New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-17
'EXONERATES ARCHIBALD
. OF IMPROPER CONDUCT
BroWneII. Erie Vice-President,
HotIy Criticises W. P. 3D.
lands Charges.
SUGGESTS PERJURY ACTION
Demands That Scranton Man Be
Prosecuted if He Testifies
to Allegations Before
Committee.
From The Tribune Bureau. ;

Washington May lG-Testimony favor
able to Judge Robert w Archibald Of the
Commerce Court. against whom charges
are pending before the House Committee
on Judiciary. was given when the commit
tee resumed its Investigation to-day with
George r. Brownell. vlce-presdent OF the
Erie Railroad on the witness stand. Mr.
Brownell exonerated Judge Archibald OF
any improper actions or motives in nego-
tiating for the Fries Katydid culm pile.
The witness used emphatic language in his
criticism Of the charges preferred before
the Attorney General by w. j. Boland. OF
Scranton. With much warmth the railroad
official demanded that Mr.. Boland be held
for perjury If he testified to these charges
before the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Brownell declared that Mr. Boland' $
alleged statement that he (BrownelD aided
Judge Archibald to secure the culm pile
option was "grotesquely. absurdly, UNI
qualiiedly and absolutely false" The Erie
official was an indignant witness through
/ out.
The defence Of Judge Archibald was also
aided to-day by John VI. Robertson, or
! Scranton. part owner in the coal pile. MI.
/ Robertson characterized ". +. Boland as
a man prone to litigate." He also testified
that the Erie had offered 10 sell Its culm
dump for S2,10, which was $500 less than
the amount mentioned In the Archibald
/ Williams negotiations.
B Mr.. Brownell began his testimony by
! telling of a visit OF Judge Archibald to his
office in New York, August 4. 1911. lie said
Judge Archibald stated that be was in
! terested In an endeavor to clear up the ute
/ ia certain property I'm the vicinity or SCrah-
ton. in which the Hillside Coal and iron
/ Company had an interest He stated that
negotiations had been under way with w.
\. May. of the Hillside company, and that
! he Understood the matter had been referred
. 10 the New York ONCE. The ludSe SAID ne
Knew none of the general officers OF the
/ Erie. except myself and had taken the I'D
/ crty 10 ask me who might be the proper
+ person to see. | think that the judge said
| that he was to hold court IN New 1orh
| that day. and that he had dropped H. to
/ see me TO get this information.
| told the Judge that q. \. richardson
| first vice president Of the Erie, would be
! familiar with that matter and oHered 10
/ Introduce him to Mr.. richardson, Judse
! Archibald then went with me TO MT lich-
ardson's office and ] introduced him. re-
! call hearing Mr.. Richardson say that ne
! Lad had some talk with Captain May ABOUT
| the Katydd culm. and would pc gao 10
talk to him. left the room and mat gay
y
! about the matter until few days ago
when ! read my name In connection WIFI
! these charges
! vors unless my Introducing him 10 Mr..
! Richardson IL SO considered | had never
before conferred with Judge Archibald on
any business matter. ! had only met MN
| here in Washington on one occasion.
Al the request ~ Chairman Clayton Mr..
Brownell detailed for the committee the
status Of the lighterage case and the Erie
Railroads part I'm IL. which was before
the Court Of Commerce at the time Judge
Archibald was negotiating for IN" katydid
culm bank Mr. Brownell declared the Erie
Railroad had had less dealings with the
Interstate Commerce Commission than
most OF the big railroads and also fewer
suits in tho Commerce court MI Bro"neil
added
wish To -ay that any statement That ]
have had anything to do with this matter
further than I have stated Is uuqualn"HIF
faise I also want To- say that the state
mont Of V r. Roland 10 commissioner
Never. az testified 10 by MIR Cuckrell, the
commissions confidential secretary. tdi
tclcphoned 10 Captain May 10 let Judst
Archibald have tho Naf}dld 'uln' - VII
qualihedy false.
/ want this committee {" ask MI. holdiu
specifically about every statement ". =
Roland made IN inc A'loII''N 'i'I4' ~ -
a., regsrding my connection with TINS
transaction pronounce them unPuai-
0cdIv false. II Boand will max" TN" state
,uents under oath that he save 10 Tn" At
tnrnev General | want to say that he VIII
be liable for perjury
g. q. Boland. brother of ". +. Roland
will lac called when the committee meets
Tomorrow. and an effort will be made to
reach W. T.. Boland himself before adjourn
coil tn nj 10 hf
tho Judiciary Committee would endeavor to
.,.,,,,i,,,i, ia. preliminary hearing this week