The Washington herald., 1907-01-18
BURTON ON THESTAND
Tells of His Interviews with
Senator Elkins.
PROMISED SHARE OF PROFITS
Declares He Furnished Valuable In
formation and Data Concerning
was Assured He Would Make a Lot
of Money Out of the Deal.

In the suit of Robert Burton and George
A. Dubruef OF Baltimore, against Sen
ator Elkins, to recover $50O.000 alleged 10
be due them in connection with services
rendered to Senator Elltins in securing
control Of the Western Maryland Rail-
road Company, IN the latter part Of 1901,
Burton yesterday continued his testimony
before Justice Wright and a jury. The
case was adjourned until Monday morn
ing at 10 o'clock, when il is probable that
Justice McComas will be called as a wit
ness.
In his testimony yesterday Mr. Burton
told Of report he had made 10 Senator
Eikins of an interview he had with Edgar
II. Cans. OF Baltimore. at Senator FL
kins request The report made by Bur
ton was. he testified. that Mr.. Cans, after
looking over the situation, rendered an
opinion that 1t would be necessary to
go to the legislature to deprive the city
Of its right, and that suits in equity or
injunctions could not accomplish the
purpose. lie also reported 10 Senator
Elkins the result of conferences with
Alexander Brown, Townsend Scott, and
Douglass H. Gordon. president of the
International Trust Company, with ref
erence TO securing q loan
senator MeComas TO Help.
At this interview he suggested-la Sena-
tor EIkins that he, Senator Elkins, get
Senator McComas to help secure control
OF 2.2O0 shares Of stock owned by Wash
ington County. which Senator Elkins
stated ne could do. Senator Elkins also
agreed, Mr.. Burton testified, 10 pool his
stock
Burton testified that he and Dubrueil
owned between Them 100. and Senator
/ Elkns ana his associates owned 30
shares, and it was then agreed that the
profit derived from this combined holding
should be divided. Mr. Burton gave EIkins
a list Of the stockholders, he said early
/ IN December 1901
/ About the middle Of December. Burton
testified that he and Dubrueu met Eikins
/ at the Union station. in Baltimore by ap-
( pOinment Elkins told them that Senator
I McC1mgs arranged TO control the Wash
ingtOn County stock. that he, EIkins, was
going ts New York 10 sea George J.
Gould officials of the North american
Trust Company Nr. Krech, president Of
I the Mercantile Trust Company, Mr..
+ Ramsay, president OF the Wabash sys-
+ tenn, the latter being Mr. GoUid's right
hand man IN his railroad operations Sen
at0r Elkins then said. You can leave the
( Baltimore bankers alone; ali the money
/ viii come from New YORK aad the West"
Syndicate Formed.
| a fifth visit was made by The plaintiffs
/ TO Senator Elkins. the interview taking
place about the middle Of January, 1872
/ in the Capitol building in this city. Sena-
/ tor EIkins then informed them that "A
/ syndicate lad been formed. and that
/ Gould and others were in il; that he was
( in it himself for s400g0; that there had
+ been some change Of the plan which Bur
+ ton and DubrueI proposed, that 8lr. I2ur-
tons name had been given to the syndi-
cate and he would be looked out for in
+ due course for his services in the matter
Looking to n Merger.
At "a later interview Mr. Burton testi-
fed. which was the sixth OF the series
f Senator Elkius told him that he and his
f associates had secured 50 per cent OF the
+ stock Of the West Virginia Central; that
. they, be and his associates, were looking
Maryland, and that they were going tc
make direct bid and negotiate with
/ the city Of Baltimore, and have given
/ up the plan Of freezing out the city
Mr. Burton testified that 1T this tim,
. Senator Elkins said:
You keep quiet about this. and I an
4 going 10 see that You boys make a iOt
{ of money out gf this deal
Al this interview, Mr. Burton testi
fed. Senator Davis, Col. Davis. and Mr.
+ kerens were present, and that Senate,
Eikins said. Whatever I say goes" =,
far as he recalled Afr. Burton declared
I none OF the other gentlemen present SAID
anything.
Keep in Torch with EiI<ins.
Senator Eikins told them TO keep il
touch with him, he said, and 10 give hin
all the plans, data. and information. &c
and to call upon him at any time anc
report He said he had several conver
sations with Senator Elkins over tb,
long-distauce telephone, and kept hin
advised Of the different actions Of Tn,
city council of Baltimore. which was al
that time in session and considering IN,
sale OF the stock of the Western Mary
land Railroad Company.
Nr. Burton will continue his testimon,
when the court convenes on Monday
after which he VIII be cross examined b.
Attorney A. S. Worthington and ex
Senator Faulkner.
According to SIR. Burtons testimOn,
to-day Mr. Cans was to be general. an,
Burton assistant general counsel OF tn
road after consolidation