The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-29
ADMITS THAT He
DID EVERYTHING
Judge Archibald Docs Not Deny Any
of the Charges Against Him
But Claims limo
cencc.
ACTING AS A FRIEND
Never Used His Position as Judge in
Any of the Deals But Acted
Always as Common
Citizen.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.
WASHINGTON, July 29.---Admit-
ting practically all of tho facts in the
charges against him, hut
emphatically denying that he corrupt
ly used his judicial Influence, Judge
Robert W. Archibald of the commerce
court today filed his formal answer
In the senate. It asserted that no
case had been made against him by
the house of representatives.
Archibald admits being involved in
numerous coal deals while being on
the bench. He admits soliciting high
railroad officials to further such deals.
He admits that promissory notes bear
ing his endorsement were presented
to attorneys and litigants in his court.
He candidly comedies he wrote letters
to and visited railroad officers to fur
Their private business negotiations for
himself, associates and friends.
But the jurist asserts every such
act was innocent He declared many
acts were without hope of private gain
although realizing the railroads would
have cases before him iii the COM
merce court. He does not even admit
that he acted unethically.
Not denying that he Visited Erie
railroad Offices in New York and
Scranton to aid Edward ], Williams,
in securing their proposed option up
on the Katydid culm pile, Archibald
says his part in the case was that OF
a friend to Williams. He did not at
tempt unlawfully or corruptly to
Iuse his judicial office.
Archibald admits he figured in ne
gotiations with railroad heads for set
Element Of the suit OF William F. Boil
and, Archbald's accuser, against the
carriers, but denies he did SO for any
pecuniary reason.
Solely out OF friendship for Fret
4 Warnke, Archibald says, he asked
4 Reading railroad officials to extern
I, Warnke's coal lease.
The answer further asserts that {
4 $4,000 note which Archibald endorse
! in 1908 was presented without hi
! knowledge to an attorney in whose ia
vor he had decided case Just sew.
en- days before. The jurist denies he
had endorsed the note as partner II
/ any Honduras gold mine deal blu
says he afterwards received stool
cas- collateral security" Of the $500
note presented to the Boland brothers
for endorsement while he was tryin'
their case. Archibald says he did NO
think such action was improper as h,
4 forgot the Bolands were In his court
The charge that he received none!
from Henry w Cannon. capitals
identified with many railroads which
were concerned In litigation befor'
him, for an European trip, is met b,
the statement that Cannon Is rela
tive by marriage. Archibald denie
ever favoring railroads in which Can
non was interested. That he receives
a purse of $525 donated by lawyers II
his court when he left for Europe, !
admitted, but Archibald says it was
mere testimonial Of friendship, whicl
he could not have refused wlthou
impugning the motives OF friendship.
Archibald says he appointed j, I
Woodward, jury commissioner Of hi
federal court in Scranton, withou
knowing woodward was Lehigh Va
ley railroad attorney.
"The respondent Denies Arci
bald's answer concludes, that he VI
dertook to carry on q general bus
ness for speculation and profit
purchase and sale of culm coal dump
or undertook to compromise litigatio
pending before the interstate CON
merce commission for valuable cor
sideration or even concealed his intel
est in any personal contracts. In yer
few cases did he invest any money. Q
other things of value, except his pc
sonal services, and that, without usin
his Influence as Judge in any {
them"