The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-12
WHITE LANDS IN
OFFICE OF BARNES
DEPUTY MARSHAL NAMED
FOR UNITED STATES MARSHAL OF
SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

| At Washington an Official Statement
Is Made That the Evidence on
which Marshal Barnes Was Dis
missed from Ohlce Was AmpIe-As-
Sistant Attorney General Says
barnes Wasn't Entitled to a Henr-
ing.
BY r. NJ. Larner.
Washington, May 11.-"Abundant ev-
idence was furnished the President and
J the Attorney General to warrant the
summary dismissal of Marshal ]. NJ.
Barnes and the appointment of his sue
oessor, George White of Macon"
This is the substance of the official
statement given out at the Depart
ment of Justice to-day relative to the
removal of Marshal Barnes, because of
alleged offensive conduct to Judge
Emory Speer and other court officials
in the Southern Judicial district of
| Georgia.
Judge Speer, accompanied by District
! Attorney Akerman, called at the White
House to-day and had a long confer
ence with the President concerning the
removal of Marshal Barnes and the
selection of his successor.
JustihcatiOn, Says the Judge.
II do not care to discuss the sub
ject for publication" said Judge Speer,
as he was leaving the White House.
1.-The action of the President in re-
moving Mr.. Barnes and the prompt
appointment of Mr.. White as his sue
cessor seems conclusive that there was
| justification for an immediate change"
added Judge Speer, reluctantly, when
pressed for some confirmation of the
reports that Marshal Barnes had been
offensive to the court during a recent
sitting at Valdosta.
Il prefer that you apply to the De-
partment of Justice for further infor-
nation" continued Judge Speer.
The Judge expressed his satisfaction
at the appointment of Mr.. White, who
is a deputy marshal at Macon. Dis
trict Attorney Akerman also joined in
commencing the selection OF Mr..
White.
best Interest of Service.
At the Department of Justice there
was a disposition to consider the dis
missal of Marshal Barnes as necessary
for the best interests of the public
service. Assistant Attorney General
Purdy, to whom the matter was re-
ferred, declined TO go into details fur
ther than to state that for some time
past the citations between Judge Speer
and Marshal Barnes had been so
| strained as to impair the satisfactory
administration of the marshaPs office.
The conditions in that judicial district
| were reported 20 the Attorney GEN
eral and the President. Without speci-
| flying the exact nature of Mr.. Barnes
offending assert that abundant evil
dence was furnished the President and
the Attorney General to warrant the
summary dismissal Of Mr.. Barnes.
Entitled to no Hearing.
1.-The evidence was so convincing
! that neither Mr.. Barnes, nor his friends
are justified in entering the plea that
he was not given a hearing. A hear
ing from him was not necessary, in
view of all that has occurred, and
the most generous way to explain what
had occurred is to say that the best in
terests of the public service demand
ed an immediate change in the mar
shalship In the administration of JUS
tice, the marshal should be entirely in
sympathy and accord with the presid-
| ing judge. Mr.. Barnes Will not claim
that he was in entire accord with
Judge Speer, and the situation was
such as to render a change in the
marshaIs office imperative
Judge Speer will remain in Wash
ington a few days, visiting relatives.
Mr.. White came to Georgia from
| New York state about IA years ago.
| Shortly after coming here he was ap-
pointed a deputy United States mar
shal serving under the predecessor of
| Mr. Barnes and under Mr.. Barnes. He
| has acted as field marshal, and has
| earned for himself an enviable reputa-
tion as a government officer.
Later he was appointed revenue
| officer, and his work in this line also
| attracted the attention of the officers
| of the court. His appointment as mar
| shall, however, was not expected, as 1t
was believed that Deputy Marshal
! Tucker would be named to succeed
Marshal Barnes.
Those who are closest to the working
| of United States court matters here
| believe that the appointment OF Mr.!
| White is only temporary. Being Ma
| con man, he was probably suggested
| by Judge Speer, according to their De-
| lief, TO serve until a permanent ap-
| pointment is made by the President. 1t
! is not expected that any of the depu-
! ties of Mr.. Barnes will be removed
| from Office, at least not until regular
| marshal has been named or until Mr..
| Whites appointment has been made
| permanent. The deputies are appoint
| ed by the marshal.