Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-23

Judge Speer to offer evidence In
support of his charactr. He cannot
make his defense here and now"
"6roiIins Only On One Side"
you are broiling only on one side
them" rejoined Mr.. Howard.
He will not be permitted to make
his defense here" the Chairman saia.
humping his desk.
I'VE have already extended you
more courtesy than Is shown in
such Investigations. We have allowed
you to examine witnesses eX-
haustively, and you have no right to
d. that at all. This is a grand jury
proceeding, or its equi alent and In
grand juries the accused is not al
lowed to enter"
Ruling Bars Speer.
Mr. Howard insisted on mis- point.
He said that II the .thod of inveS-
tigating charges against Judge Speer
was unfair to the 1udge-and he be-
lieved the method now being pursued
was unfair-it was time to reform.
And we want the reform to begin
here, he shouted.
I'VE will not undertake any such
reform" Mr.. Webb answered.
Judge Speer and his counsel had
planned that he should make an elab-
crate statement in his own defense,
reviewing the evidence, and for that
matter taking up his entire personal
and judicial career his gift of elo-
quence being calculated to be of ad-
vantage in the presentation of his ow
case by himself However, the atti-
tude of the investigating COMMITTEES,
as shown in the Webb Howard con-
troversy and as previously stated BY
Chairman Webb in open court Will
bar him from taking the stand unless
the case reaches a hearing in Con-
gress.
Aided Negro Officeseeker.
John NJ. Barnes, postmaster at
Thomson, and former Marshal of the
Southern District, the next witness
after Mr.. Hart. declared that Judge
Speer dragged the ermine in the
mud" He declared that Judge Speer
managed the campaign of Judson Ly-
ons, a negro, in the latter's effort to
become Registrar Of the United States
Treasury.
Mr.. Barnes swore that when he re-
monstrated with the judge about al
lowing him an excessive fee in a
bankruptcy case the Judge replied:
you thank me beautifully, but
what is there in 1t for the court?"
He said: THE judge packed the
Grand Jury in the Greene and Gaynor
case" And then he told how Judge
Speer picked out the jurors he want
ed to serve.
"Played to Galleries"
r, c. Ellis, of Triton, the first wit
ness to day, told about contempt rules
being issued for seven Triton lawyers
when there was no justification, in his
opinion, for such action. He swore
that Judge Speer played to the gal
leries, and came before the foot
lights seeking applause" He said that
Judge Speer treated the Triton law
yers outrageously. impairing their
professional regulations. The rules
against the lawyers we're dismissed
the next day, but a formal order to
that effect was not passed for some
months
w. e. Simmons, OF Lawrencevllle,
testified that he withdrew from the
practice Of law In the Southern Dis
trict, Diminishing more than fifty cases
at one time, because of Judge Speer's
attitude toward him. He said that
he and the judge candidly hated each
other, the feeling starting over poll
tics more than thirty years ago. He
said that Judge Speer treated him
unfairly and discourteously in court,
so that he could not win case.
How ever" he added, II always re-
versed him in the higher courts, and
the records will prove It,"