The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-23
POSITIVE DENIAL
OF MISCONDUCT
BY JUDGE SPEER
Accused Jurist Submits
Brief to Congressional
Committee.
CONTAINS MORE
THAN 300 PAGES
Reiterates Declarations Made as
Witness During Inquiry, and
Answers in Detail Many of
Charges Made Against
Him by Other
Witnesses.

Macon. Ca, February 22-positive
denial that he has ever been guilty of
official misconduct during the twenty
nine years he has held office is made by
Federal Judge Emory Speer. Of the
Southern District OF Georgia in brief
submitted to the congressional commit
tee which recently Investigated charges
against the jurist. This inquiry was
directed by the House Committee on
judiciary after formal charges against
Judge Speer were submitted to that
body. Sessions extending over two
weeks were held by the investigating
committee at Macon and Savannah. at
the close of which Judge Spccr was
given permission to submit reply to
the accusations alleged against him.
In the brief Judge Speer reitcrates de-
clarations made as a witness before the
committee. and answers i'll detail many
Of the charges made against him by
other witnesses
While the original document was ad-
dressed to T.. Y. Webb. OF North Caro-
lima. chairman OF the committee. yes
terda:, tho contents of the brief to-
day were made public here for the first
time. II contains more than 900 print
cd pages.
Indorsed for Higher Court.
Before arguing the specific charges
made against him, Judge Speer, In his
brief, denies accusations that he was
ever guilty of being tyrannical, dicta-
torial. partisan and arbitrary while on
the bench. In substantiating this de-
NAL, the jurist submits Photographic
copies of letters from several legal or
ganizations of Georgia, other bodies
and prominent persons, indorsing him
for appointment to the United States
Circuit Court of Appeals.
Referring to the Jamison habeas cor
pus case, in which he was reversed by
the United States Supreme Court, Judge
Speer holds that the case was not re-
versed on Its merits. but because the
D1aintif had not exhausted his RENE
dies In the State courts.
Charges that the estate OF Colonel
w. a. Huff, of Macon, was unfairly
held in bankruptcy and its assets dis
sipated by him, arc answered by the
counter claim that the property finally
was sold for $1,000 more than Colon cl
Hun claimed ii was worth. Judge Speer
submits statistics intended to show
that he conducted bankruptcy cases
carefully and economically. lie denied
that bankruptcy admission in his dis
trict was excessive, and that lawyers
for creditors were willing to settle on
almost any terms rather than go into
court.
Saved Road from Absorption.
The turist replies to the accusation
that he wrecked the Central OF Georgia
Railroad in 1892 by an alleged mid
night order" throwing il into bank
ruptcy, by the assertion that he saved
the road from being absorbed by the
Richmond and Danville Railroad.
Judge Specr denies that he has ever
committed an illegal act with regard
to drawing Juries, and claims that his
every action is sanctioned by the Fed
eral statutes governing the conduct OF
Judges.
In reply to nepotism charges, fnvolv-
ing a. II. Hayward. his SON in law. and
member OF tho law firm of Talley e
Hayward, the jurist fatty asserts thnt
such accusations are untrue, and says
that the appointments in every case
were made, By the referee in bank
ruptcy. Flo adds that he never ruled
on a case where Talley & Heywards s
fee was contingent.
In conclusion, the brief says:
Certain individuals nave given testi-
mony that Judge Speers judicial ser
vices were unsatisfactory. 1t will be
en- easy task to turn to the record and
precisely locate the occasion and the
cause for the calumny and discover
that every important detractor was the
professional advocate and representa-
tive of evils which it had been and is
tho purpose of Congress to annul and
destroy"