Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-10-15

report also allie ges that Hayward has
dissipated a number OF estates and
that he has become wealthy in the
process. Numerous officers Of Judge
Speer's court are said to have been
allowed to receive unduly large fees
through their friendship for the
Judge Clients Of his son-im-laW are
said TO have been shown preference
by the judge AID it is also alleged
that Judge Speer sat i'll cases in
which his son-in-law was Interested
on contingent fee, knowing that his
decision would affect the fee his SON
in-law would receive.
In addition to favoring his son-n-
law, Judge Speer is alleged to have
played favortes with others in the
appointment Of receivers, masters,
and referees in cases in his court 1t
is said that the Judge has in times
past appointed J. n. Tally, of Macon.
a former court reporter III the
judges court and law partner of A.
Fl. Hayward. the judges son-in-law,
as receiver for many concerns. and
that following such appointments,
Judge Speer has borrowed money
from Talley not always being prompt
in discharging the obi CATION thus
incurred.
Added to all this is the charge
that Judge Speer is unfit to sit on
the bench, being addicted to the drug
habit. This is the first time that
such an accusation has been made
against any judge.
That Judge Speer is frequently
outside Of his judicial district when
he should be at home, is another al
legation in the report. The jurist is
a sufferer from hay fever and spends
much of his time at Mount Airy, Ga.
In connection with this il is said that
Judge Sneer has considered cases
while outside his district and juris-
diction, contrary to law. Attorneys
and clients say that they have been
caused much unnecessary expense
and annoyance by failure of the Judge
to remain in his district for the con-
sideration of cases. 1t is also cited
that the admiralty business at Savan-
nah has dWindled to almost nothing
because of the long delay in await
inc fr1C lC in Ind nnIs'cs trf
There is a petition now pending in
Congress to divide the southern
Georgia district in two parts, MAX
ing new district OF Savannah and
adjacent territory and to apL!oint
new Judge whose official resluunce
shall be in Savannah. Judge Speer
maintains an official residence in
Macon but holds court in both Macon
and Savannah.
In addition to these charges there
are many more. The typewriter re-
port covers more than one hundred
pages and the committee is now
peresuing this, allowing the members
to interpose discussion.
Judge Speer has had notable
career. He was born at Gulloden,
Monroe County, Ga, September 3,
1913. He was graduated from the
University of Georgia in 1869, and
served throughout the Civil War in
the Confederate army in the Fifth
Kentucky regiment. He was admitted
to tie bar in 1869 at Athens, became
Solicitor General of the Northern
Circuit in 1873, and served for three
years. He was defeated for the
Forty-fifth Congress, but was elect
ed as an independent Democrat to
the Forty-sixth and Forty seventh
Congress, serving from 1878 to 1883.
He was appointed United States At
torney for North Georgia in 1883, and
served in that position until 1898,
when he became Judge for the South
ern district of Georgia.
Not A Surprise.
Macon, Ga, Oct. 13.-News of the
Impeachment proceedings instituted
in the House of Representatives at
Washington, against Judge Emory
Speer of the southern district of
Georgia, did not come as surprise
to the citizens of this community.
1t has been known for some time
that the proceedings would probably
be instituted and many citizens of
prominece are of the opinion that
in the hearing before the judiciary
committee, sufficient grounds for
proceeding with the impeachment
will be found
Judge Speer is preparing u make
strong fight in his defense before
the committee and some time ago
wrote to Chairman Clayton, oil til.
House judiciary committee, asking