Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-11
Chief Witness Williams
Against Judge Archibald
Denies Former Testimony

Washington. ! Man l0.-F,dward ].
Williams of Scranton. Pa, chief wit
ness 81 far against Judge Robert W.
Archibald of the; commerce court. prac-
tie4liiy denied, today, before the House
judiciary committee some of the tes-
timony he gave against the judge.
Wednesday,. Williams was partner
with Judge Archibald in negotiations
for huying a eulm bank from the Erie
Railroad. 10 sell at profit a $4,000
to the Laekawanna & Wyoming Rail-
road. The judge at that time had the
Fries so-ealled lighterage cases in his
court. The committee is investigating
to decide-if impeachment proceedings
should be brought against the judge.
A. S. Worthington, counsel for the
accused jurist. undertook the re-di-
reef examination of Williams and his
atte.lIinfi To the copy Of an assignment
of The culm bank property that he was
alleged to have made to w. p. Boland
ana silent party
Previously Williams admitted hav-
ing made such an assignment before
he procured options on the Erie culm
banks and explained that the .sillent
party was Judge Archibald. To-day,
how ever. upon reading a copy of the
assignment again Williams declared
1t was not the paper he signed. He ad :
rlitted that the Signature attached
WAS his. but repudiated its contents.
This admission led Attorney WORTH
ington To ask the Witness If he ever
drank He said that he did and ad :
mitted it was possible he might have
signed papers that he could not re-
call. Williams also repudiated the
letter introduced in evidence. Wednes-
day. in which he related having told
w. p. Boland that if he had discount
ed one Of Judge Arehbald's notes a
case he had before that iurist which
was decided against him, must have
[res,ilted differently.
The witness admitted having said
something like that to Bolana but he
denied that the language used in the
letter in evidence. signed hNAhim ever
came from his lips. 1t was also APP
parent, from cross examination that
Judge Archibald paid Williams fare
from Scranton 10 Washington that the
latter might respond to the subpoenae
from the judiciary committee to ap-
pear before it, Williams said ne did
mot have the money and that he had
asked Judge Archibald to lend him the
fare When the committee adjourned
for the day, Williams was cautioned
by Chairman Clayton to talk to no
one about the case. He will be re-
called, tomorrow
William p. Roland and G. C. Boland,
who figure in the Archibald charges
and who were Instrumental in bring
ing them TO the attention of The de-
partment of justice, We're at the hear
ing They will not he called to tes-
|tify until Monday Interstate Com
merce Commissioner Meyer, who first
called Pres. Taft's attention TO the
charges against Judge Archibald. will
be asked 10 testify. tomorrow, when
Williams examination is finished
The committee started. today. to
learn of an alleged transaction be-
tween James r. Dainty. Judge Arch
bald and the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
. 1t involved the Eberhart coal property.
Williams was asked il he and Dainty
did not regard Judge Archibald as the
real negotiator" for the lease of the
Eherhart property by the Lehigh VAL
| Hey.
4 thought Judge Archibald might be
able TO swing It," replied Williams. Il
thought he could Try il anyhow.