Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-20
JUDGE SPEER
MUST EXPLAIN
CITED TO SHOW WHY HE SHOULD
NOT BE PUNISHED FOR
CONTEMPT OF COURT,
BECAUSE He SAID THAT
JURY LISTS were PADDED,
Clerk Of Court Swears that Charge is
Without Foundation in Fact
Hearing Next Thursday.

Judge Lindsay of Department No.
of the district court and C. c. Cla.1,
clerk of both wings, have taken excep-
tion to the alleged remarks of Hon. w.
0. Speer, ex-judge of Department No.
z, In connection with the selection of jul
ries for duty in the courts, and on the
strength of an affidavit made by the
clerk. Judge Lindsay has cited Mr.. Speer
to appear in court at 2 o'clock next
Thursday after noon to explain the mat
ter. The emark credited to Judge
Speer are alleged to have been made at a
meeting of the Business Mems associa-
ton last Monday evening and were to
the effect that the jury lists were pad
ded to suit the tastes of those who han
died them.
The affidavit OF the clerk was sworn to
before Will Hardcastle, one of the dep-
uty clerks, and in substance is as fol-
lows:
THAT he is informed end believes that
one w. o. Speer, at q public meeting in
the city of Butte Oh July Is, 1901. to wit:
a meeting of the Business Mems asso-
citation, publicly expressed himself to the
effect that the jury boxes of the district
court of this district were 'mollkeyed
with meaning thereby that the officials
in charge of the said jury boxes either
JdIlEpeItu WILL, vi ptIIlIlItu " We liIAl-
Dered with, said jury boxes. Further,
that the said w. Q. SDeer, at said time
and place, stated that the jury lists
have been padded That among other
statements, the said w. 0. Speer made
the statement tina the said jury boxes
are also tempered with at times in order
to assist parties in winning their cases.
by putting their friends on
That the said charges and statements
made by the said w. O. Speer are with
- So. - ca-A -.l %l,~t - Tho
knowledge of this affiant the calling of
juries and the selection of the same, dur
in" yhe term of office of this affiant-
from the first day of January. 1897, down
to the present time-has been conducted
in all respects according to law and in
strictest conformity Herewith. Tha the
statements of said w. O.. Speer We're
made at a public meeting in the city of
Butte, and were given publicity through
the press of the city, and that such state
ments as We'll as being contempt Of court,
if allowed to 60 unchallenged. bring into
digcredit and disrepute the adminastra-
tion of the law"
The citation issued by the judge reads
as follows:
THE state of Montana to w. o. Speer:
"You are hereby cited and required to
be and appear before the judge Of the
district court Of the Second judicial dis
i trict CT the state of Montana. in Depart
ment One thereof. at the court room, IN
the court house OF the Salu county VI oW-
yer Bow. on Thursday. the twenty
sixth day of July. A. d. 1900. at the our
of . O'Clock in The afternoon of that day,
then and there TO show cause If any you
have, why proceedings should not be IN
stituted against you to punish you for
contempt. for having at the city OF
Butte, A. D. 1900. in public declarations
attributed to said court and it's officers
wrongful and unlawful action and per-
~nicious practice in drawing Jurors there
for. tO the great prejudice and disparage-
ment OF the said court and its oHlcers
i'm the administration of Justice"