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
%, will walk out, a free man, Friday.
He will go out 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 viii go out with opti-
mism in his heart and a smile on his
lips, contending that he is innocent.
He will so to his home town of Abi-
lene to speak there Saturday night
TO the biggest crowd he can assem-
BILE
He claims that he will tell "amag-
ing things" He promises to re-
veal the real reason why he was
sent 40 sprisOn and fined $500 on
the charge of accepting money fer
practising before the executive de-
partments of the Government Ger
an alleged get-rich-quick scheme.
He declares he will give the Presi-
dent trouble.
Also. he looks forward to starting a
weekly paper In Abilene, 10 be called
The Home Rule" and for this he says
he has ample financial backing.
Fire Held as Civil Judgment.
The former Senator will not be re
Quired 70 serve out the time necessary
to discharge his $500 fine but il WI
be held over his head as civil judl--
ment. He is thankful for this because,
he says. he has no money To pay the
fine at present. When he was asked
today what he intended to do upon be-
ing liberated, Mr.. Burton said:
Il feel that I owe it 10 myself, TO my
wife, and 10 my friends 10 show 70 the
people of Kansas and of the United
States that Joe Burton is not dead
one II my plans materialize, / believe
that a lot OF the fellows who have
fought me Will find that am pretty
much Of a live one
Will Issue Long Statement.
Burton then admitted that he would
make a long statement as soon as he
reaches Abilene.
III say whatever I've got to say in
large hail." he declared, where just as
many people as can crowd In can hear
me. And in that little city where l
have lived for twenty-eight years, where
1 made a fortune Of sl50,000 and lost II
when hard times Came-in that little
city. where If there is a place on this
earth that people know and understand
me IL is there I shall talk TO the people
rEnfF 4 rnNH
how I have suffered Aud il is true that
1 expect TO make some amazing state
ments.
Many Friends in Kansas.
Il have lots OF friends in Abilene and
ell over Kansas. When l lost my for
tune. through a depression of the gen
eral business affairs OF the country, +
paid up every dollar that / owed.
And IL Is those creditors TO whom l
paid all os my obligations that are now
standing by ME in many instances. I
have not whimpered 10 them or 10 any
man why I was put into the Ironton
Jail. Just why I was put there shall
be known after I get home. But there
have come letters TO me from all over
the country since I have been here in
this jail And the most Of them. If they
didn't contain any other kind word,
have been offers 10 dc anything In
personal way for me that could be
done
They have been beacOns OF hope 20
me as 7 lay down at night in my mar
row little prison cell and listened 70
the bowling of the winds outside or the
driving Of rain or slest against the
windows Of the corridor
NO. 1 have not worried; for, since
that night. last October, when there was
a strange click Of the door behind me-
as I came 10 this jail. I have been
steadfast in the faith that l am and
have always been innocent Of any
wrongdoing."