New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-04
Commerce Court Judge Appears
to Defend Himself in I'm
parchment by the House.
OPENING STATEMENTS IN
Case Rests on Allegations of
Jurist's Relations and Deal
ings with Coal Com
panies and Railroads.
from The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Dec. 9.-The first word in
defence of Judge Robert W. Archibald
was uttered to-day before the Senate,
sitting as a court of Impeachment, by A.
s. Worthington. one of his counsel, who
replied on behalf Of the respondent to the
detailed charges formulated by Chairman
Clayton for the House managers of the
impeachment.
we are lighting adverbs, not facts"
said Judge Archbald's counsel. who criti-
cised Representative Clayton's statement
for not setting forth the law under which
the facts were alleged to constitute high
crimes and misdemeanors. Nowhere in
the United States" he added. can there
be obtained evidence as to Judge Arch
bald's integrity and honesty that will put
him in a position higher than that he
holds in his own community"
The charges recited by the House man
ayers were characterized by Judge Arch
bald's attorney as the pigments and de-
lusions OF the brain of w. r. Boland,"
who was represented as having made I'M
founded statements to the Interstate
ney General. Before the matter was re-
ferred TO the judiciary Committee of the
House. Mr. Worthington said, Judge
Archibald had had no opportunity to reply
TO the charges. The Attorney General
had not been able to carry out his in
tention Of giving Judge Archibald an op-
portunity to reply before the House passed
the resolution ealing for information.
There was an air of solemnity about the
proceedings I'm the Senate to-day. 1t was
with an obvious sense Of duty that many
Senators listened to the detailed state
ment of charges and the response by
counsel for Judge Archibald, occupying
more than two hours Judge Archibald
followed the proceedings with nervous in
terest. but for the Senate and those who
occupied the galleries the trlal soon
reached the level of monotony,
Senate Hears the Charges.
REPRESENTATIVE Clayton, making the
opening statement for the House. declared
the facts shown in the investigation Oh
Judge Archbalds relations with coal COM
nanies and railroads showed that his
..serse of morality had been deadened'
and that he had used his official position
IA induce officials Of railroads that were
or might be litigants before his court 10
grant him favors or to consent 10 DUST
ness deals.
The first witnesses Will be summoned De-
fore the Senate court Of impeachment TO-
morrow. 1t is expected the first persons
called will be Edward j. Williams
Charles +. Conn, William A. May and j.
II. Rittenhouse of Scranton, and George
r Brownen, of New York, general So
licitor for the Erie Railroad.
Few facts were brought out either ny
the House managers or Judge Archoalu
attorneys that had not been presented IN
the original articles of impeachment and
the formal answer made by Judge Arch-
bald.
The trial is expected to centre about the
testimony as to Judge Archibald cohhec-
ton with the purchase or attempted pur-
chase of certain refuse coal dumps his
attorney declared to-day 1t would De
shown that in the first case charged
against the jurist, the "katydld cuiih
hank" case. Judge Archibald had been pur-
noselv forced into the situation by Will
lam p. Boland. of Scranton, and mad
acted throughout as, the friend Of e. j.
Williams, who desired to purchase the
culm bank. and without thought OF per-
sonal reward
The charge against Judge Archibald
arose in connection with private and Of
fcial acts both as a judge of the Court
of Commerce and as United States dis
trict Judge for Middle Pennsylvania. lie
was impeached by the House of Repre-
sentatives after a full investigation OF the
facts by the Department of Justice ana
extended hearings before the House Ju-
dietary Committee.