Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-06
SALE OF CULM DUMP
Judge ArchbaId's Relations
With Erie Railway Officials.
EVIDENCE BEFORE SENATE
Developments in Impeachment Pro-
ceedings This Afternoon.
W. A. MAY DENIES STATEMENT
Says He Had No Intention of In
fuencing Judge Archibald When
Recommending Sale.
EVIDENCE BEFORE SENATE
W. A. MAY DENIES STATEMENT

Testimony showing the relations exist
ing between Judge Robert w. Archibald
of the Commerce Court and officials OF
the Erie railroad was expected to be
developed when the impeachment trial OF
Judge Archibald was resumed in the Sen.
ate at 1:3O o'clock this afternoon. The
testimony. 1t is said. will relate to the
visit which the judge is alleged to have
made to the officials Of the railroad prior
to the purchase of the Katydid culm
terest.
W. A. May, vice president and general
manager of the Hillside Iron and Goa
Company. subsidiary of the Erie rail
road, was again on the stand for further
examination and for cross-examination
this afternoon.
Mr.. May was asked about negotiations
for the sale Of the Katydid culm bank
Archibald made an offer for 1t. In re.
sponse to the questions, the witness stated
that negotiations had been pending with
the Dupont Power Company for the sale
of the dump for $4,000.
THAT is the same dump which Will
liams and Judge Archibald were to ge,
for $1,000, Is it?' asked Representative
Sterling. who was conducting the exami-
nation. The reply was in the affirmative
1t Is fact. isn't 1t. that the value OF
culm dump has been going up in the last
five years." continued MI Sterling
YES" replied the witness.
Mr.. May was then asked regarding his
visit to New York and his talk with Off
cials of the Erie railroad regarding the
sale OF the dump to Judge Archibald
Vice President May Testifles.
In the course Of his testimony yester-
day Afternoon Vice President May made a
vigorous denial that he had in mind in
fluencing Robert Archibald as a judge of
the Commerce Court when he recon-
mended the sale of the Katydid culm
dump to E. J. Williams and Judge Arch
bald.
Under the examination of Representa-
tive Sterling. Mr.. May told of receiving
Williams with letter from Judge Arch
bald asking If the Katydid dump was for
sale. consultation between MIR. May
and Vice President Richardson Of the
coal company and also of the railroad
company, followed. at which it was de-
cided not to sell. August %, 1911, May
testified Richardson told him to so ahead
with the sale.
Why did he say to go ahead?' in
Quired Representative Sterling.
He told me Judge Archibald had been
to see him." was the response.
Five days later. Mr.. May testified, he
met Judge Archibald on the street and
told him to send Williams to see him.
May testified he then wrote to Williams
offering to sell the dump He ac-
knowledged receiving another letter from
Judge Archibald. who asked that the
purchase price of 81. 800 be kept confiden-
tial. He told of. Richard Bradley con-
senting to buy the dump from Williams
but he testified he did not know Bradley
h;-i agreed to pay $4,000 for the prop
erty.
Reasons for Withdrawal.
Under fire Of questions the witness
denied that he withdrew a form of sale.
submitted to Bradley. because che had
tip that Judge Archbalds conduct was
being Investigated. He gave as the rea-
son that litigation was threatened by per-
sons claiming an interest in the dump.
Under cross-examination Z. J. Williams,
the first witness of the day, testified that
William G. Boland had asked him to get
Judge Archibald to write the letters to
Mr.. May. and that Boland had been
promised an interest in the property
j. H. RittenhOuse of Scranton, a wit
ness soon to appear in the trial. was "ad-
monshed" tD obey the summons of the
Senate. On complaint of Representative
Clayton that Mr.. Rittenhouse had refused
to obey the subpoena. special order was
issued by the Senate, for the attach
ment' of the person of the witness He
was brought into the Senate just before
adjournment, and admonished by Presi-
dent Bacon that he must hold himself
ready to testify at any time until re-
leased by the Senate.