Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-11-23
Charged with ASceptihg cohDsnsa-
ton for Attemptihg to Preventsr
prraud order Isshins Against =
aAis1 RiaIto Grain companys es

ernment's case. He said the charge
was brought under Section No. 1882 q
the, Revised Statutes Of the United
States by which no employe or Officer Of
the United States government may re-
ceIve or agree to receive any compen-
satlon by representing any party or
parties in any matter, before any de-
partment Of the United States govern
ment, in which the government Is in
terested. The penalty for conviction Is
term of not more than two years in
the penjtentiaFy orr q fine Of not more
than 10000, OF, both, and that the
convicted person shall be forever do
barred from holding Office under the
United States government DIM yaa
Attorney Lehman followed and
outlined to the jury the position that
will be taken by the defense. He adj
mitted that Senator Burton had been
employed by the Rialto Grain, and Sc
curities company, but laid stress upon
the fact that the president Of the COM
pany, Maj. Hugh c. Dennis. now dead
was at that time under indictment by
the federal grand jury, and commended
that the principal reason for Senator
Burton's employment was that he
was expected to assist at Dennis trial
That he did not do so, Mr., Lehman
said, was due to the fact that Maj,
Dennis was advised that he had al
ready such an array Of legal talent
that the presence Of Senator Burton
and the members Of st. Louis firm
of attorneys whom he was about to
engage would overweight his case
with counsel a.1 .tA, 1855 1,f4b1go
Mr., Lehman contended that the
visits Senator Burton paid to the post
office department officials were not for
the purpose Of influencing action In
regard to the matters In which the
RiaIto company itself was Interested,
but for the purpose Of investigating
the case against Maj, Dennis. Mr..
Lehman explained that while SenR-
tor Burton was employed by the Rial
to company and yet expected to de-
vote his principal endeavors to the
case growing out Of the indictment
Of its president, there was nothing
unusual in this, as Maj. Dennis owned
almost all the stock Of the Rialto COM
pany and that they were practically
one. "9R @@sh 2h' saA9sA IN
Attorney Lehman admitted the
payment to Senator Burton Of $500 in
he Offices Of the Rialto company in
u. Louis on March 26, 1903, but de-
Haired that It was simply the last Of
he monthly payments agreed upon |
when Senator Burton was engaged.
dr. Lehman said that when the mat
er Of defending Maj. Dennis was first
lroached to him, that he declared he 4
ould not AFFORD to take the case II he
vas to be employed only asfnpnth or |
o, and INSIDE aprop0sition that he |
vas to have a 1--WE months contract
t $500 q month, which could be ex.
ended at the option Of the Rialto
This was agreed to, said
ar. Lehman. e''iod iaiql ..4lo's SusI
In regard to the charges that sena-
or Burton had used his influence
Thile'a member Of the United States |
enate to prevent the postoflce Depart |
nent from issuing a fraud order
gainst the Rialto company. Mr.. Leh-
mann said; ~ N ,s4s ea |
We will prove that while It Is true
hat the affairs Of the Rialto company
Fere under investigation BY postofice
Inspectors, that their formal report
0 the chief postoflce inspector at
Washington embodied a RECOMMENDED
lon from United States District At
orney Over that a fraud order be not
'sued and that this was approved by
ssistant United States Attorney Cen
raj 'Robb. assigned to the postohice
apartment.
''In fact, gentlemen. the fraud order
Ias not issued upon the fecommenda-
ON ofthe very ofilcials who are now
roseeuting Senator Burton on the
barge Of using his influence for that
suit .a-oi tl a41nps so-q ft.Fe
The government then submitted as
without objection BY the de-
'nsea the certificates Of election and
laalifieation Of MI. Burton as
,nited States senator from Kansas
nd the certificates OF incorporation
the Rialto Grain and Securities
aallt 80 s lqHa1s y
= T-uuus 20 rhe ndloufnment o.
,urt uutil Tuesday morning the gox-
-nmsnt Introduced Witnesses who
imply Identified letters Of complaint
yaiust the Rialto Grain ana securi-
q company which had bsea sent By
lem % the postmaster general.