New-York tribune., 1882-04-29
THE COURTS.
HOW OLD is JUDGE sPEIR'
HIS OWN TESTIMONY on THE PoTNr-BoRN

William N Leonard. former law partnerc Judse Hper
who said he was born June IL. 1872. From conver
satiOns with Judge Spor he had come 10 inc cohous"
in 1889 that the latter was few months younger .ha'
himself Edwin Rowe testified that he was born on feo
mary IL 1873 He had known Judge speir for many
wears and had formed the impression that he was two
| or three wears older than himself Mrs. Mary
| Wager the youngest sister OF Judge Spelr
testified that she was born February 9, 1917 Her
sister Ane had told her that she tAgnes was born IN
1900 The WITNESSES mother had told her that the rec
ord in the Bible was Incorrect year in the case Of
the older children and longer period i'll the case of
children born after Agnes. She had heard her mother
say that Judge Sper born in 1872 The entire rec
ord In the family Bible had always been considered In
correct George 2. Wilson testified that lie was born in
1917 and that he had concluded from conversations
with Judge spe that he three or younger
than Judge Speir
Tho next witness was Judge spcr, who said he was
born in Balson In 1872 He had been told both by his
father and mother that this the year Of his birth
He had had frequent conversations with his mother
on the subject Of his age After the older children
had married and left the homestead and established
homes for themselves upon occasions OF their coming 10
the homestead on visits disputes in regard TO the
correctness of the record in the family Bible On ac-
count disputes Judge speir had applied to his
mother I'm order establish the true date OF his own
birth She told him that DR.. McMaster after whom he
had been named was the first settled minister that the
parish had ever had. Dr. McMaster was settled III al-
son in 1903. first child after Dr. McMaster came
70 Balston was born in the following year. lSO9 This
child was Noses and two years and eleven months
older than the witness. Judge sper said his mother
also ixed his birth in 1912 the year in which was
declared between England and the United
States. Mrs. speir eaid that the record
in the Bible had been written by
record which attracted her attention was in the age Of
her eldest daughter Jane The record In the Bible was
took place in her eighteenth year ana NOT IN er seven
teenth year. Jane born year later As the roc
odd made her marriage take place year earlier than
it actually did therefore se cohclhIeu .t tere was
mistake year in the record OF her daughter Jane
ons of his lite he had acted upon the Information as 10
his age given him by his mother
first vote ever was for c. W. Lawrence for Mayor
OF NewYork in 1884 or 1852 1T, The first President |
nershp with ex-Judse Leonard. the question
T9Qs a the name Saoq% OF Se oer BE Of r tie
should appear first. We compared ages and found
that Judge Leonard the elder although born In the
Judge spicr dercd that he had taught school at
HopC ity He taught school al one time at what was
called Old Scotch Church. lie remembered that he had
attended school at Bston spa with Dr. spear, OF Brook
lyn but he had recollection that he had ever spoken
to him about his age. lie also contradcted DR. spears
statement that be tthe witncss) was "beautiim
singer lie never sang in company. and no company
wOuld have been delighted to have heard him sing His
acquaintance with Dr spear was not Intimate, ana they
"eirtainly never troze together"
on crossexamnation tie witness said that the family
Bible was examined the times when it, correctness
had been disputed IN the family gatherings AS far
back he had any remembrance o the Bible the rec
ord, with its ensures, had always been the same
Nothing was said IN thehe ulScussiO iOs a. W VINO hh
made the and changes or why they had been
made His mother had said that there Of
year running through the Bible. her slaiemtui wac
founded the assumption that the record O the birth
OF Jane was incorrect by one year lie had
never heard that thought that the
record incorrect in regard 10 the months aud days
Ne thought That the record n tbe blDe was correct
but no one had proposed 10 nhke lhe necessary chneer
Ia regard present controversy between r OGOr
mau and Judge ArLouX he had pnrpOscly kept from
taking sides lie had not looked into the law In the
Gaze lie had preference lii regard 10 tie contest
ann themselves but he thought that bis successor, a.
appointed by the Governor, Ehoi6 De uphtld he nad
u ,1sona interest the issue of tine suit He had him
self acted IN good hih anu bcihg conscious Ol thls, ne
did not care rush WHO might WIN: Nheh nc resigned
under the inprrs lhat his rcsguatlon would
time for an election; lie aiteTwnTd i0nnd that
he had made mistake. In regard TO the alleged
i'm 1870 as twenty years. ne declared that had
heard of such registry until II mentioned in the
his to any of the college authorities The first thing
in his life which LIE could remember was the marriage OF
his sister Aees June l. SIS lie could not renen-
ber the brtn of his sister Mary who was four accord
lug her recollection, III lsl7 Judge Sper said he had
been applied to for information concerning his age by
reporters lie had conversation win one reporter,
but afterward refused t. the O,her reporters who
SmeIhrr lie never tod lanes q Hel IN fSl6 tbat bc
WAC then seventeen years old. His mo her had told
him that the record III the Bible had been written one
uf tie members OF the family then present. lie denied
that there ever mad been small Bible Ia the family
from which the record had been transcribed into the
present Bible.
GU rcdirco examination Judge sper said he had re-
signed his Cicc because lie unable longer to do the
heavy work which was imposed upon hum. and also be-
hc unable 10 attend To the piiftc business Oi
his relatives IL the country winch ho had been
to look after Ihcy Lad Omlltlned 10 hlm
OF his glcct OF their business.
The counsel OF Judge ArnOuX then offered In evidence
OF the ballots cast Tor Sill OGormGn, for the purpose
OF showing that they were irregular The question vi
the adIssoA OF these ballots VIII bo decided Tues
Il Il,