Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03


For the ninth time in it's history the
Senate convened today as a high court
of Impeachment to try Judge Robert w.
Archibald of the Commerce Court on thir-
teen separate charges alleged to consti-
tute high crimes and misdemeaners."
Counsel for the judge has admitted COM
mission of all the acts alleged, but de-
MED that any was improper
The Senate convened at 1890 O'Clock.
Judge Archibald and his attorneys entered
promptly. Over a dozen members OF the
Senate had to be sworn in as members
of the Impeachment court
Accompanied by Counsel.
Judge Archibald was accompanied by A.
S Worthing,on of Washington. Alexan-
der Simpson, jr., OF Philadelphia and
Robert w. Archibald. jr., his son All
of the seven House managers We're pres
ent
The court adopted formal orders, set
ting the houi of meeting daily at
o'clock, and providing that the opening
statements OF the case should be made
by one person on each side. This VIII
confine the opening statements to Repre-
sentative Clayton, who had been desig-
mated by the House managers. and A. S.
Worth. ngton. chief counsel for Judge
Archibald.
The court of impeachment then re-
cessed until = O'Clock. after a session or
only five minutes.
House Takes Action.
The Impeachment Of Judge Archibald by
the House of Representatives followed
an investigation of charges against him
by the Department of Justice and the
laying of the departments findings before
the House. After an inquiry of its own.
the House judiciary committee drew up
thirteen separate articles OF impeach-
ment and recommended that Judge Arch
bad be brought before the Senate 1or
trial
The articles of impeachment are based
on dealings between Judge Archibald ana
railroad officials and others in regard 10
Pennsylvania culm dumps and coal lands,
alleged contributions by attorneys ana
others to the judges vacation trip To Eu-
rope in 1910, alleged secret correspond
ence by the Judge with railroad at
torney concerning pendlng case ana az
eged attempts to have notes payable 10
Judge Archibald discounted by attorneys
and ltigants before his court
Ii was charged by Representative
Clayton. chairman of the House Judicl-
ary committee. i'm laying the case be-
fore the House of Representatives., that
Judge Archbald's sense OF moral re-
sponsibility had become deadened, and
high Office for personal proht
Took Advantage of Place lis Charge.
One of the principal charges grew out
of a deal involving the Katydid culm
bank 1t was alleged that while the
Erie railroad had two suits pending be
fore the Commerce Court, Judge Arch
bald took advantage of his official posi-
ton and induced the officials Of the
Hillside Coal and Iron Company and
of the Erie railroad, which owned that
company, to agree to sell their inter-
ests in the Katydid dump TO Judge
Archibald and Edward J. Williams
Responding to the charge, Judge Arch
bald denied that he had corruptly taken
advantage of his position as a judge. 1t
was claimed by his attorneys that il was
not crime for federal judge TO be-
come interested in an attempt 10 purchase
property from any one who was or might
become a litigant before his court. There
was no attempt, they added, to get the
property for less than its fair value.
Another charge was that Judge Arch
bald undertook for consideration TO as
sist George NJ. Watson, an attorney OF
Scranton, Pa, to settle a reparation SUIT
brought by the Marion ccal Company
AGAINST the Delaware, Lacawanna and
Western Railroad Company. and To sell
for G. c. Boland and w. r. Boland.
large block of the stock of the Marion
Coal Company TO the railroad To this
charge Judge Archibald answered that he
had acted merely as a friend of Watson
and c. q. Boland. and without a sugGes-
tion OF compensation.
Responding generally TO the charges.
judge Archibald declared that the acts
charged against him did not constitute a
high crime or misdemeanor or an i'm
offenSe