The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-06
.Indra anaar Dafended.

| Mr.. Norman N. Dodge, In letter to the
| New York Tribune, defends Judge Speer
against the charge that has been made in
some OF the New York newspapers 10 the
effect that in entertaining q bill for the ap
pointment of receiver for the Richmond
and Da nville Railroad Company he has
been influenced by local feeling in Georgia
adverse to no n-resldeut investors Of capital
in railroad ecurities Mr.. Dodge says he
doesn't know anything about the merits OF
the Richmond and Danville case. but
he claims 10 know a good deal about Judge
Speer and his court.
Mr.. Dodge is a resident Of New York,
and the owner OF a very large amount OF
land In Georgia, concerning which he has
had good deal OF controversy and trouble.
His affairs in one shape and another have
been in Judge Speer's court.
In the course Of his long letter be says
thG he knows, both from experience and
observation that Judge Speer is
not influenced by considerations
which the articles in New York
papers attributed to him, but on the con-
trary "he has shown himself entirely Just
to foreign capital as against local prejudice
and influence" Further along In his letter
Mr.. Dodge says:
In frequent visits 10 Georgia during the
last decade l have had occasion 10 acquire
some knowledge and Information. In a gen
eral way, relative to the nature and conduct
OF business In Judge 5peer's court. So far
Is 10 from being true that he is untrisndly
to she interests OF foreign capital, that, on
the other hand, 10 IL true that foreign insur-
anoe companies within his jurisdiction
almost invariably remove thsir controver-
sizes to his court; that foreign railroad oom-
paniss and other corporations pursue the
same course. As the particular charge now
made ia that Judge Spesr Is hostile In spirit
to railroad interests held outside the state,
IL Is worthy of remark that there has
been but one verdict against railroad
company In his court during the entire time
he has been upon the bench.
"Our great mercantile houses have been
accustomed to bring before Judge Speer
their controversies with local merchants,
who have endesvored to hinder, delay or
defeat the claims OF their northern credi-
tors under the provisions of local laws al
lowing preferences. / doubt not but that
Messrs. H. B. Clafin g. Co., E. 8. Jaffray
81 Co., left, Weller s. Co., Swestzer, Penn
broke & Co.. and other firms extending
credit in Georgia will bear testimony that
10 their experience of litigation In Judge
Speer's court 1t Is not true that he has been
hostile TO the rights of foreign creditors,
but that he has In she administration Of the
law been entirely impartial aud just to
them.
THE truth is that Judge Speer's entire
judicial record Is an overwhelming refuta-
tion Of the statement that Judge Speer has
been influenced or affected by any local
sentiment adverse 10 the interest of non
resident investors"
Everybody who knows anything about
the Georgia Central and the Richmond aud
Danville litigation knows that Judge Speer
has been eminently fair and just. The
Richmond Terminal and Richmond and
Danville people have endeavored to crea to
a different impression in New York for pur-
poses Of their own. The fact that the Dan
vile and Terminal people have taken no
appeals from any of the decisions rendered
by Judge Speer is ample evidence that they
have no ground OF complaint against him.
Even their attorney testified to Judge
Speer's fairness In the steamship stock case