Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-08
seek CLUE TO CRIME JUDGE FACES TRIAL
New York Police Make Arrest Impeachment Articles Against
Following Brutal Murder. Robert W. Archibald.
MAN PARTLY Identified HOUSE Committee ACTION
Small Girl Dies Charges Of Reprehensbe Conduct
Forty Wounds. and "Msbehavior.
STABS MADE WITH STuETTO SENATE AS THE TRIAL COURT
Victims Alleged
Possbl Clue to Idenif
Assailan on Bench.
Impeachment Articles Against
Robert w. Archibald.
HOUSE Committee ACTION
Charges Of Reprehensible Conduct
and "Misbehavior."
SENATE AS THE TRIAL COURT
Alleged That Accused OHicial's Busi-
ness Transactions Unfit Him
for Service on Bench.

With impressive emphasis Represen-
tatfve Clayton. chairman of the House
judiciary committee. today read to the
House the indictment of Judge Robert
w. Archibald OF the Commerce Court for
alleged misconduct on the bench. Only
a part of the report recommending the
indictment of the jurist was read by Mr..
Clayton. who then served notice that he
would demand consideration OF II to-
morrow Immediately after the House
met Members listened attentively as
the unanimous findings OF the commit
tee were read. and no objection was Of
fered to the printing OF the report In
the record.
Mr.. Clayton dwelt on the gravity OF
the accusations. thirteen in number,
which We're made against Judge Arch
bald Speaker Clark. I'm asking that the
House give to the matter its undivided
attention, also emphasized the solemnfty
Of the affair. When Mr.. Clayton con-
for the impeachment of Judge Archibald
were ordered printed and distributed TO
members.
Ninth Impeachment Trial.
The report was made the business for
Immediate consideration tomorrow as had
been requested by Chairman Clayton.
1t constitutes the ninth impeachment OF
judicial or civil official of the United
states since the foundation Of the gov
ernment and is the first since the i'm
peachment trial of Judge Charles Swayne
OF the northern district of Florida, who
was acquitted February 81. 1905.
The conduct Of this judge has been
exceedingly reprehensible and in marked
contrast with the high sense OF judicial
ethics and probity that generally charac-
terize the federal judiciary" the commit
tee said In summing up its findings Of
misbehavior in office against Judge Arch
bald.
His business transactions while Q
judge on the bench were held to unit him
for further service on the bench and q
resolution was presented impeaching him
and haling him for trial before the
United States Senate.
Your committee is of opinion that
Judge Archbald's sense OF moral RESPONSE
bility has become deadened.' says the
report: He has prostituted his high
ed by various transactions TO commercial
ize his potentiality rs judge He has
shown an overweening desire to make
gainful bargains with parties having
cases before him or likely to have cases
before him. To accomplish this purpose
he has not hesitated to use his official
power and influence. He has degraded
his high office and has destroyed the con-
ndence OF the public In his judicial in
tegrity. He has forfeited the condition
upon which he holds his commission and
should be removed from office by Inn
parchment.
Qualifications Prescribed.
a judge should be the personificatiop
of integrity. OF honor and of uprightness
In his daily walk and conversation He
should hold his exalted once and the ad-
ministration OF justice above the sordid
desire to accumulate wealth by trading
or traffisking with actual or probable
litigants in his court. He should be free
and unaffected by any bias bora of
ayarice and unhampered by pecuniary or
other improper obligations"
Chairman Clayton will introduce q reso-
luton tomorrow providing for the manage
ment OF the trial before the Senate. The
full committee designated Chairman Clay
ton. Representatives Floyd of Arkansas,
Davis Of West Virginia and Webb of North
Carolina, democrats, and Representatives
Norris Of Nebraska. Sterling of Illinois
and Rowland of Ohio. republicans, man
ayers to prosecute the Archbald trial De-
fore the Senate.
The charges against Judge Archibald
set forth in the thirteen articles Of i'm
peachment range from his business
transactions with actual and possible liti-
gants in his court to a trip to Europe
which, 1t was charged, was given the
Judge by Henry w. Cannon, railroad
magnate and financial power In New
York. Favoritism to a railroad htigant
was also included in the. charges, and
In the thirteenth count Of the Indictment,
under the heading General Misbehavior
Of Judge Archibald the committee re-
views the charges and finds that Judge
Archibald grossly abused the proprieties
Of his said office OF judge, was guilty OF
misbehavior and OF misdemeanor In OF
fice."
Articles Of Impeachment.
An epitome of the articles of impeach-
ment follows:
Article Negotiated with the Erie
Railroad Company for the purchase OF
the Katydid coal dump for Edward j.
Williams. his business associate. In the
opinion Of your committee Judge Arch
bald.s participation in this transaction.
under all the circumstances, was repre-
hensible and prejudiciai to the confidence
of, the American people in the federal
judiciary"
Article c-Joined with George NJ. Wat
son of Scranton. Pa. in an attempt TO
sell the stock of the Marion Coal Conn
pany 10 the Delaware. Lackawauna and
Western railroad. This company was
owned by the Boland brothers OF Scran-
ton, at that time iitigants against the
railroad before the interstate commerce
The committee charged
Judge Archibald figured in the negotia-
tons for a valuable consideration
Article 3-That Judge Archibald sought
to lease from the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company culm bank on the Girard
estate coal property near Shenandoah,
Pa At this time the railroad was a
litigant before the Commerce Court ana
the Interstate commerce commission. The
committee said: "It Is the conclusion or
your committee that the officers OF the
coal company (subsidiary) reliDquished
the right to operate the said culm bank
because OF the influence exercised upon
them through Judge Archbalds position
as a member Of the Commerce Court.
Conduct 'sUnfair and Unjust"
Article 4-That Judge Archibald sought
additional evidence from Helm Bruce. at
torney for the Louisville and Nashville
in q case before the Commerce
Court, which had been closed and given
% the judges for decision. Later he con-
,idered a supplemental brief from Mr..
Bruce without the knowledge Of the at
torneys for the interstate commerce COM