The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-12-03
|ARCHBALD'S CASE
BEFORE SENATE
COURT
JUDGE OF UNITED STATES COM
MERGE COURT CHARGED WITH
VIOLATING OFFICIAL OATH.
IMPEACHED BY HOUSE
BY VOTE OF 22f TO l
Trial Was Pontponed From Last Au-
gust, When Senate Declined to Has
ten Consideration = Representative
Clayton Presents Case for the House
(Bv Associated Press.)


Washington, Dec. 3.-rne trial OF
Judge Robert w. Archibald Of the
United States Commerce Court for
conduct amounting to a violation Of
his oath as federal Judge had been set
to open today before the Senate court
of impeachment as a respect of Judge
Archbald's request last August that
his attorneys be given more time to
prepare their case.
The charges against Judge Arch
bald arose in connection with private
and official acts, both as Judge Of
the court of commerce and as United
States district Judge for Middle Penn
sylvania. He was impeached by the
House of Representatives after a fun
Investigation of the facts by the a.
partment Of justice, and extended hear
ings before the House judiciary sura1
mittee.
The managers Rpointed b.
House to prosecute the case b
Senate asked for an immedisl. i
last August, but the Senate d.
to hasten its consideration Of ID c11
During the last few weeks soor6 @
subpoeanes were issued for wI<norrc1
who will be brought before the Sero><
and House managers and b Ju1<s
Archbald's attorneys in connsc<io6
with the trial.
After the House committee on ju-
dietary had concluded its hearings
last spring it recommended that
Judge Archibald be called before the
Senate under impeachment proceed
lngs. The last time the House exer-
cised its impeachment powers was i'm
1904 when Judge Swane, United States
judge for the Northern district of
Florida, was called to account for mis-
conduct and was acquitted by the
Senate. The House of Representatives
on July II, 1912, adopted articles OF
impeachment by vote of 222 to aud
committee headed bp Representative
Clayton Of Alabama was chosen TO act
as the managers on the part Of the
House to try the case before the SEN
ate. The House managers urged the
Senate to grant an immediate trial,
but that body declined to hear the
case before the end of the last ses-
! sion.
Thirteen separate articles consti-
tute the basis for the impeachment
trial. These embrace dealings be
tween Judge Archibald and railroad Of
ficials and others in regard to Penn
sylvania coal or 'culm" dumps and
coal lands; contributions by attorneys
and others to the judges vacation trir
to Europe in 1910; reputed secret
correspondence" by the judge with 3
railroad attorney concerning 2 pend
ing case; and alleged attempts TO have
notes payable to Judge Archibald dis
counted by attorneys and litigants be
fore his court.
In presenting the case to the House
Representative Clayton said that the
Judiciary committee was Of the opin
ion that Judge Archbald's ser ai
moral responsibility had become de a
ened" and that he had "prostitutec
his high office for personal profit
The principal charge grew out Of the
Katydid culm bank deal. In this
charge it was asserted that while the
Erie Railroad Company had pendinf
before the commerce court two suits
Judge Archibald, corruptly taking ad
vantage OF his official position. induced
the officials Of the Hillsids Coal a
Iron Company and Of the Erie railroad
which owned that company, to agre.
to sell the coal company's interest ii
the Katydid dump to Judge Archbals
and Edward ]. williams.
In his answer Judge Archibald de
MED that he had acted corruptly. q
had taken advantage Of bis position
His attorneys took the position tha
it was not crime for federal iude,
to become interested in an attemp
FcoIs:rsea - Page Four.)