Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-12
SENATE TAKES Up
ARCHIBALD CHARGE
Upper Chamber Hears Case
Against Commerce Judge.
IS IMPEACHED BY HOUSE
Allegations That He Used Office for
Personal Gains Is Denied by
JUrist Whose Acts Are
Under Fire.

Washington, Dec Judge Robert
". Archibald of the United States CON-
merce court sat before the bar Of the
senate Tuesday and heard himself re
ferred to as one who had "prosti-
tuted his high Official position to
personal profit" who had CONNER
ciaIized his pOtentiality as a judge, 3"
and who had degraded his office and
destroyed the confidence of the pub
lie in his integrity
To this arraignment by Congress
man Clayton of Alabama, representing
the managers of the house of repre-
sentatives in the Impeachment pro
ceedIngs against the jurist, Judge
Archbald's chief counsel. a. S. Worth
ington. made an emphatic reply. He
declared the house had brought pro
ceedings against Judge Archibald upon
facts that, if properly analysed.
showed the jurist's motives TO be IN
questionable
"MisbehaviOr and misdemeanoTs"
in Office were the formal charges
against Judge Archibald. The indict-
ment presented by the house consists
Of thirteen articles, a most scathing
and bitter arraignment of the federal
judge. Use of his Office for per
sonal profit is the substance Of all
the charges against the defendant.
He is charged with attempting to
float deals in refuse coal deposits in
Pennsylvania, through railroad Off
Gals, and also improper receipt Of
favors from attorneys before his
court
Sweeping denial Cof wrongdoing
was made by Judge Archibald to
every one of the thirteen charges
against him He contends that no
improper motive can be predicated
from any of his acts, private or off,
cial and that he never gained or
sought to profit by improper use Of
his office
Custer of Archibald will require a
vote of twO-thirds of the senators. al
though a majority only of the house
was required for his Impeachment.
The trial had its inception in a
complaint filed last February before
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Henry B Meyer By William P Bo-
land. president and general manager
of the Marian Coal company Of
Scranton. Pa. Boland told Meyer he
feared Archibald had been or was in
terested in aiding certain railroads in
Boland's litigation with the carriers
The defense Of Judge Archibald lost
the first test submitted to the senate
when a determined fight was made
against the admission Of the contract
entered into between e. J. Williams of
Scranton and William P Boland and
"a silent partner" on the other hand
This silent partner was Judge Arch
bald, and Attorney Worthington con
tended there was nothing to show that
Judge Archibald knew anything of the
contract. By vote of SIS to 6 the sen
ate put the contract into the records.
The only witness heard was e J.
Williams, an unwilling witness and
friendly to Archibald. although called
by the prosecution Williams admitted
that Archibald was the silent PARTNER"
and was to share in the benefits of the
coal deal on one-third basis He said
he was willing to do this for the Judge
because he had used his influence for
him" The witness also admitted that
when he came to Washington to testi-
fly before the house committee his ex-
penses had been paid by Judge Arch
bald