New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
ARCHIBALD EVIDENCE
PUZZLES COMMITTEE
Witnesses Tell Directly Contrary
Stories of Judges Alleged
Dealings.
MEAN TO GET REAL FACTS
Investigators Ask Department of
Justice to Help, and Will
Call for More
Documents

Call for More
Documents
From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, May lin the face OF ut
terly contradictory testimony from two i'm
portant witnesses, the House Committee
on Judiciary, Investigating charges against
Judge Robert w. Archibald OF the Com
merce Court decided later to-day on rad
ical steps TO learn the full details Of the
alleged questionable transactions in which
the jurist had a part At the request or
the committee Wrisley Brown, special in
vestigator for the Department of Justice
will renew his probe of the Archibald trans
actions and will undertake to round up In
Pennsylvania all persons who may throw
light upon the culm pile deals.
John Henry Jones. Of Scranton. followed
Edward j. Williams, of the same city. on
the stand to-day, and his testimony was
widely at variance with that of his pre-
decessor. Mr. Williams had testified that
Judge Archibald. among other speculatons
purchased with $500 note share In an
option held by Jones and Williams on
Venezuela timber lands Mr. Jones &C.
clared Judge Archibald had no interest In
the option. but had merely Endorsed a note
for Jones
In return for this accommodation, Mr..
Jones testified, he gave Judge Archibald
$3.50 out Of the profits made by Jones IN
An independent culm pile deal in which the
Judge had no interest.
Rather nonplussed by this and other con-
tradictions. including those of Mr.. Williams
of his own testimony, the committee sought
the aid OF the special investigator for the
Department of Justice, who had charge OF
the original investigation undertaken by
the Attorney General at the direction OF
President Taft.
A subpoena duces tecum was ordered for
Captain W. A. May. manager OF the Erie
Railroad coal properties, and he Will be or
dered 10 produce every paper in the pos
session Of the road relating 10 any and all
Of Judge Archbald's alleged interests In the
sale of the Katydid culm pile. The COM
mittee also intends to call for papers in the
files Of the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia
G. Reading railroads which may bear upon
the Archibald transactions
Hint Of Another Deal.
Still another culm pile deal was preached
when Representative Sterling asked Mr..
Jones II judge Archibald did not see w. ].
Richards, Of Scranton, regarding tie Rich
ards culm banks. Mr.. Jones denied that
he knew Richards or that he had men
toned this subject to w. P. Boland. but
Mr.. Sterling demanded that sub2oenas be
issued for Richard and Fred WarnEe, both
of Scranton.
Jones had testified that he had sold
"culm filing" TO Mr.. Warnke and that out
Of the profits he had given Judge Archibald
$3.50 in return for the Endorsement by the
Judge Of Jones's note IN the Venezuelan
matter. Judge Archibald. he said. had no
interest in the Warnke sale
Edward J. Williams entangled himself to-
day in maze OF contradictory statements
that almost baficd the committee. He was
confused about an assignment
contract executed last September with w.
p Boland, in which Judge Archibald was
referred TO as q silent partner
First denying that he ever signed such
contract, then admitting that he did, but
asserting a copy Of the contract before the
committee was not the one he signed, and
finally declaring he had no good recollection
about It. Williams was bombarded by ques-
tons by different members Of the committee
and Judge Archbald's counsel, A. S. Worth
irgton.
Couldn't Remember Signing.
The committee submitted to him a series
OF Photographic copies or papers in evidence
containing his signature. Williams admit
ted that the signatures were his, but de-
clared he could not remember having signed
them.
w. p Boland. OF Scranton. produced the
original of the assignment contract con-
tanning his maine and that OF the client
party" which Williams said the other day
referred to Judge Archibald. When shown
this Williams said he didn't remember ever
signing the contract, but he admitted his
signature. Williams told the Attorney Gen.
eral last February that he had signed such
an assignment contract, but to-day he de-
clared that he was so excited when sum-
moned before the Attorney General that he
was like a wild man" and said many
things he had no recollection Of.
Williams also contradicted statements he
previously had made to Assistant Attorney
General w TISIcS DlO"H oDONN ''N N'0'
Representative Webb read from the steno-
eraphic record Of Williams's examination
bv Mr.. Brown last March. In this Will
Jams said that when ne went TO see Cap
tain May, Of the Erie Railroad. to nego-
tiate an option on the culm banks. he told
Nav that Judge Archibald was to have an
interest in the option.
Did you tell Captain May that?' asked
Mr.. Webb.
mo. sir ! never told him that"
"Well you told Mr. Brown that you did,
"Tf did / was mistaken. That IL wrong.
I'm pretty sure l never told Mr.. May that
the Judge was interested"
you also told Mr.. Brown" Mr.. Webb
continued, that Judge Archibald told you
to tell May that he was 10 have an In
terest in the option. How about that?"
Judge Archibald never told me TO tell
May that" Williams answered. If told
Brown that, / was mistaken"
Captain May, at Mr.. Worthington's re-
ouest. produced letter written by Judge
Archibald, on March 81. asking about the
Erie culm property. When shown the let
ter. Williams said he did not recognize 1t
as the letter Judge Archibald had given him
70 take TO Captain May. This letter read:
write 10 INQUIRE whether your company
~,,iu dIsnose of YOUR interest in the katydld
culm dump. belonging to the Ropertson ana
Law estate, near Brownsville. IL SO, VIII
YOU kindly put price upon II!
when you were at the Attorney Cen
ro,,s Office last February" Mr.. Worthing-