Semi-weekly herald., 1912-12-09

tered on the practice Of his profess
sion. He was appointed additional
law judge of the Pennsylvania dis
trict court in 1885 and served in that
capacity until 1888, when he was made
presiding judge, which position he held
at the time of his selection by Presi-
dent Taft in the early part of last
year as an associate justice of the new
court of commerce.
Soon after Judge Archbald's ap-
pointment to the federal bench some
sensational allegations relating to his
judicial acts in Pennsylvania were
filed with the president and the de-
partment of justice. After an in
vestigation of the charges the house
of representatives adopted and pre-
sented to the senate articles of i'm
parchment against Judge Archibald.
The charges on which the impeach-
ment proceedings were based related
to business transactions with railroad
companies at times when the rail
roads were litigants before the COM
merce court and before the interstate
commerce commission. II was alleged
specifically, that Judge Archibald had
conference in New York with Geo
h. Brownell, vice president and gen
eral counsel of the Erie Railroad com.
pany. That following the conference
one Williams, an associate in inter-
est with Judge Archibald, entered into
negotiations with subsidiary coal
company of the Erie for the purchase
aside as useless some years previous
ly, but subsequently found to be val
liable. The price fixed for the coal is
said to have been S3,500 1t is al
legged that following these negotia-
tions the purchasers arranged to sell
the coal to an electric railroad of
Pennsylvania, the price fixed being
100000. Other charges equally Sc
rious and of similar nature are set
forth in the thirteen articles of i'm
peachment.
On July 30 last Judge Archibald filed
with the senate formal answer to the
charges against him In answer to the
impeachment articles he denied that
he had ever used his office or his in
fluence as judge for profit, that he
ever undertook for consideration to
compromise litigation before the in
terstate commerce 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 speculation in coal properties as
charged in the house indictment.
To each of the thirteen articles of
impeachment Judge Archibald has re-
piled that none, even if true, consti-
tutes an impeachable offense, high
crime or disdemeanor as defined
by the constitution. Many statements
contained in the allegations were not
disputed in Judge Archbalds answer
while others were totally disregarded
and annullment of others was asked
on the ground that they were toe
vague to admit of proper defense.
In his answer Judge Achbald admit.
ted his participation in the noted Ka-
tydid Culm bank deal, with Edward J
Williams of Scranton, and the Hills
| Coal and Iron company, subsidiary
| of the Erie railroad, which then haC
cases pending in his court, but he de.
MED that he wilfully or unlawfully OF
corruptly took any advantage of hi.
position to induce the railroad off
cials to deal with his partner. He
further denied that he had at any time
sought wrongfully or otherwise to OBJ
tain credit from any persons inter
osted in any court over which he pre-
sided.
Soon after the impeachment pro
ceedings were begun by the hous,
Judge Archibald requested Chief Jus
tice White of the supreme court OF
the United States to temporarily re
lieve him from duty and since thai
time he has performed none of tn,
duties of member of the commerce
| court