The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-30
Interest Shifts to South

Washington. May 29-Interest In the in- ycstigation of charges against Robert W. Al chbald of the commerce court shifted from Pennsylvania Culm bank deals to the south today Judge Arehbalds alleged connection with what was known as the Kew Orleans board of trade case" was tud by Helm Bruce of Louisville, Ky.. counsel for the Louisville and Nashville rillraad Mr Bruce produced letters whien showed that Judge Archibald sought it- I, rmaton from the attorney and per- mitted him to file what was conceded to be an additional brief after the New orleans case had been submitted to ths court for decision and to Judge Archibald for the written opinion.
 The case involved freight rates from New Orleans to Montgomery, Ala, via Mobile. 1t was one of the first appeals to the interstate commerce commission to the newly created court of commerce. ana it's chief point was a question of Jurisdiction.
 MT. Bruce read letter from Judge Archibald asking him to see C.. c. Comp ton, traffic manager or the Louisville and Nashville, and get from him what he
 
 testimony to commissioner Judge Archbald's letter pointed out that Mir. Comptons answer did not conform with the context of the testimony. MT. Bruce also read his letter of reply to Judge archibald containing a statement that Mir. | Compton said he was erroneously reported and that his answer should be directly | opposed to that contained in the record. Letter Was a Brief
 
 1 Bruce from Florida, where he was so- | journing on houseboat and asked for an amplilcation of a statement contained 1 in the Louisville and Nashville brief, 1 which seemed at variance with the testi- mony, Mr. Bruce replied with a i0Q0 word letter. It set forth the Judges questions | and aswered each in detail and at length. | MT Bruce admitted that his letter was an argument kind of d brief and that | so far as he knew it had not been sub | mitted to opposing counsel. | Representative Webb asked MT. Bruce 1 If he had ever known a judge to ask for such information before. Mir. Bruce said he had known of Judges who consulted counsel
 Was this not an unusual proceeding?r asked Mir. Webb.
 T think it was unusual" answered the railroad attorney.
 MT. Bruce aiso wrote a letter to Judge Archibald thanking him after the decision was rendered. This decision was favor able to the railroad and against the inter- state commerce commission. He also pro- duced Judge Archbalds reply. which was highly complimentary to the attorney. Members of the bar who praeticed be- fore Judge Archibald when he was United States district judge at Scranton, Pa, contributed to fund for vacation trip | to Europe for the judge. according to l testimony of John T. Lanihan of Wilkes | barre, former member of Congress. MT Lanihan contributed sl0 or s25, he could not remember which, at the solieita- l tion of E. W. Searls clerk of Judge Arch bald's court Another law firm in Wilkes barre, he said. did likewise
 Lanihan Testifies 1 pormer Representative Lanhan also | told the commission of an effort by w. ! W. Kissinger whom he had represented | in a case before Judge Archibald. to get him to discount note for s250o. q asked him what he wanted with tho money" said Mir. Lanihan. He told me that he was interested with Judge Archibald in a Honduras gold mine and wanted to use the money there. would not grant his request because did rot think the directors of my bank would lend the money for such an in- vestment."
 1 Albert II. Walker, an attorney, testified { to his part in the proceedings in New | York when Judge Archibald accepted the nolo contendoc pleas of officials of the so- called wire trust and fined each of them sl0cd
 1 Mir Walker said he had written to Judge Archibald after this decision warning him | against such small fines for big offenders. He also said he declined appointment as an attorney to institute impeachment pro- eeedings against Judge Archibald at that time.