to the Rialto Grain
& Securities company, was placed on
the stand for the prosecution. ..
At Senator Burton s former trial,
Harlan was witness for the defense,
= and the object of Mr.. Lehman s cross.
examination was to bring out the testl-
mony elected from Mr.. Harlan at the
former trial when a illness for the de-
written by Harlan to Senator Burton
accepting the latter 8 proposition to
act as attorney for the Rialto com
pany for a salary of $500 a month,
which was introduced yesterday, and
questioned the witness regarding. the
events leading up to the writing OF the
letter.
Meeting with Senator.
Mr.. Harlan described his first meet.
ing with Senator Burton on Nov. II,
1902. He said Senator Burton had lit;
tie time at his disposal and he proposed
to accompany the senator to Chicago
and talk over matters on the train.
which proposal was accepted.
He said he described to Senator Bur
ton the legal difficulties in which the
Rialto company was involved thru the
animosity of a former business partner
of Major Dennis, president of the
Rialto company, who, the witness de-
clared, had caused the institution Of
fifteen civil suits, twenty libel suits and
the probability of about two hundred
other cases, and that it was probable
that indictments might be returned by
the federal grand jury against Major
Dennis.
A Job for Burton. .."
According to the Witness, the con;
versation then turned to railroads, and
he explained that the Rialto company
projected a new securities depart
ment,' and suggested, that Burton
a position. as the director Of a rail
road board and having other fnancia:
interests, to investigate thoroly anC
keep in touch with the securities ir
which it was proposed to deal.
In recalling his conversation with
Senator Burton, Mr.. Harlan said:
"He said (meaning Senator Burton)
NOW, You must remember I am 6
United States senator. l am not going
to do anything inconsistent with my
duty as a United States SENATOR
~ assured Senator Burton that
didn t want him under any circum
stances to do anything inconsistent
with his position as United States sen
ator, and / was just as positive in my
statement as he was in declaration a!
far as that matter was concerned.
Op W GulS Gllllt llOGuluS udtl DCCI
B. said about compensation. He had no
even Indicated to the best of my recol
lection, whether he would or would no
become counsel.
Five Hundred Month.
"I brought up the question of com
pensation. I explained to Senate
Burton that 1 did not feel that l hat
any authority to close any contract
but I would take the whole thing int,
consideration and report it back to tn,
company when [ returned to St. Louis
Senator Burton said he would serv
as counsel at $500 a month. Tha
struck me as being reasonable, so muc]
so that did not dissent to it, all thing
considered. And he said: 'Of course
I don It want to, get cut off at the en-,
of one month ] don't want to go dow
there to st. Louis and try to help yo1
in the trial Of that case, should ther
be an Indictment, and have my salar,
cut off at the end of that month S.
one or the other of us, I don't remem
Der which one of us, suggested fv
months. At any rate, whoever sue
i gested it, that was acceptable