Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-10-15
JUDGE SPEER IS
SERIOUSLY i'll
Worry Over Impeachment
Trial Said To Be Respon-
sibie for Condition.
FAMILY AT BEDSIDE
Charges mt Washington Were Brought
BY the House After Thor.
Ough Inquiry.
FAMILY AT BEDSIDE

Mt, Airy, Ga, Oct. 1.-THE condi.
ton of Federal Judge Emory Speer is
reported most serious tonight. The
jurist became i'll Immediately after
the preliminary impeachment pro
ceedings against him. 1t is believed
that worry over the approaching trial
has retarded his convalescence and
is the direct cause OF his present
grave condition. His family gathered
at his bedside here, expressed uneas-
mess over his failure to improve.
Impeachment proceedings were
begunagainst Judge Emory Speer
federal judge Of the southern district
OF Georgia, by the passing VI rcso-
luton i'll the House, which calls for
an official Investigation into the
career of the Georgia judge by the
judiciary committee. In case the
charge made against the Judge is
substantiated in the hearings pe:ore
the committee. and the committe so
reports back to the House, resolu-
ton for Impeachment before the
Senate will be moved by some mem
Der of the Georgia delegation in the
! House Of Representatives. 1t is
understood that Judge Speer will be
| given an opportunity to appear be-
| fore the committee in his own de-
! tense. The same privilege was ac-
corded Judge Archibald who was i'm
| peached last year.
R. Cotton Lewis, a special eXamin-
err in the Department Of Justice, has
been conducting an investigation in
to the affairs Of the Georgia jurist
for the past year and on the findings
of this investigation, Attorney Gen
| eral McReynolds presented a special
report some time ago. During the
past four years, the judge has been
the object Of much criticism in his
the southern judicial district, which
comprises the southern half Of the
state OF Georgia, in which the cities
of Macon and Savannah are located.
Feeling in these two cities has been
very adverse toward the judge and it
was upon complaint of citizens Of
these towns that the investigation
was begun.
The chief allegation against Judge
Speer grows out OF the famous Huff
bankruptcy case. The estate of Colo
ael William Arnold Huff, one time
mayor of Macon and one of the veal
thiest citizens of that city, has been
in the bankruptcy court for fourteen
years. Colonel Huff alleges that
Judge Speer has kept the case on
period for the purpose of allowing
| the assets to be used to feather the
nests of the jud ge's fayorites and that
| the wealth of the estate is being
eaten up by the heavy costs which
are continually being charged
| against it as the years continue. The
court now holds ninety-siX THOUSAND
dollars OF the Huff estate. Judge
Speer recently ordered a distribu-
ton of about two thirds of this
amount, and Colonel Huff and five
creditors, including the city of Macon
which owns tax and paving claims
in the estate, are resisting the order.
Colonel Huff, who is now elgnly-two
years of age, wrote fiery, denuncia-
tiatory letter to Judge Speer, which
was also sent every member OF Con-
eress. The tract was a masterpiece,
| of scathing criticism and drastic in
| its charges. Colonel Huff did not
mince words in telling the Judge
what he thought of him. This letter
led to Colonel Huff's being called
before Judge l. W. Crubb of the
northern district of Alabama, presid-
| ing for Judge Speer at Macon, Judge
Speer being disqualified, because OF
his complaint of contempt of court.
judge Grub found Colonel Huff
guilty of the charge, but so far his
sentence has not been passed, al
though the case was tried several
mouths ago. Colonel Huff says that
he hopes to get off with fine, which
he is willing to pay, and that in his
denunciation he meant nothing
derogatory to the judiciary as
whole, but merely wished to tell
Judge Speer as man to man, what
he thought OF his conduct OF the
litigation in this particular case.
Although the Huff case seems 10
he the backbone in the allegations
against Judge Speer there are other
charges OF an equally serious nature.
The charges are said to include an
allegation that Judge Speer appoint
cd his son-in-law, Attorney A. H
rY,,ord 40 pyacutOr of certain CS-