Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-05-09
Witness Declares Judge Was
Silent Partner in Deal with
Erie Railroad, Then Litigant
Before Court.
$4,000 ALLEGED AS
AMOUNT OF PROFIT
Million Acres of Venezuelan
Timber Lands Also Figures in
Investigation Before House
Judiciary Committee.


ny Morning journal Special Lensed Wirel
Washington, May S.--Charges
against Judge Robert w. Archibald.
of the commerce court, were unfold
ed today before the house committee
on judiciary, which Is to determine II
impeachment proceedings shall be
brought against the jurist.
How Judge Archibald. in partner
ship with Edward j. Williams. a
Scranton coal dealer, while deliberat-
ing as a judge on the lighterage cases,
to which the Erie railroad was
party, Is alleged to have negotiated
an option from that railroad for Az
600 tons of Culm property to lie sold
at $4,000 profit, was related to the
committee by Williams himself.
Judge Archibald. accompanied by
his two sons and his counsel. A. S.
worthington, heard the testimony
and occasionally looked at photo
graphic copies of letters bearing on
the case, one of them a letter N
which the judge told of his connec-
tion with the Culfn bank negotia-
tons.
In addition to that transaction,
williams told of another deal IN
which he said Judge Archibald ae'
auired an interest with him in an
option on million acres of Vene-
zuelan timbssi land. for which the
Judge gave a note for $500
williams tried TO discount this note
with C. ]. and w. p. Boland, of the
American Coal Company, of Scran-
ton. who at that time had case
pending before Judge Archibald In the
federal court. The Bolands refused
to discount the note ard later lost
their case Williams admitted telling
w. p. Boland that if he had dis
counted Judge Archbalds note the
case might have resulted differently,
but he denied that Judge Archibald
knew anything of his making such a
remark to Boland.
williams related how ;he option
for the Cum bank property was re-
gotiated from the offices OF the Eiie
railroad and told how a sale for the
property was negotiated and that ne
and Judge Archibald were to divide
the profit. Judge Archibald. during
the negotiations with the Erie, told
that the lighterage case was then be-
fore his court, williams said.
when williams was first called 70
the stand and told OF the transaction
involving Judge Archbald's note for
$500 and the case I'm his court IN
which the Bolands were Interested.
Chairman Clayton produced photo
graphic copy of a letter signed by
Williams. in which he had said he
told w. p. Boland had he discounted
Judge Archbald's note the case OF
John w. Peel versus the Marion Coal
Company, in which the Bolands were
Interested, would not have been de-
cided against them.
The letter was read TO williams.
and he said dramatically:
Il can swear before God that those
words never came f. ON me-"
"Did you sign this letter. asked
the chairman.
"Yes that is my signature. but /
signed 1t without looking at 1t. / did
not know those WORDS were there"
Chairman Clayton read "A copy of
the option given Williams for the
CuIm bank by John w. Robertson for
s3.50O. which was dated September 4,
1911.
after the execution of the Robert
son option, did you make assignment
TO w. p. Boland and a silent partner
whose name was known only TO you.
Roland and few others, OF two
thirds OF the property" Mr. Clayton
asked.
yes, I did," said Williams. This
assignment was made before l ever
got the Clum. William II. Boland had
because Robertson told me
II Roland was in the deal I would not
get the Culm. went and told Arch |
bald 1 was prohibited from having
any interest with Boland."
williams later said he did not re-
anything about giving any |
such assignment after he had negoti- |
ated for the Clum properties. He did
sign one before Boland told him where |
the Culm was. and before he got the
option.
.sNbo was the silent party in the |
asked Chairman Clay
ton.
Judge Archibald"
what was he to do?"
"He drew up the papers"
what was Judge Archbald's inter
est in the Culm banks?"
"A half Interest"
For how much2"
Eight thousand dollars" said
did he pay any money!"
NO.