The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-09
INQUIRY INTO HE . CHARGES AGAINST ARCHIBALD BEGINS Man With Whom Judge Was Silent Partner
 Testifies JUDGE ARCHIBALD
 HIMSELF PRESENT While Judge on "Lighterage Cases" Involving Erie Railroad Nego- tiated an Option From That
 Railroad-Another Deal
...........

Washington, May S.-Charges against Judgo Robert ". Archibald of the com
 merce court were unfolded today before the House committee on judiciary, which is to determine if impeachment proceed inss shall be brought against the jurist. How Judge Archibald, in partnership l with Edward J. Williams, a Scranton coal dealer. while deliberating as a judge on the "lighterage cases, toewhich the Erie
 railroad was a party, is alleged to have
 negotiated an option from that railroad
 for 42,Ooo tons of Culm bank property to be sold at s12.OoO profit, was related to the committee by Williams himself. Archibald Hears Testimony Judge Archibald heard the testimony and
 occasionally looked at photographic copies them letter in which the judge told of his connection with the Culm bank ne- gotiations in his own words.
 In addition to that transaction, Williams told of another deal in which he said Judge Archibald acquired an interest with him in an option on 1.00O,000 acres of Ven ezuelan timber land for which the jlc; ;e
 gave note for $500 Williams tried to
 uiSNpulil lliiS nOlt Mill '. J. anu ". I. Roland of the Marion Coal company of
 Scranton, who at that time had a case
 pending before Judge Archibald in the federal court. The Bolapds refused to dis
 count the notes aapd lster lost their case. N Wiliams admitted telling N. F. E and that if he had discounted Judge Arch halds note the case might have resulted differently, but he denied that Judge Arch
 bald knew anything of his making such remark Roland
 The testimony relating to the Culm bank transaction included reference to an assignment by Williams of an in terest in the options secured to w. P. Roland and silent partner whom he admitted under examination was Judge Archibald. When asked why Judge Archibald had been referred to
 as silent partner" Williams said he thought it was not lawful for a jurist' s
 name to be used in such transactions.
 Tells of Negotiations
 | Williams related how the option for the Culm bank property was negotiated and said he and Judge Archibald were to divide the profits. Judge Archibald during the negotiations with the Erie 1 told him that the lghterage case was
 then before his court, Williams said.
 Judge Archibald showed me the briefs in the case" said Williams, "and told me it was about the lighterage case in which the Erie was interested. He gave me letter to Mr May of the Erie and also told me that he would
 see the general counsel for the Erie, MT. Brownell, about the option." | How the opinion was given soon thereafter and deal to sell the prop erty al s12,o00 profit, later frustrated, was described by the witness in detail. Another transaction which the com | mittee did not get to but will inquire | Friday, involved an alleged transaction for other Culm bank property in which Judge Archibald, man named Dainty and the Lehigh Valley railroad were said to be interested.
 This deal. it is said, was interrupted by charges filed with the. department of jus
 tice against Judge Archibald in connec- ton with the other cases.
 Clayton Produces Letter When Williams was first called to the stand and told of the transaction involv- ing Judge Archbald's note for $500, Chair
 man Clayton produced a photographic copy of a letter signed by Williams. in which he had said he told W. P. Roland
 had he discounted Judge Archbald's note the case of John W. Peel ys. the Marion I Coal company. in which the Bolands were
 interested. would not have been decided against them. The letter was read to
 Williams and he said dramatically: l q can swear before God that those
 words never came from me"
 l Did you sign this letter?" asked the chairman.
 "Yes; that is my signature. but signed
 it without looking at It. I did not know l those words were there"