Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-07
A SENSATION CREATED.
Ex-Treasurer Archer of Maryland Refuses to
pa In, C,nrx

Ex-Treasurer Archer of Maryland Refuses 10
Be Sworn in Court.
By virtue of a writ Of habeas corpus sx-State
Treasurer Stevenson Archer was taken from
Maryland penitentiary yesterday and into the
court at Towson, where the state is proceeding
against his bondsmen to recover as much Is
may be possible from the bond for losses by his
embezzlement. Archer, with Warden Weyler
ut his side, took a seat on bench Immediately
IN the rear of the counsel for the state and
facing the judges. Most of the time he sat with
his head resting on his left hand, his hat on his
knee and with his eyes closed. At times he
seemed to have fallen asleep. He changed his
position rarely and kept his eyes closed most Of
the time. He opened his eyes at intervals to
gaze at the witness on the stand, especially
when his successor, Treasurer Brown, was tes-
tifying.
Archer's object was apparently TO shun the
observation of the familiar faces by which he
was surrounded. Thus he sat for over three
hours. constantly chewing tobacco and listen
ing this time Within an hour of adjournment
the state had decided not to call Archer until
tomorrow. Warden Weyler suggested that as
Archer would not be called he might be taken
back to the penitentiary Mr.. WHITE acquiesced
in this and. at five minutes of o'clock said to
.
with Archer at 10 o'clock Wednesday, as we
cannot get through with him now"
Archers apathy left him. He beckoned to
Mr.. Carter of counsel for the bondsmen and,
after brief consultation with him. turned to
Mr.. Whyte and told him that he would not be
sworn in the case and that there was no use in
his returning.
''Swear Stevenson Archer !" was Mr.. whyte's
reply to this.
Archer advanced quickly to the witness plat
nm, xrhr ch hovz Hoox d. III
commenced to speak when Mr.. Whyte repeated
''Swear Mr.. Archer" wishing that any state
ment made should be under oath. Mr.. Archer
rejected the profferd Bible, and said: ''May 1t
please your honor. with all Difference to the
court, decline to be sworn and decline to an
swer any questions in this case for reasons that
are entirely self-sufhcient to myself"
Il insist on his being sworn, and then he
may decline to answer" said Mr.. Whyte. II
want to ask him one question"
Il think there is no reason why you should
decline to be sworn" said Judge Fowler to
Archer.
Archer had backed away from the platform
to the vicinity Of the counsel for the bondsmen,
and was told by Mr.. Carter that he need not be
sworn. Advancing again, Archer said: with
all Difference to the court, I must refuse to be
sworn"
There is nothing to do with q witness who
refuses to answer questions except to imprison
him. said Mr.. Whyte. 'As Archer is already
In the Penitentiary there is nothing left to do
except to remand him to the custody of the
warden and accept the situation"
60 with the warden" said Judge Fowler to
Archer, and the exciting scene came to an end.
Warden Weyler Immediately took charge Of
Archer and drove back to the city as he had
come. As Archer left the court room he was
greeted by several friends, but he was not al
lowed TO inger.
Mr. Whyte was indignant at the way Archer
acted. He had expected, he said, to see a
thoroughly penitent man who would move
| every one to tears by his sorrow for the wrongs
committed. Instead Of this he saw man, he
said, who showed no computations of con-
science for his misdeeds but was hardened in
his way. Archer's action, Mr.. whyte said,
would cause a change Of sentiment generally.
He had been regarded with sympathy, but he
would now be thought Of only with aversion.