Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-30
Robert w. Archibald Of the
Commerce Court, Answer
ing Articles Of Inpeach,
ment, Presents Defense.
ADMITS LAWYERS
MADE UP A PURSE
Money Given Him for Trip,
Judge Explains, Was in 4.
Sealed Envelope, Not to be
Opened Until at Sea.

Robert w. Archibald Of the commeroe
court in answer to the impeach chment
articles brought against him by the
house OF representatives, today form
ally denied to the senate, sitting as a
court OF impeachment, that he ever
mad used his Office or his influence as
q judge for profit, that he ever under
TOOK for consideration to compromise
litigation before the interstate COM
merce commission, that he ever
wrongfully used his position to obtain
credit from litigants before him, or
that he had undertaken to carry on
general business for profit or specula-
ton In coal properties, as charged In
the house Indictment
To each Of the thirteen articles OF
impeachment Judge Archibald replied
that none even il true. constituted an
|1mpeachable offense, high crime or a
misdemeanor as defined by the consti-
tuition. Many statements contained In
the allegations were not disputed,
while others were totally den.ed and
annullment OF others was asked on thu.
ground that they were too vague to
admit OF proper defense
Explains katydtd Deal.
Judge Archibald admitted his partici.
patton In the now noted "Katydid
culm mank deal' with Edward ]. VII.
liams OF Scranton and the Hillside Coal
Iron Co., q subsidiary OF the Erie
railroad, which then had cases pend
ing in his court. but he denied that he
willfully or unlawfully or corruptly
took any advantage OF his position to
induce the railroad officials to deal
with him and his partner
|e.wNiewhi vtharllft dtk is.t.
The accused jurist denied that he
at any time for a consideration agreed
to assist George NJ Wheaton, Scran.
ton lawyer, to settle case in which
the Marian Coal Co. was complainant
against the Lackawanna railroad be-
fore the interstate commerce commits
sion William p Boland and his broth
ers, Christopher and James, are princi-
pal stockholders In the coal company
and William p. Boland was the author
of some of the charges on which the
house judiciary committee reported
articles of Impeachment. The judges
answer today set out that his partici.
patton in the negotiations with Off
cials of the Lackawanna railroad for
settlement of the case was purely out
Of friendship for Watson and Christie
pher G. Boland and that all his acts
were without promise or expectation Of
compensation Of any kind.
Explains Note Deal.
The Judge denied that he used his
office wrongfully to aid Frederick
Warnke in securing from the Phila-
delphia & Reading railroad lease OF
the Lincoln culm dump or that he ac-
cepted from Warnke wrongfully q
promissory note for $500. Judge Arch.
bald does say, however that he and
John Henry Jones received from the
Premier Coal Co. note for $50 en-
Giorsed by Warnke. This the Judge
AYERS was for services he and Jones
had performed by bringing about the
sale Of the Old Gravity Fill culm bank
by the Lacoe & Shiffer Coal Co. to
the Premier Coal Co. in which Warkne
had an interest.
The charge that the Judge used his
office corruptly or improperly to bring
lands to the Lehigh Valley railroad or
claimed to be vague, and its anullment
was asked.
lndorse Another Note.
Judge Archibald denied that any
time he had entered scheme to buy
stocks OF gold mining scheme in
Honduras with w. w. Rissinger by
indorsing note for $2,500; Rissinger
is part owner OF the stock of the Old
Plymouth Coal Company. He admitted
having indorsed a note for Rissinger,
but AYERS 1t was for the sole accom-
mediation and benefit Of Rissinger and
Rissinger later sent him certificates
OF stock In gold mining enterprise
as collateral security for this endorse
ment. It was admitted that the Old
Plymouth Coal company was It'll
CANT in the judges court, but the note
transaction had no relevancy to the
judges judicial action, and that in the
court decision he acted solely upon
his Judgment OF the merits Of the law
suit presented. II the note was pre-