Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-11
Sometimes Uses
 A Little Liquor
MAY HAVE SIGNED LETTER AT
 SUCH A TIME.
WILLIAMS STATEMENT
Judge Archbaid's Partner Cannot Reo- olIect Signing Assignment, Though Acknowledges Signature on Paper

Washington. May 1o.-Edward J. Williams of Scranton. Pa, chief wit ness so far against Judge Robert ". Archibald of the commerce court, prac- tically denied today before the house judiciary committee some of the tes- timony he gave against the judge on Wednesday.
 Williams was a partner with Judge Archibald in negotiations for buying a culm bank from the Erie railroad 70 sell at profit of s12,000 to the Lack awanna & Wyoming railroad The judge at that time had the Eries so-called lighterage cases in his court. The committee is Investigating to de- eide if impeachment proceedings should be brought against the tudEe. Williams Could Not Recall Signing
 Paper.
 A. S. Worthing. counsel for the ac- cused jurist, undertook the redirect examination of Williams, and caIlsd his attention to the copy of n aAgirn- ment of the culm bank property that he was alleged to have made to ". P. Roland and a silent party" Previ- 1 ously Williams admitted having made such an assignment before he pro cured options on the Erie culm banks and explained that the silent party" was Judge Archibald. Today, however. upon reading a copy of the assignment again, Williams declared it was not the paper he signed. He admitted that the signature attached was his but repudiated it's contents.
 This admission led Attorney Worth ingtOn to ask the witness fl he ever 1 drank. He said that he did and ad- mitted it was possible he might have signed papers that he could not nov recall.
 | Williams repudiated the letter intro ! duced in evidence Wednesday in which he related having told ". P. Roland | that if he had discounted one of JudFo | Archbald's notes case he had before l the Jurlst, which was decided against him, might have resulted differently. The witness admitted having sald something like that to Roland, but de- nied that the language used in the letter in evidence, signed by him. ever | came from his lips
 Archibald Paid His carfars.
 It was also apparent from cross O. animation that Judge Archibald paid | Williams fare from Scranton to Wash 1 ington, that the latter might respond | to the subpoena from the judiciary ! lI. IL l jams said he did not have the rnoney and that he asked Judge ArchabId to lend him the fare. When the com mittee adjourned for the day, Will ] jams was cautioned by Chairman Clayton to talk to no one about the i case. He will be recalled tomorrow. | William P. Roland and c. c. Roland. who figure in the Archibald charges, | and who were instrumental in bringing | them to the attention of the depart ment of justice, were at the hearing. | They will not be called to testify until Monday. Interstate Commerce Com missioner Meyer who first called Pres | ident Tafts attention to the charges against Judge Archibald. will be asked | to testify tomorrow when Williams examination is finished.
 Thought Judge Would Be Able to
 Swing 1t.
 The committee started today to learn of an alleged transaction between | James R. Dainty, Judge Archbald and | the Lehigh Valley railroad IL involv- | ed the Eberhart coal property. VIII jams was asked if he and Dainty did not regard Judge Archibald as the '.real negotiator' for the lease of the EIber- hart property by the Lehigh Valley.
 T thought Judge Archibald might ba able to swing it, replied Williams. T thought he could try it, anyhow
 What part did the judge have in that transaction?'
 Nothing; except to ask the Lehigh Valley if they would pay the prtcs asked for the lease
 '1s 1t not a fact that the LehiKh Valley road after Judge ArchbaId came Into the matter was willing to pay more for the lease than they were beforeP
 q don't know. I never heard any more about it.
 Was Judge Archibald to receive any portion of the profits from the proba bls sale of this coal land ?"
 T don't know
 Might Have Signed Paper After Drinking.
 Do you ever take any refresbmsnt, that is, little liquor now and then 2" MT. Worthington asked.
 Yes; sometimes.'
 Do you think 1t possible that you might have signed this letter when you had been taking some intoucants?'
 Tt might be possible Williams denied that he ever made an assignment of a part interest in the Erie oulm bank option to William P. Roland. It was this assignment fin which Judge Archibald was referred 10 as silent party
 The hearing adjourned until tornor % row.