The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-18
HIS FRIENDS RESENT IT.
JUDGE sPEER HAS BEEN PLACED
IN A FALSE LIGHT.

days New York Herald, written by
it's Quebec correspondent and descrip-
tive Of the attitude of Benjamin d.
trial in the United States Court here
for the high crimes and misdemeanors
with which they are charged.
The article treats the prosecution of
the defendants in this remarkable case
as though it were inspired and was
being conducted by Judge Speer.
speaks of his alleged strong prejudice
against the defendant, says 1t lis no
secret that Judge Speer deems his per-
sonal reputation and standing TO be
involved in this case,' that "he has
clearly indicated that he believes the
two men to be guilty and his friends
say he thinks he is performing a pa
triotic duty in his effort to send them
to prison." These things may be no
secret in Quebec, but they are utterly
unknown in Savannah, and no friend
of Judge Speer ever gave them either
countenance or utterance.
The Herald's correspondent goes into
distinguished connections of the sew
eral counsel Capt. Greene and Col.
Gaynor have secured in Quebec. OF
these lawyers and the influential posi-
tons they and their connections occu-
Ply, the Herald says:
Mr.. Testers father was a distin-
guished judge and his brother law,
Alexander Chauveau, is judge of the
Police Court in this city, which has
original jurisdiction in extradition
cases. Mr.. Chauveau was appointed
a judge in such matters several years
ago.
Mr.. Tessier is a man of middle age.
Mr.. Taschereau, his associate, is
younger, but one who already has
achieved a considerable reputation. He
is a member of one of the most dis
tinguished families in Canada. His
grandfather was a brother of Cardinal
Taschereau. One of his uncles is a
judge of the Supreme Court of Canada,
another a judge of the Superior Court.
MANY men of the name have been
judges or members of the Canadian
Parliament. Naturally the influence
of the family is great.
Mr.. Taschereau is member of the
chereau, Cannon & Ray. OF this firm
Mr.. Fitzpatrick is a member of Par
lament for the county of Quebec and
is minister of justice for the Dominion.
of Canada. He is a warm friend of
Charles Russell, son of the late Lord
Russell of Killowen.
IS. NJ. Parent. another member of
the firm, is Mayor of Quebec and prime
minister of the province. MIR. Cam
sn
general of the Province of Quebec.
with such connections it would be
surprising If the counsel for Col. Gay
nor and Capt. Greene should get the
worst Of it in any legal struggle that
may come. They are both confident
that they will win"
The author of the article is evidently
unfamiliar with the facts of the pro-
ceedings that have already been had.
He talks of the effort of the defendants
to secure a change of venue from Sa-
vannah to New York, when no such
effort was ever made. The Federal
laws would not permit it, and no one
of the distinguished lawyers who have
represented the defendants in the past
and who represent them now ever seri-
ously hazarded the suggestion.
On this point, and in regard to the
statement that the counsel for the de-
PENDANTS would secure for them more
than favorable action In the Canadian
courts, Judge Speer made the only
comment he has vouchsafed in reply 10
the attack from Quebec.
II have read the story" he said ut
seems intended for Canadian readers
for every American lawyer will at once
discover its misstatements. 1t is not
very agreeable reading, you may mag.
inc, to an American judge, engaged
in unmistakeable duty, but it must be
much less agreeable to the Canadian
judges and officials upon whom the
writer reflects"
The long fight in New York, it is
we'll known, was not to secure a change
of venue from Savannah to New York,
but to prevent the removal of the de-
PENDANTS to stand trial here, upon an
Indictment alleging the peculation of
hundreds of thousands of dollars. In
substance it was the same fight thew
now propose to wage from the eyrie in
Quebec.
One fact in connection with this mat
ter stands out prominently in vindica-
ton of Judge Speer-if vindication were
needed. of the aspersions that have
cast upon him. This is that Edward
II. and William r. Gaynor. jointly in
dicted with the other defendants for
the same offenses have been regularly
in attendance upon the court, and
seemingly beth willing and anxious to
have their cases tried.
Their bonds are $50, 900 less in amount
than that Of either John Gaynor or
Greene, and they enjoyed exactly the
same opportunities of making their es-
cape, had they desired to do so. 1t is
to be presumed that if Judge Speer
had prejudice or bias in the matter it
would have extended to Ed and Will
Gaynor-but they do not seem to fear
to trust their case to the decision of
the court over which he presides. On
the contrary, they have asked their
counsel to express their appreciation of
the consideration with which they had
been treated by the court
The friends of Judge Speer here say
that he has never uttered a word in
dicating any prejudice on the subject
of the guilt or innocence of the de-
PENDANTS. 1t is, however we'll under
stood that the judge has lost no oppor-
tunity to enforce obedience to the pro-
cess of his court. That he was right
in his position from the first has been
fully affirmed by the Supreme Court Of
the United States. 1t is one thing for
a Judge to show himself hostile to pris-
oners after they are brought to trial,
and another and a very different thing
for him to insist that the officers of
the law shall do their duty when an
is found, arrest the prisoner
and bring him before the court.
of one thing, however, there can be
no doubt. and that is that Greene and |
Gaynor may well fear to come before
Judge Speer If they feel themselves |
guilty of TIE offenses CHARGED Hon I