The Washington times., 1907-03-20
BURTON'S JAIL
DOORS TO OPEN
IN TWO DAYS
viii Attack Enemies In
Speech At Abilene
Saturday Night.

ST. LOUIS, March 2O.-Joseph r.
Burton, former United States Sena-
tor from Kansas, who has been in
Jail at Ironton, Mo, since October
22, will walk out, a free man, Friday.
He will go ont to the air of free
dom with the express determination
TO expose, in the press and by word
of mouth, alleged abuses in Wash
ington. He will go out with opti-
mism in his heart and a smile on i,is
lips, contending that he is innocent.
He will go TO his home town of Abi-
lene TO speak there Saturday night
TO the biggest crowd he can assem-
bic.
lie claims that he will tell "amaz-
ing things He promises to re-
veal the real reason why he was
sent 40 eprisOn and fined $500 on
the charge of accepting money for
practising before the executive de-
partments of the Government for
an alleged get-rlch-quick scheme.
He declares he will give the Presi-
dent trouble.
Also, he looks forward 10 starting a
weekly paper in Abilene. 10 be called
The Home Rule" and for this he says
he has ample financial backing.
Fine Held as Civil Judgment.
The former Senator viii not be re-
quired to serve out the time necessary
TO discharge his $500 fine but il viii
be held over his head as civil judi
ment. He Is thankful for this because,
he says. he has no money 10 pay the
fine at present. When he was asked
today what ne intended To do upon be
ing liberated. Mr Burton said:
Il feel that I owe il 10 myself, to my
wife. and 10 my friends 20 show 10 the
people Of Kansas and Of the United
States that Joe Burton is not dead
one II my plans materialize. I believe
that a lot OF the fellows who have
fought me viii find that ! am pretty
much Of live one.
Will Issue Long Statement.
Burton then admitted that he would
make a long statement as soon as ne
reaches Abilene.
4
large hail." he declared, where just as
many people as can crowd In can hear
me And in that little city where 1
have lived for twenty-eight years. where
I made a fortune of sl50.00l and lost II
when hard times came-in that Httle
city. where II there Is a place on this
earth that people know and understand
me 1t is there, 1 shall talk 20 the people
from my heart itself and tell them Just
how I have suffered. Aud il is true that
expect 10 make some amazing state
ments.
Many Friends in Kansas.
II have lots Of friends in Abilene and
all over Kansas When 1 lost my for
tune. through a depression Of the gen
eral business affairs of the country, !
paid up every dollar that I owed.
And IL IS those creditors 10 whom I
paid all OF my obligations that are now
standing by me in many instances.
have not whimpered 10 them or 70 Cny
man why I was put into the Ironton
Jail Just why 1 was put there shall
be known after I get home. But there
have come letters 10 me from all over
the country since I have been here in
this jail And the most of them, II they
didn't contain any other kind word,
have been offers 20 do anything IN n
personal way for me that could Je
done.
They have been beacons OF hope to
me as 7 Law down at night in my mar
row little prison cell and listened 10
the bowling Of the winds outside or the
driving OF rain or sleet against the
windows OF the corridor.
NO. l have not worried; for, since
that night. last October, when there was
a strange click OF the door behind me
as I came 70 this jail, I have been
steadfast IN the faith that I am and
have always been innocent Of any
wrongdoing."