Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-20
5PEER ACCUSED.
Of s AY|N c
VERD|CTS
Attorney Charges Judge Takes
Sides in Cases on Trial
Before Him.

MACON. Jan. 20.-J. W. Preston,
g. a retired attorney, was the first
Witness to-day before the committee
or congressman investigating Fed
.ral Judge Emory Speers official
conduct He said that in the John
y Roberts case and in the Williams
ease Judge Speer had denied the de-
fondants fair and impartial trials.
r,anifestinc an intent and purpose to
bring about their conviction. He said
Judge Speer generally took sides"
in the trial of all cases before him.
He praised Judge Speer's mental ca
nscity and ability to preside. He said
the Judge took personal charge of all
cases and sought to sway juries, at
,ornevs and parties, and that his
rover was overpowering" and caused
unjust verdicts.
WinberIy on Jemison Case.
Minter Wimberly, member of the
legislature and ex-city attorney, was
called to testify as to the Henry Jem-
ison case, which was taken up yes
tcrday Representative Fitzhenry
conducted the examination. Mr..
Wtmberly testified that Judge Speer
would not Immediately make the
mandate of the Supreme Court the
order of his court, and that the judge
reserved his decision for three years
in the contempt cases against him
self chief Common and Superintend-
ent Wimbish who had rearrested
Iemison after the negro, one of Judge
Speer's minor employees, had been
released from the chaingang by the
Judge for the second time.
Mr.. Wimberly was an evasive wit
ness. and it was only after repeated
questions from Chairman Webb that
he admitted that Judge Speer was
fully informed of the Supreme Court
mandate in the Jemison case and that
mandate for more than seven
months.
Pettioned Judge Speer.
Isn't it true" asked Chairman
Webb, that you petitioned Judge
Speer in person to make the SUI
preme Court mandate the order of
his court. and that after he knew
being told by you, in fact-that the
Supreme Court had nullified his de-
Cision and declared he had no juris-
dCtiOn in the case, that he attached
YOU and two other officials for con-
tempt of court and kept you and them
under the rule for several years, on
an order that was palpably void
isn't that true?" asked Mr.. Webb.
Mr.. Wimberly: Yes, l believe that
is the truth"
When Mr.. Wimberly had been ex-
Cused, the investigation adjourned
until o'clock
T. j. Simmons. of The Macon
News, will be the next witness.
Restrictions on Counsel.
When the investigation was re-
sumed to-day, the investigating COM
mittee of congressman announced
that the attorneys for the jurist would
be restricted in their cross examina-
ton of witnesses. 1t seemed to be
the opinion of the committee that too
much latitude has been allowed
Judge Speer's counsel in this partic
uiar yesterday, in consideration of
the fact that this hearing is equiva
lent to Grand Jury inquiry and is
rot trial.
More than forty witnesses from va
rous parts of the State arrived to-
day. One of them is Attorney Cen
eral 7. S. Fielder
To Hear Huff Thursday.
Colonel w. A. Huff will hardly go
on the stand until Thursday. He will
be permitted to tell his story in full.
Judge Speer's lawyers and friends
are confident that the first days prob
ing did not hurt him.
John r. l.. Smith, one of MaCon's
prominent lawyers testified late Mon
Gay afternoon that he thought Judge
SpeerS mentality was now impaired.
ne also declared that the court has
lost the confidence of the people, and
ne attributed it to the Judges high
hand, domineering and dictatorial
Methods, somewhat untrammeled by
Jaw and to his showing of favors to
some attorneys and manifesting
strong antipathy to others, which like
water constantly dripping on a stone,
had gradually exhausted the patience
OF the public"
Mr.. Smith swore thatsin the trial
OF criminal case in 1912 Judge
Hpeer practically ran the District
attorney, Alexander Alderman. out of
court by sneering at him and seek
ing to belittle him in the presence
u Ine jury He said there was per-
Sondl animuS between the Judge and