The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-05-14
O|SCLQSES PLOT TO
UNSEAT ARCHIBALD
Interstate Board Agent Says
Boland Had Determined
to Trap Judge.
CrLM BANK DEAL PLANNED
Engineer Tcstifics Erie Road
Could Have Made Profit
of S72,OOO.

bald Of the United states commerce CourT.
which the House Judiciary Committee
ie investigating. we're the outgrowth Of
"a plot TO dscrctlit the jurst became evi-
dent at to-day's hearing Allen s Cock
rell on employee of tho Interstate Com
meroe Commission. testified that W. p,
Bollnd II coal operator of Scranton. Pa
who preferred tho charges against Judge
Archibald, dictated to him "A statement
in which Ho,and declared "he had de-
tcrm!ned to trap" the Judge in some bust
ness dcal which would unfit him for
furtho- service on the bench
Roland, 1t appears. il an enemy Of Judge
Archibald. the hostility having grown up
as a result q: legal trouble. and arranged
the katvdd culm bank deal TO trap the
Judge After the proposed deal had
reached a definite stage, he came to WASH
inc.on and laid his charges before Is. i.
Mover Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and asked for an investigation
into Judge Archbald's conduct.
Cookrell testified that Bo,and dictated
to him a memorandum containing his
charges against Judge Archibald. This
memora nclum set forth fha, some years
ago the Marion Goa, Company. owned
by the Bcland brothers had manager
named Peel who was discharged and later
filed suit for breach Of contract. A de-
murrer was filed Abou, this time Bo-
lard declared that f. J Williams of Scran-
ton. who has appeared as witness in the
hearing. went tn him with a $500 note
signed by Judge Archibald. asking him
to discount it. Bo,and refused. accord
ina TO the memorandum. The Boland
demurrer was not sustained ard Boland
went after the Judge.
Boand was much aroused. the mem.
orandnm continued. and he Determined
to tran Judge Archibald. So he arranged
the Kctydid cuim deal. with Williams as
the gent Tho negotiations were con-
tinued until Roland laid the information
before Commissioner Meyer.
"Mr Boland WAS 40 full OF his long
fight for his rights" declared Cockrell,
that his narrative required several
houfs. hut IN the memorandum ! merely
set down the salient points
Mr. Cockrell accompanied Boland and
Williams last February to zee Attorney
General Wicker sham who was investigat
ing the transaction by direction Of Prcsi-
dent Taft.
Williams did not dispute any of the
papers" explained Cockrell. He identi-
tied them al! and admitted he had signed
them
When he appeared before the com
mittee last week Williams denied he had
signed certain papers containing state
ments hostile to Judge Archibald de-
clarinG that when he was interrogateo
in the Department OF Justice he was &C
excited he rould not recall afterwarti
What transpired.
Was Williams f,istered at that con.
ference?" asked a member Of the COM
mittee.
ks" Apparently he was calm" replied
Cockrell. "He gave no signs Of being
excited or fius,ered."
williams?"
NO" the witness replied. There was
no appearance of coercion. Williams
was not surprised, apparently. wher
Attorney General Wckersham showed
the papers to MIN"
Williams did little talking at the inter
view. merely answering MIR Wicker
ehams question Cockrell said.
The committee put in evidence the rec
ord Of conference in the Attorney
Generals Office in March. participated
in by W. p. and {. c. Boland. f.. J. Will
Jams and Mr.. Cockrell
On cross-examination A. S. Worthing
ton. counsel for Judge Archba Id. asked
Mr. Cockrell if ". p. Boland had sal,
anything about any other Federal Judge
Cockrell declared that Boland IN con
ference with Commissioner Meyer OI
February u had an affidavit made b,
some one in Scranton. refe rring TO
breach of promise suit before a Fedora
Judge in Scranton.
II his was matter not supported 10y
ANYTHING but the statement at hand
said Cockrel. 1T did not appear wort
much on its face and it was deemed in
advisable to make any reference to IT 1
these proceedings.
Representative Webb asked Mr.. Cock
rell II Williams knew he was to he take
before the Attorney G sneral Cockrel
said he appeared to know all about wha
was wanted Of him and did not evinc
any surprise. Williams told the CON
mittee Ian, week that he had no idea h
was being taken to the Attorney Gen
erals office until he arrived there
Mr.. Worthington asked MIR. Cockre
il he was absolutely sure W. p Bolan
told him that Williams had asked hiI
to discount Judge Archbald's note befor
the demurrer in the Peel case was {
Cided
not been sure | never would have re
corded il in the memorandum"
J n Ritterhouse, a civil and minin
engineer of Scranton. was placed on II
stand to give expert testimony in regar
TO the composition and valuation Of u
Katydid bank He said he had bee
employed by Wrisley X. Brown Of II
department of Justice TO make q surve
of the hank. At first he said. he did n
know he was working for the Departmel
nor had he heard Of the charges again
Judge Archibald
The Katydid bank. he testified. co
tanned pea. buckwheat and other var
e,ies OF coal Of the whole mass.
declared. 81 SO per cent. was real col
There were about 40, 704 tons, valued
between 81. 900 and s5l 900. Ritterhou
presented maps and charts giving the
cation of the Katydid dump. which
said represented an accumulation
about twenty years.
The Erie Railroad he added. would ha
made profit of about S35, 600 in "workin
the dump II would have been only
fuel proposition" to the Laurel electl
line and not marketable. II the coal
The Katydid dump had been transport
10 the water. the engineer continued. I
Erie Railroad would have made a pre-
of about $T2, 400, the sum Of $37. 800 rep
senting profit on rail transportation.
RitterhOuse said that the culm ba
was owned by the Hillside Coal COmpa
:. and the Everhart estate. Representa-
Webb asked IT the value OF Culm bar
n ks. M hra a "a mora