The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-06-24
FEDERAL JUDGE
Continued From First pas.J

subcommittee comprises Representa-
yves WEBB, North Carolina. Fitz
henry. Illinois. democrats. and Vol
stead, Minnesota, republican
Nj. Nol-tead in a minority report
similarly declaring that there is nc
evidence warranting Impeachment
VIII attack the majority OF the sub
committee for criucising a Judge they
declare not guilty OF any Improbable
offense.
Nineteen Charges
Nineteen charges were filed with
the committee They alleged. ,monr
other things. that Judge Speer enter
famed matters beyond his courts iur
lsdlctlon, allowed excessive trustee
fees TO personal friend. used his OF
nclal position for preferment OF his
son-in-law, A. n. Hayward. abused his
authority by domestic use of govern.
ment paid court employees. violated
laws regarding drawing of jurors. and
Iulssipated BANKRUPT estates by an.
pointing unnecessary officials and al
lowing excessive fees.
Another charge was that. In the
case OF Henry Jamison. a Macon ne.
gro. Judge Speer defied the mandates
OF the Supreme Court OF the United
states and the Circuit Court of Ap-
The subcommittee conclusions for
The conclusion Of the sub-comm,t,ee
aeduced from the evidence taken and
from the construction Of the precedents
OF impeachment trials Is that az the
present time satisfactory evidence suf-
.L,h, 70 support conviction upon "A
trial by the senate a. not obfatnablc
In the conduct Of the hearings the
SSa,nmittce was extremely liberal and
old not confine the witnesses to the
ewing Of technically legal evidence
Much evidence Of a hearsav nature wa
received. The COMMITTEES feit fustifieo
In NNU-N.s
tact that 10 came 10 the attention II
INC committee that many witnesses
We're apprehensive Of the CONSEQUENCE
or irving evidence against Judge Spe-r
] IN the event Of his acquittaI. This feal.
Ins ana the general disposition on the
/ part Of individuals to protect them.
/ selves against what was termed me
wrath Of Judge Speer kept from the
ooninittee the names OF the witnesses
possession. Many Of the witnesses
whose testimony would be absoiuteiy
G nsssTsssry to sustain some OF the
moved from the southern district Of
Georgia and their whereabouts are IN.
Condition Of Tyranny.
Another phase Of the record a. tba,
! u details a large number Of official
I acts on the part Of Judge STeer which
I taken together, develop into a system
rsnd,ng 70 ap9oagh condition Of ~
I tAAi llAffAhNNdhlf exercise OF judicial dis.
Sretion. many instances Of which have
Z been frequently criticized where me
cases IN which they we're committed
. have been reviewed by tho courts ~ an.
peal, while In others litigants were nm
able financially, 70 prosecute appeals
mat the power ~ the court has beeu
. exercised IN a deepotic and autocratic
TONED
The Iamison case is one Of many IN.
stanc"s shown uy the record whore the
Judge. without faint 81 iudfvfduaI cor
rupfion and with tho apparently Iaud-
hnl" purpose Or purifying the comuu-
nv ang inauEuratinE civic reform.
. disreEarded the Law and apparently conf
! sidered that the end Justified the
The record shows instances wb.r.
the Judge. sitting IN the trinl 81 criminal
cases. apparently forced pleas Of guiitv
from defendants or convictions and
fhfr0 o. strong evidence tending 90 Cd -
that I'm ono case az least. he forced tu.
rNcenf parties Co enter such pit-tg
through " fear ~ thu consequences tu
tho event ~ an uufIvorahle verdict at
the hands 81 Jury presided over h.
the Judge In the manner. peculiar tu
NO Specific Recommendation.
no euh-CuWmiffC7 regrets IT'S tnahil-
quittal - Judge Sp~sr 81 Al cuipabiIity
eu Ter "e these charges arc concerned
On the one hHud nr nm Impeachment ON
tho other Md yet D. tz pot egsd.d ttst
tho competent LEGAL s1 idoncs 81 hand ,a
mot sufficient % procure a conviction
o. tho hrndg ~ the senate. Ilut It du.a
feel that the record presents "a series ~
teFal oppression and shows ru HTure Of
judicial discretion which. though. falling
short ~ IursHrFo bio nffrrere. demand
condemnation p1d criticism.
~ IudE. Srsrrs Judicial acts boz the
future arc marked hy tho rigorous unI
infcrtble horshnees shown ty THE rec
orf. those charge hHrg o. o. purtenfoua