Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-22

JuuBe SpeeT 10 OieT tFlutlNt III
support Of his charactr. He cannot
make his defense here and now"
"BroiIing Only On One Side"
You are broiling only on one side,
then rejoined Mr.. Howard.
He Will not be permitted to make
his defense here" the Chairman sa.i,
humping his desk.
we have already extended you
more courtesy than is shown in
such Investigations We have allowed
you TO cross examine witnesses ex-
haustively, and you nave no night to
do that at all. This is a grand jury
proceeding, or it's equi alent. and in
grand turies the accused Is not al
lowed to enter"
Ruling Bars Speer.
Mr.. Howard insisted on his point
He said that if the = .thod of inves-
tgating charges against Judge Speer
was unfair to the judge-and he be
lieVed the method now being pursued
was unfair-it was time to reform.
And we want the reform to begin
here lie shouted.
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 adj
vantage in the presentation of his own
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 latters effort to
become Registrar OF the United States
Urea Sury.
Mr.. Barnes sworr (hat when he re-
monstrated with the judge about all
lowing him an excessive fee in a
bankruptcy case the Judge replied:
you thank me beautifully. but
what is there in it 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.
"PIayed to Galleries"
r. c. Ellis of Triton, the first wit
ness 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 Speor played to the ga
! leries,. and came before the foot
! lightsIseeking applause" He said that
Judge Speer treated the Triton law
yers outrageously. impairing theii
professional regulations. The rules
against the lawyers were dismissed
1.-THE next day, but a formal order 10
that effect was not passed for some
months
w +. Simmons, OF LawrenCeville,
Testified that he withdrew from the
practice of law in the Southern Dis
trict dismissing more than fifty cases
at one time, because of Judge Speers
attitude toward him. He said that
he and the Judge candidly hated each
other. the feeling starting over poll
ties more than thirty years ago. He
said that Judge Speer treated him
unfairly and discourteously in court,
so that he could not win a case.
How ever" he added, Il always re-
versed him in the higher courts, and
the records will prove it