Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-07
DISCRIMINATION Of
JUDGE ARCHBALDBECU
Probably Will Take Up All of
Today's Session of I'm
parchment Court.

The taking of testimony in the i'm
parchment trial of Judge Robert w
Archibald of the Commerce Court reached
its climax today with the cross-eXamna-
ton of the judge himself by the man
ayers on the part of the House, who are
acting as the prosecuting attorneys
Judge Archibald completed his direct ex-
animation late yesterday afternoon, after
having been on the witness stand nearly
four hours. 1t is expected the cross-exam-
ination will take up sll of today's ses-
sion.
That the crOss-eXamnation will be
searching was indicated by the early
questions put to the judge by the man
ayers. In his direct examination Judge
Archibald reviewed most of his career on
the bench and presented his side of the
transactions upon which are based the
thirteen articles of Impeachment.
During his testimony yesterday after
noon Judge Archibald Professionally denied
that he had any thought of corruptly
using his power as federal judge to get
favors for himself from railroads and
others. His motive. according to his
own statements. was friendship for his
Scranton associates. with whom he had
lived and worked for years, when he ne
gotiated with officials of railroads for
the settlement of coal land matters and
when he Endorsed certain notes.
Denies Attempt to Influence.
Admitting his associations with Ed
ward j. Williams of Scranton in trying
to buy the Kadydid culm dump from
the Erie railroad and other owners, he
denied that he had intended to influence
the officials of the Erie railroad to act
in his favor because he was on the
bench Of the Commerce Court. AS to his
activity in the settlement of the case of
the Marion Coal Company against the
Lackawanna railroad he testified that
he had acted merely as a friend of
George NJ. Watson, attorney for the
coal company. and c. G. Boland, one of
it's owners.
Again he denied any purpose to cor
ruptly influence the railroad in the case,
and he said he did not expect any pe-
cuniary recompense. In both matters. he
testified he had not attempted to con-
ceal his actions and they were well known
to many in Scranton and nearby.
To the charge that he had sought credit
from ltigants. or possible litigants. in
his courts, either while judge of the mid
die district of Pennsylvania or while
judge of the United States Commerce
Court he entered a general denial
Members Of the Senate asked him nu-
merous questions in connection with the
charge that he had written to Helm
Bruce, an attorney for the Louisville and
Nashville railroad. as to evidence that
had been presented In behalf of the rail-
road in a case upon trial before the Com
merce Court Judge Archibald declared
that he had written to Mr.. Bruce to clear
up certain points in the evidence, but ne
maintained the correspondence amounted
to nothing because the settlement OF the
case did not depend upon the points dis
cussed In the letters.
He said he had not shown the CORE
spondence to other members of the
court This led Senator Reed to ask
If he thought 1t proper for Judge. in
passing on doubtful points in evidence.
to ask the opinion of the attorney like
ly to coincide with his views.
No. | do not" was Judge Archbald's
reply.