The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-04
Impeachment Proceed
ings Against Judge of
Commerce Court.
EMPHATIC REPLY
TO ARRANGEMENT
Counsel for Jurist Declares
Charges Are Brought Upon.
Facts That Show His Mo
tives to Be Unquestionable.
Opening Statement for
House Made by Clayton.

House Made by Clayton.
Washington. December 5.-Judgs
Robert " Archibald. OF the United
states Commerce Court. sat before the
bar Of the Senate to-day and heard
himself described as one VINO had
"prostituted his high official position
70 personal profit" who had CONNER
cialized his potentiality - Judge
and who had degraded MS oftioe and
DESTROYED the confidence OF the pun
lie In his integrity"
To this arraignment BY Representa-
tive Henry ID. Clayton. OF Alabama
representing the managers for the
House OF Representatives ia the inn
parchment proceedings against the Ju-
rist. Judge Archbalds chief counsel
A. : Worthington. made an emphatic
reply. He declared the House had
brought proceedings against JUICE
Archibald upon facts that. if properly
analysed. showed the jurists motives
to be uncuestionable. The charges, ne
said. were vague and indefinite.
Judge Archibald sat with mis- attor-
neys al the right of the bar. and the
House managers occupied correspond d.
ing positions at the left.
Representative Clayton making the
opening statement for the House. de-
clared the facts shown in the inves-
tization of Judge Archbald's business
relations with coal companies and rail-
roads showed that mis- "ecnse Of moral
itv had been deadened" and that he
had used his Official position to IN
duce officials Of railroads that were OF
might be litlgants before HIS court. 70
grant him favors or to consent 10 DEE
mess deals.
Guilty OF M WronSdoipg.
Judge Archbald's attorney replied
70 all the impeachment charges. de-
claring that the witnesses ia behalf
of the accused turist would sunstAn-
ttate their claims that Mr. Archibald
had been guilty OF no wro1gcoing, anf
that his relations to certain coal loar
deals had lseen open and unquestior-
able.
The first witnesses will be summon
ed tomorrow. II is expected that the
first persons called will be Edward j.
williams, Charles r. Conn, William A
Nav and J. II. Rittenhouse. OF Scran-
ton. and George r. Brownen. OF Now
York. general solicitor for the Erie
Railroad.
Few facts were brought out either
bv the House managers or Judge Arch
balds attorneys. that had not been
presented in the original articles OF
impeachment and the formal answer
made by Judge Archibald
The trial is expected TO centre about
the testimony as 70 Judge Archbaid's
connection with the purchase or at
tempted purchase OF certain refuse
coal dumps His attorney. in his open
ing statement to-day. declared it would
be shown that in the first case charged
against the furist. the "Katydid CUM
bank" case, Judge Archibald had beer
purposely forced into the situation by
William P BoIand. of scranton, and
had acted throughout as the friend oil
e J. Williams. who desired to pur-
chase IL. and without thought OF per-
sonal reward
The trial OF Judge Robert W. Arch
bald OF the United States Commerce
Court, for conduct amounting TO
violation of his oath as Federal judge
had been set to open to-day before th'
Senate Cour, OF Impeachment as
request of Judge Archbalds las
August that his attorneys be giveI
more time to prepare their case
The charge against Judge Archibald
arose in connection with private and
official acts. both as q Judge OF TN
rour, OF Commerce and as United
states District Judge for Middle Penn
svlvauia. He was impeached by tn
House of Representatives after a tul
Investigation Of the facts by the De
partment OF Justice. and EXTENDED
hearings before the House Juciciarl
Committee.
The managers appointed by tn
House TO prosecute the case before tn
senate asked for an immediate tria
last AUGUST but the Senate declined
to hasten its consideration OF th'
case. During the last week scores
OF srhroeras were issued for wit
ueSseS. who will be Drought before tn
senate by the House managers. and h
Judge Archbaid5s attorneys In connec
ton with the trial
After the House Committee on Ju
dietary mad concluded Its hearing
asst ,prinr. II recommended that Judg'
Archibald be called before the Senst
under impeachment proceedings tn
last time the House had exercised ~
Impeachment powers was in 1904. vhe'
Judge Swaue. United states judge 10
the Northern District Of Florida. wa
called to account for misconduct. an
was acquitted by the Senate. III
House Of Representatives on July II
1912. adopted articles Of impeach
meut By . vote OF 777 % ]. and com
mittes headed BY Representative
Clayton. OF Alabama. was chosen q
act as the managers on the part o
the House to Try the case before tn
senate. The House managers urge
the senate 20 grant an immcciat
trial. but that body declined 20 hes
the case before the END % the las
session
Rsss for Trial
Thirteen separate articles consdtut
the basis for the impeachment tria'
These embrace dealings hctveel
Judge Archibald and railroad ofic;si
ana others. IT. regard 10 Icnrsyivsni
coal or ~culm~ dumps and coal lands