The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-16
JUDGE TO TESTIFY
in own DEFENCE


WASHINGTON, ID. c. Special
1t was learned that Judge Robert
w. Archibald. OF the Commerce Court.
probably will take the stand I'm his
own defense before the House Com
mittee on judiciary, prior to the clos
ing of its investigation OF the charges
made against him. that he used his
position to secure a favorable option
on culm banks from officials OF the
Erie Railway. The hearing Will be
resumed tomorrow.
The jurist will not be required to
testify. but he has voluntarily appear
ed at the committee room with coun-
sci. and is understood to be awaiting
an opportunity to answer the charges
against him.
While the hearing has not pro-
crossed sufficiently to form any idea
ceedings should be brought, the i'm
preston about the committee room
yesterday was that the silent party
assignment and Williams testimony
would at least require full explana-
ton from Judge Archibald.
The silent party" assignment tes-
titled to by Williams, who so termed
Judge Archibald, reads as follows:
Assignment made this the fifth
day of September, 1911, between Ed
ward j. Williams, of the Borough of
DunmOre, county of Lackawanna,
State of Pennsylvania, party OF the
first part, and William =. Boland and
silent party, both of the city of
Scranton. For service rendered or to
be rendered in the future by William
=. Boland and silent party, whose
name for the present is known only
10 Edward ]. Williams, William Z.
Roland and Captain May, superinten-
dent of the Hillsdale Coal and Iron
Company, il is agreed by said Ed
ward ]. Williams, who is owner of a
One-half option, covering a culm bank,
known as the Katydid,' situated in
the vicinity of MOSSic, Pa, that there
he hereby assigns two-thirds of all
profits from sale of the same above
mentioned property over and above
the amounts to be paid John Il. Rob
ertson and the Hillsdale Coal and
Iron Company-S3,5O0 and $4,000 re-
spectiVely-to be divided equally be-
tween William p. Boland and the
silent party. above mentioned, their
heirs, successors and assigns
With a portion of the record in the
Archibald case made public. the House
Committee on Judiciary will resume
tomorrow its investigation of charges
made against Judge Robert w. Arch
bald, of the Commerce Court. which
are 10 the effect that he used his
on culm mines from officials of the
Erie Railroad.
The committee decided to hold no
session today because of the prospec-
tive fight on the House floor over feat
ures of the legislative e, executive and
judicial bill.
The papers made public-which are
part of the record as gathered by
the Department Of Justice-are as
follows:
A letter written by Judge Archibald
on the stationery Of the Commerce
Court, introducing Mr.. Williams to S.
S. Conn, of the Laurel Electric Line. OF
Pennsylvania.
An assignment of two-thirds of Will
liams' prospective profits in the culm
bank deal to w. p. Boland and "a
silent party"
Mr.. Williams testified that the Isl
lent party" referred to in the assign
ment paper was Judge Archibald.
A third document was a letter writ
/ ten by Williams TO w. Z. Boland, in
which the former recited that he had
attempted to discount the Archibald
note with Boland.
The letter, written at the request
of Boland, according to Williams, con-
cluded as follows:
Il did not tell Boland at the time
that the judge knew 1 was going 10
call on him to discount the above
mentioned note. I only informed him
J about July %, 1911. that he made a
mistake in not discounting said note
, as he was interested in the case OF
John w. Peale, versus the Marion Coal
] Company. which was then before the
, United States court. and he would
have saved all the costs had he signed
the note"
On cross examination williams said
he did not know his letter TO Boland
contained any such statement about
the court case.
Chairman Clayton announced today
that the following would be called as
witnesses:
B. H. Meyer. interstate commits
sioner, who last February directed
President Taft's attention to the al
legged attempt OF Judge Archibald tC
purchase culm bank properties from
the Erie Railroad for $4,000 to be
sold to the Lackawanna and Wyoming
Company for $4,000.
w. P. Boland, president OF the
| Marion Coal Company, of Scranton
Pa, who made the original charge in
lvolving Judge Archbald's name.
Captain w. v. May, manager OF the
Erie Railway properties. with whom
z. j. Williams is said to have nego-
tiated for the culm bank properties.
G.. F. Brownell, general counsel OF
the Erie Railroad.
George Watson, of Scranton. Pa. ar
attorney alleged to have knowledge OF
the alleged transaction upon which
are based the Archibald charge.
If the committee finds the charge:
sustained it will recommend to the
House Impeachment proceeding,