The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-19
EXPERTS TESTIFY
IN ARCHIBALD CASE
Engineers on Stand Tell Of Culm
Bank Value as They Es-
timated It.
EFFORT BEING MADE TO
DISCREDIT WITNESS
Niece of Boland Is First Woman
Who Has Testified in
the Case.

The defense in the Archibald impeach-
ment trial in its effort to discredit the
testimony Of James H Rittenhouse, the
mining engineer and expert who tested
the quality and estimated the coal con-
tents of the Katydid culm bank for
Wrtsley Brown, Department of Justice in
vestigator, made little Roadway yester-
day through the testimony of mining
men who had made surveys of the culm
dump
Rtttenhouse, after the most exhaustive
examination Of the bank in question, es-
timated the contents of the bank TO be
about 5000 tons OF clean coal He esti-
mated the part of the bank which Judge
Archibald, f. J. williams, and others
were to purchase from the Erie Railroad
for 1880 was worth in the neighborhood
of $4,000. The defense has sought to es-
tablish that the entire dump, part of
which was owned by Robertson & Law,
firm of coal operators in Scranton,
was worth only $4,000 They have sought
through the Introduction of several wit
nesses to establish that other firms have
refused TO buy the bank at that price.
Archibald to Take stand.
1t became apparent yesterday that the
experts introduced by the defense could
not claim TO have made the exhaustive
examination which Rittenhouse, without
knowledge of either OF the connections
OF Mr.. Brown or the purpose for which
Brown desired the examination made,
had conducted and reported on. d. J.
Bearslee and Alonzo Davis, both coal
operators, were introduced as men who
mad surveyed the bank for other clients
and prospective purchasers and has ad-
vised against the purchase Of the bank
Al lower figures. These men admitted
that their examination had consisted in
a surface survey and they had not the
technical knowledge or means to make
the expert investigation carried on by
RittenhOuse.
The report printed in the Washington
Herald yesterday that Judge Archibald
would take the stand in his own defense
after the holidays was sUbstantiated
from an authentic source yesterday.
While it is still possible that his counsel
will keep him from the stand, it is prob
able that the present intention will be
carried out. With the exception of the
respondent himself, the defense expects
to conclude the presentation Of its wit
nesses to-day. Senators were discussing
a night session for tonight in case the
testimony could not be taken in by =
o'clock
While various reports are being cir
Culated as to the probable outcome of
the case, the best information at hand
sustains the earlier prediction that Judge
Archibald will be convicted by a four
hfthS vote. The House managers have
succeeded in placing in evidence all sub
stantiaI points brought out before the
House Judiciary Committee notwith-
standing a rapid fire Of objections on the
part of the defense.
c. S Woodruff, of Scranton, who has
an office in the Republican building ad
iacent to Offices occupied by the Bolands
was called to testify that Christy Boland
had asked him to call on Archibald last
November with a proposition that II
Archibald would fix up the case which
the BOlands had before the Interstate
Commerce Commission against the Lack
awanna Railroad. they Cthe Bolands)
would withdraw from the impeachment
proceedings.
Woman Witness Testif1es.
Woodruff, though he is said to have
made some such statement to counsel for
Archibald later in the month, refused to
repeat it yesterday. Counsel for Arch
bald attempted to read into the record
the statement Woodruff is alleged to
have made at that time, but an objection
on the part of the House managers
against this was sustained. Woodruff
admitted that he had written a letter
concerning the case TO President Taft,
A classmate. but no attempt was made
by the defendants to learn the contents
OF the letter.
The first woman witness yet called in
the case before the Senate took the
stand late yesterday afternoon. She was
Miss Mary Boland, daughter of one of
the chief complaining witnesses and A
stenographer in the offices of w. P.
Boland, her uncle. She drew up many
of the papers in the negotiations be-
tween Judge Archibald, z. ]. Williams,
and others, looking to the acquisition
Of culm banks. She testified to these
details yesterday and also told of con-
versations she had with E. ]. Williams
as to Judge Archbald's pecuniary interest
IN these properties and his influence
with the railroads in securing an option. |