The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-11
Repudiates Statements Made Before Judiciary Com
 mittee Wednesday
WITNESS ADMITS
 IS DRINKING MAN
Says It Is Possible That He Signed Papers He Cannot Recall-Judge Archibald Paid Fare to Wash
 ingtOn to Testify

Williams of Scranton. Pa, chief witness SD far against Judge Robert W. Arch bald of the commerce court. today practically denied before the House ju- dleiary committee some of the testi- mony he had given against the judge. Williams was partner with Judge Archibald in negotiations for buying n culm bank from the Erie railroad to sell at a profit of s12.000 to the Lack awanna and wyoming railroad. The judge at that time had the Fries so- called lighterage cases in his court The committee Is Investigating to de- eide If impeachment proceedings should be brought against the judge Repudiates Assignment l A. s. Worthlngton. counsel for the accused jurist, undertook the redirect examination of Williams and called his attention to the copy of an assignment of tho Culm bank property that he was alleged to have made to W P. Roland and silent party Previously Will Hams had admitted having made such en assignment before he procured op- tions on the Erie culm banks and had lextlalned that tho silent party" was
 
 reading Q copy of the assignment again Williams declared IL was not the pa per he had signed. He admitted the signature attached was his but re- pudiated It's contents.
 l This admission led Attorney Worth lngton to ask tho witness if he ever drank He said he did and admitted l It was possible he might have signed papers that he could not now recall Williams also repudiated the lettsr introduced in evidence Wednesday in witch he, relating having told C. H. Roland that If he had discounted one of Judge Archbald's notes case no had before that jurist which was de- eiaed against him, might have result lea dlfferently ahe witness admitted havlng said sonfthing like that to Bo- Hand but he denied that the language used In the letter in evidence signed oy him ever came from his lips.
 Archibald Paid Fare It also was developed on cross-ex- animation that Judge Arcnbald paid Williams fare from Scranton to Wash ington that the latter might respond to the subpoena from the judiciary committee to appear before 1t, Wtl- Hams said he did not have the money an1 that he had asked Judge Archbali to loan him tho fare. When the com fnittee adjourned for the day Williams vas cautioned by Chairman Clayton 10 talk 10 no one about the case. He VIII be recalled tomorrow.
 Attorney Worthington for Judge Arch bald sought to establish Williams busl- ress dealings with W. F. Roland or Scranton. who brought the charges against Judge Archibald.
 Williams said his first statement about the case had been made to w. P. Bo- land in the presence Of wrlsley Brown of the department of justice and ste- noprapher He signed that statement, he said. but did not sign any statement later in the office of the Attorney General.
 MT Worthington had the witness ex- anime the photograph copy of the letter relating to Judge Archbald's S5O1 note, which the Bolands refused to discount. Williams said he had never signed his name to the statement contained in the letter. It was in effect that he had said case in which the Bolands were in- terested might not have been decided against them if they had discounted the judges note.
 Admits Taking Refresh ments
 "Do you ever take any refreshments7- that Is, a little liquor, now and then? MT Worthington asked.
 "Yes, sometimes
 Do you think 1t possible that you might have signed this letter when you had been taking some intoxicantsT
 Tt might be possible
 Williams denied that he had ever mace ar assignment of a part interest in tho Erie Culm bank option to W. F Boland. It was this assignment in which Judge A1chbald was referred to as silent party"
 Representative Carlin of Virginia asked tho witness what he said after he had been summoned to Washington by w. P. Roland and had been ushered into the presence of the Attorney General
 q told Roland that he had betrayed my confidence said Williams That's what l told him.
 when you were summoned last Sun day to come to Washington by this com ~~-~0~~c~~@-->->--~~>~~~~~
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