Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-20
5PEER ACCUSED
Of 6 AY|NG
vERD|CTS
Attorney Charges Judge Takes
Sides in Cases on Trial
Before Him.

MACON, Jan. 2o.-J. W. Preston
G. a retired attorney, was the first
...rass to-day before the committee
e yongressmen investigating Fed
,-,1 Judge Emory Speer's official
conduct. He said that in the John
u Roberts case and in the Williams
,,se ridge Speer had denied the de-
ssrdants fair and impartial trials,
u,.,ifasting an intent and purpose to
brine about their conviction. He said
r,age Speer generally took sides"
IN the trial of all cases before him.
ua praised Judge Speer's mental ca
racitv and ability to preside. He said
Tho iudce took personal charge of all
,,ses and sought to sway juries, at
,orrevs and parties, and that his
,over was overpowering" and caused
unjust verdicts
WirberIy on Jemison Case.
\Inter Wimberly, member of the
sqfslature and eX-city attorney, was
called to testify as to the Henry Jem-
son case which was taken up yes
to-day. Representative Fitzhenry
conducted the examination. Mr..
Vimberly 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 Conner and Superintend-
ent Wimbish, who had rearrested
Iemison after the negro, one of Judge
Speers 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
.Iuige Speer would not act on the
mandate for more than seven
months.
Pettoned Judge Speer.
isn't it true" asked Chairman
Webb. that you petitioned Judge
Speer in person to make the Su-
Dreme 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-
diction 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, believe that
is the truth"
When Mr.. Wimberly had been eX-
CuSed the investigation adjourned
j 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 investiga ting 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
ular yesterday, in consideration OF
the fact that this hearing is equiva-
lent to a Grand Jury inquiry and is
not a trial.
More than forty witnesses from va
r.ous parts Of the State arrived to-
Cay One of them is Attorney Cen
eral T. S. Fielder.
To Hear Huff Thursday.
Colonel w. A. Huff will hardly &C
on the stand until Thursday. He will
De 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 Macons
prominent lawyers testified late Mon
Gay afternoon that he thought Judge
GTpeers 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
hahd, domineering and diCtatorial
methods, somewhat untrammeled by
la"' and to his showing of favors to
some attorneys and manifesting
strong antipathy to others, which like
water constantly dripping on a stone
uau gradually exhausted the patience
Of the public"
Mr., Smith swore that in the trial
OF criminal case in 1912 Judge
9peer practically ran the District
attorney, Alexander Alderman, out OF
court by sneering at him and seek
ing TO belittle him in the presence
u me jury" He said there was per-
soHai animus' between the Judge and
Inc District Attorney.