The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-03
ARCHIBALD IMPEACHMENT
TRIAL OPENED
Charges Grew Out of Private and Official
Acts of Judge of Court of Com
merce and U. S. District
Judge

Judge Robert w. Archibald OF the UniteC
States commerce court for conduct
amounting to a violation OF his oath al
federal Judge, had been set to open to
day before the Senate court of impeaeh'
ment. as a result Of Judge Archba
request last August that his attorneys
be given more time to prepare their
case
The charge against Judge Archibald
arose in connection with private and
official acts, both as Judge of the court
of commerce and as United States dis
trict Judge for middle Pennsylvania. He
was impeached by the House Of Repre-
sentatives after full investigation of
the facts by the department OF justice,
and extended hearings before the House
Judiciary committee,
The managers appointed by the House
to prosecute the case before the Senate
asked for an immediate trial last An
gust, but the Senate declined to hasten
its consideration of the case During
the last week scores of subpnnas were
issued for witnesses who will be brought
before the Senate by the House man
ayers and by Judge Arehbalds attorneys
in connection with the trial.
After the House committee on ju-
dietary had concluded its hearings last
spring, it recommended that Judge
Archibald be called before the Senate un-
der impeachment proceedings. The last
time the House had exercised its inn
parchment powers was in 1904, when
Judge Swane, United States Judge for
the northern district OF Florida, was
called to account for misconduct and
was acquitted BY the Senate. The House
Of Representatives on July III, 1912,
adopted articles of impeachment by a
vote OF 222 to /, and a committee head
FL by Representative Clayton of Alaba
ma was chosen to act as the managers
IN the part Of the House to try the
,ase before the Senate. The House
urged the Senate to grant an
trial. but that body declined
% hear the case before the end of the
asst session.
Thirteen separate articles constitute
he basis for the Impeachment trial.
These embrace some dealings between
Judge Archibald and railroad officials and
,thers in regard to Pennsylvania coal
Il "culm' dumps and coal lands; con-
ributions by attorneys and others to
he judges vacation trip to Europe i'll |
go; reputed "secret correspondence by !
he Judge with railroad attorney con-
erning pending case; and alleged 1
ttempts TO have notes payable to Judge 1
Archibald discounted by attorneys and |
tigants before his court.
In presenting the case 10 the House
Clayton said that the l
judiciary committee was of the opinion
bat Judge Arehbald's sense OF moral I
had become deadened" and
hat he had "prostituted his high Office
or personal profit" The principal
barge grew out of the katydid culm
ank deal. In this charge it was as
,rted that while the Erie Railroad COM
any had pending before the commerce
)urt two suits, Judge Archibald, cor 4
lptly taking advantage OF his official
Dstion, induced the officials of the Hill
de Coal & Iron company and of the
rie railroad. which owned that COM
any. to agree to sell the coal company's
terest in the Katydid dump to Judge
rchbald and Edward ]. Williams.
In his answer Judge Archibald denied
lat he had acted corruptly, or had TAX
advantage of his position. His attor
Tvs took the position that it was not
crime for federal Judge to become
terested in an attempt TO purchase
.opertv from one who was or might ,
come litigant before his court. They
cleared that no attempt was made to ,
/ the property for less than its fair !
Ilue !.
Another prominent charge was that Z
ldge Archibald undertook for consid-
alton to assist George NJ. Watson. an ,
torney of Scranton. Pa, to settle a !
suit brought by the Marion !
val company against the Delaware, 1
Ickawanna & Western railroad COM
ny. and TO sell for c. G. Boland and \
. p. Boland a large portion of the
oek Of the Marion Coal company to the
ilroad. In his answer Judge Archibald /,
clarci that he acted in this matter :,
arelv as friend of Watson and C. G.. n
land. without ever having received a +
question OF compensation. In
In response to every charge, attor- I,
vs. for Judge Archibald replied that the h
Is charged did not constitute an inn
achable offcnse, OF high crime OF
slemeanor. as defined in the consti- I,
ton. 4