The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-22
Rx Associated Press.

Washington, May 21.-George F.
Baer. president of the Pennsylvania &
Reading railroad. testified today in
the house inquiry into the charges
against Judge Robert w Archibald. or
the commerce court. He said the rail-
road company was not connected with
the Philadelphia & Reading Coal &
Iron Company, of which he is also the
president The policy Of the company,
he said, was not to lease its culm
banks.
The examination of Mr.. Baer was
brief. He denied having any con-
versation with Judge Archibald in re-
gard to a culm property.
Did Judge Archibald, to your knowl-
edge, intercede with you or your COM
pany to lease a culm bank to Fred
Warneke, of ScrantonT" asked Chair
man Clayton.
mot with me-"
Vice President Richards, of the
same coal company, testified that on
November rs and 81, 1911, Judge Arch
bald called on him at Pottsville and
asked for the situation in regard to
the proposed Warneke lease.
'T told him the matter had been
considered and was practically closed
and that the culm bank would not be
leased said Mr.. Richards.
letter written from Scraton by
Judge Archibald was read. 1t was writ
ten on q letterhead Of the commerce
court
Mr. Richards was asked II his broth
er was offered SIS, 600 to influence Rich
ards to change his mind so Warneke
could get the lease.
My brother had nothing to do with
It warneke wrote him about three
years ago TO use his influence with
me-"
OTHER WITNESSES.
H. c. Reynolds, of Scranton, an at
torney, testified that last February or
March he was talking with john T.
Lenahan, former congressman, about
Judge Archibald, and expressed the
orinion that he did not see much in
the story about an attempt to have c.
c.. Boland discount the S2,500 note en-
dorsed by Judge Archibald about the
time BoIand had a case before the
iu6ge. Mr. Reynolds quoted Lenahan
as having said: What would you
think if told you that about the time
we had the old Plymouth Coal Com
pany case in the federal courts. Mr..
Rissinger, Of the company. came to me
and asked me to discount a note for
$4,000 in which Judge Archibald was
interested 90
w. w. Rissinger, of Scranton, Pa,
mine operator, testified that in 1908
promoter named Hamilton came TO
him with a gold placer concession in
Honduras. He took the matter UP
with Judge Archibald, who said, the
pl ploposition looked good"
Mr.. Rissinger said he, Judge Arch
bald and the formers mother-in-law
signed a $4,000 note to raise money to
go into the concession. The witness
said the note was still unpaid, but was
discounted by a local bank. Several
times, he said, it had been renewed.
Mr.. Rissinger declared he could not
remember having asked Mr.. Lenahan
or his bank in Wilkesbarre TO dis
count the note.
81 got the note discounted at the
bank l usually do business WITH he
said. MY recollection Is indis-
tinct"
Did Judge Archibald know you
were going to discount the note?'
Yes, I think so."
Did he suggest who would discount
it?"
No"
The witness said Judge Archibald got
nc money from the note, but stock in
the Honduras deal
Under cross examination. Rissinger
said the old Plymouth Coal Company
case was settled November 19, 1908,
and final judgment entered by Judge
Archibald November %, 1908. The note
dafaH