The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-08
w. P. Boland, an Independ
ent Coal Dealer, Outlines
the Allegations Against
Judge Archibald.
CERTAIN DEALS TO
BE INQUIRED INTO
Some Business Transactions
of the Commerce Court
Justice Are Alleged to Be
Questionable.
(National Nsws Association

SCRANTON, Pa, May S.-For the
first time since charges that Judge r.
w. Archibald of the L. S. Commerce
Court had engaged in a questionable
deal with the Erie railroad were laid
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, w. P. Boland, an independent
coal operators of this city. representa-
tive of interests allied with the prose
cution, today gave out several alleged
specific instances on which the char
ges were based
The result of the investigation of
the department of justice into the Ar
chibald case, which is now before the
house judiciary committee. covers a
period of several years, 1t is said, and
deals for the purchase and sale of
culm dumps, the offering of notes for
discount and the trial of suit against
Boland's coal company in the United
States district court feature.
Chief among the allegations, these
men say, is the recent deal whereby,
1t is claimed, Judge Archibald and E.
j. Williams, a former mining man,
were to buy the Katydid culm dump
at Moosic from the Erie railroad COM
pany and an outside interest for $S.-
900 and sell 1t to the Lakawana and
Wyoming Valley railroad, an electric
line, for $4,000.
Another Allegation.
Next in Importance. it is said. is the
allegation that Judge Archibald had,
through Williams, suggested that the
Marian county coal company by selling
it's property to a client he had in mind
could escape the trouble and expense
involved in a prosecution being car
ried by that company against the ID. L.
& w. railroad company before the In
terstate Commerce Commission, and a
suit against the company by John w.
Peal, coal sales agent of New York.
A note for $500 indorsed by Judge
Archibald and offered by E. J. Will
liams to Boland for discount will also
be featured in the case, it is said. Bo-
land in placing his charges before the
Interstate Commerce Commission is
said to have made the statement to
that body that unless they took imme-
diate action in his case he believed he
was to be wiped out Of existence by
the coal companies. The charges were
so serious that the commission laid
them before President Taft and secret
service agents were sent here to inves-
tigate them.
The name of the D. L. & w. railroad
came into the case for the hrst time
and it was said here that E. E. Loomis
president of the d. L. & w. Coal COM
pany, is expected to be subpoenaed be-
fore the congressional committee as
witness.
Was Urged to Sell.
Last fall. it is said, Williams, a life
long friend of Judge Archibald, and
business friend of Boland, went to Bo-
lands Office with a suggestion that a
sale of the Marian coal company would
help Boland's litigation and restore to
him the money he had put into the
property. Williams told Boland, it is
said, that Judge Archibald had a eli
ent who would buy the property, but
did not give the name of that client
He is alleged to have asked that Bo-
land sell for 100000 and secure op-
tions on the stock in the company, and
| to have said that Judge Archibald
would put the deal through. Boland, IL
| is said agreed and secured the options
and then reported to Williams and At
torney G. NJ. Watson, county silicitor.
that he was ready for the sale. When
| the sale Jagged Boland investigated, it
E. railroad company was the client to
buy him out At that time Boland was
pressing his case against that railroad
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
The Deal Fell Through.
The deal fell through and Boiand
is said to have continued an investiga-
ton, the result of which is said to
have been that when il came TO buying
the Marian coal company the railroad
company had been told that s150,00
to get was the bottom price for the
company's interests.
Several years ago. IL is said. VIII
liams went to Boland's ofice asking
that he be given $500 for a note indors-
ed by Judge Archibald. At that time
| Boland was a defendant in a suit in
the court over which Judge Archibald
was presiding Boland refused to dis
count the note and Williams is report
ed to have stated that he made a mis-
i take in not doing so. This transaction
supported by afidayits. il is said. will
be offered In evidence at the hearing.