The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-28
WHEN QUESTIONED
HIS MEMORY A|LS
Witness Proves Exasperating to
Members OF Probing
Committee.
I DEALS WITH JURIsT
Lawyer Involved in Negotiation,
That Brought Trouble
to Archibald.

Washington, May 2I.-Georga A.
Watson. a lawyer, who was an active
participant in coal negotiations with
the Delaware. Lackawanna and West
ern Railroad, which have involved the
judicial conduct of Judge Robert w.
Archibald, OF the Court OF Commerce,
was a witness before the House Judi
ciary Committee to-day for three
hours.
The witness amused and exasperated
the members oil the committee His
story of activity in the Scranton coal
deals. his replies to questions and his
retorts TO comments by members of
the committee kept the room in Il buzz
of laughter or argument Representa-
tive Norris. of Nebraska. pinned him
down TO categorical answer and ask
ed him TO swear TO his reply
Il cannot swear positively TO any
| thing" said Mr.. Watson.
Wordy Wnr over Memory.
Prior TO this Mr.. Watson had a
wordy war with Representative Webb
over his memory Early in the hear.
ing the witness admitted that he mad
peen in bad health and could not re-
member everything that had happened
year ago. MIR. Webb reminded him
of his intirmity when he remembered
minor details of transactions but was
hazy on more important ones.
Il have got just as good a memory
as you have said Mr.. Watson. When
am fired up l can remember a lot
lof things. I'll remember you as long
as I live"
''All right" said Mr.. Webb. FIRE up
and remember some of these things"
Mr.. Watson was employed by C. G..
Boland and w. p. Boland to sell the
Marion Coal Company 10 the Lacka-
wanna Railroad Company. His under
standing was That a part of the settle
ment was to include Boland's claim
| OF excessive rates charged on their
coal He said he was to be paid a
ice of $4,000 fer his services
He consulted with President Trues-
dale. of the Delaware. Lackawanna
and Hudson: with L. L. Hudson. vice.
president of that road. and S. \.
Philips, superintendent of commercial
properties OF the road. They refused
to settle the claim and close the deal
at the price lie stipulated $4,000.
The witness said that before going
into the matter he had received Judge
Archbald's promise to introduce him
to Mr.. Loomis, the railroads vice
president He had also made a trip
TO Washington to see Judge Archibald
about practice in the Court of Com
merce. 1t developed thar he had re-
ceived $50 for expenses and had re-
! turned TO scranton with three briefs
which he received from Judge Arch
bald The witness testified to sending
kilograms to Judge Archibald and OF
having received reply. He spoke to
| Judge Archibald about the present pro-
ceedings ON a street of Scranton, he
said. lie was on his way to church
and so was the Judge. The congress
sional investigation was mentioned,
but not discussed. Mr.. Watson testi-
fled.
Denies Stories About Judge.
Mr.. Watson, in response to questions
by a. s. Northngton, attorney for
| Judge Archibald. made categorical de-
| malls OF some OF the stories circulated
! about the Judge
One of the Boland brothers quoted
| Mr.. Watson as saying Judge Archibald
| would leave your watch and take
| the chain
| The witness denied that he had said
| anything OF tho kind. He also denied
| that either Judge Archibald or r. a.
| Phillips was TO participate in any
| profit he might make by settling the
| Boland claim with the railroad.