Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-17
PUT Up TO ROLAND
Tells: House Committee He Has Re-
freshed His Memory. :
KATYD1D CULM BANK DEAL

$500 AAASAAAVAys
KATYDID CULM BANK DEAL
Details of Negotiations Relating to
Sale Discussed by Capt. w. A.
May and Richard Bradley.
Edward J. Williams of Scranton part
ner with Judge Robert w. Archibald of the
Commerce Court in the culm bank tran
sactlons under investigation. stirred the
House judiciary committee today by re-
1reshing his memory relating to a let
ter placed in evidence several days ago.
That William p. Boland. author of the
charges against the jurist, had dictated
a letter to c. F. Conn of the Laurel cec-
trio line. in which Judge Archibald was
referred to as 1.-The party you have been
dealing with was Williams declaration
today. This letter was signed by Will
liams. The other day the witness could
not recollect the letter.
Today he asked to change his testi-
-
him to take the letter to Conn, who was
about to purchase the Katydid culm.
He also declared that Bolands stenog-
rapher cut the letter head off the paper
before he took it to Mr.. Conn.
Testimony Voluntary.
This testimony Williams declared was
voluntary, and that no one had suggest
ed 1T to him. Williams further declared
that his statements could be proven"
"Boland knows he dictated that letter."
said Williams. HE also told me that
this investigation was going to happen
to Judge Archibald
When the hearing was resumed today
Capt w. A. May of the Hillside Coal and
Iron Company fixed August 25. 1911, as
the day he saw Vice President Richard
son Of the Erie railroad in New York,
who told him to reopen negotiations with
Judge Archibald for the sale Of the Katy
did culm bank at Scranton.
Richard Bradley, a Scranton coal OPP
orator. was Teealled and examined by
Representative Littleton of New York,
with relation to his negotiations to pur-
chase the Katydid dump Nom Judge
Archibald. Bradley said that James r.
Dainty offered to help him get control of
the dump.
Boland Suggested Deal.
Bradley testified that w. p. Boland.
who made the charges against Judge
Archibald. had told him that he thought
the Katyd:d culm dump was "a good
proposition" and worth $4,000 Boland
also first suggested to Bradley that he
look over the dump with a view to ne
gotiating for its purchase from Williams
and Archibald. who then had the option
on the property.
Ibid Roland advice va, ~ h,,x 2,s
Representative Littleton asked.
Yes, he did, said Bradley
Do Boland say he had any personal
interest in the DEAL
He told me he did not have anything
to do with it,
it?" ''O0
He did,
Wanted to Keep It Quiet.
Bradley said that Dainty had contract
ed to sell the property for $4,000 il
Bradley could get it for $1,000.
Dainty said he would help me get the
dump from Williams for $4,000" said
Bradley, land he would sci 1t for $685.
600. He told me IL the deal went through
he would take 5000 Of the profits and l
body about that. We wanted to keep 1t
quiet"
when Williams first called your atten-
ton to the Katydid dump did he take
you to Boland's Office" Representative
Sterling asked.
Yes. he did. right away" said Brad
ley.
why did he take you to Boland?"
He did not say why. We just went
there to talk the matter over
Attorney Worthington. counsel of Judge
Archibald, announced that Edward J..
Williams desired to change his testimony.
Worthington's Statement.
"As We were coming into the commit
tee room this morning" said Mr.. Worth
ington. mr.. Williams beckoned to Judge
Archibald. Judge Archibald told Williams
that he couldn't talk to him. Then /
went over to Williams. He told me that
he had refreshed his recollection about
the letter signed by him dated March Is,
1912. addressed to Charles F. Conn of the
Laurel line at Scranton. In this letter
Judge Archibald was referred to as the
party. Mr.. Williams said that he had
testified the other day that he had no
recollection of the letter. Today he told
me that he remembered all about it. that
William P. Boland dictated the letter and
that he saw his stenographer cut off the
top of the letter paper containing the
Boland letter head with scissors"
Mr.. Williams was called to the stand
and asked about the incident
Il remember now that w. p. Boland
dictated that letter." said Williams. II
recall that Boland forced me to go to see
Conn, and said there was a big storm
coming and that / should go and get
this katydid property turned over
- Big Storm Predicted.
What did he mean by a big storm
coming?' asked Chairman Clayton.
We'll. it's come now. hasn't it?" said
Williams.
Then YOU now recall that Boland
wrote the letter to Conn in which he
spoke of Judge Archibald. as the party
you have been dealing within" the chair
man continued.
Eyes. he dictated 1t to his stenographer
and told me to take 1t to Conn, which l
did" said Williams.
We'll. did you see him cut the letter
head off?''
mo; his stenographer and niece, Mary
Boland, cut the letterhead of with the
scissors" said Williams
did you ask Mary Boland to write
letter for you that day. March 1872
mo, SIR did not. / never dictated
letter in my life. Boland dictated that
letter.
Were you drunk or sober that day."
II couldn't have been very drunk" said
Williams.
"Were YOU very sober" the chairman