Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-21
ACCUSED
Of { WAY|N c
VERD|CTS
Attorney Charges Judge Takes
Sides in Cases on Trial
Before Him.

MACON, Jan. 2O-J. W. Preston
| Sr, retired attorney. was the first
witness to-day before the committee
Of Congressman investigating Fed
eral Judge Emory Speer's official
conduct. He said that in the John
| p. Roberts case and in the Williams
case Judge Speer had denied the de-
PENDANTS fair and impartial trials,
manlfesting an intent and purpose 10
bring about their conviction. He said
Judge Speer generally took sides
in the trial of all cases before him.
He praised Judge SpeeTs mental ca .
pacity and ability to preside. lie SAID
the Judge took personal charge or all
cases and sought to sway juries, at
torneys and parties and that his
power was overpowering" and caused
unjust verdicts.
Kimberly on Jenison Case.
Minter Wimberiy, member OF the
Legislature and ex-city attorney, was
called to testify as TO the Henry Jem-
ison case, which was taken up yes
terday. Representative Fitzhenry
conducted sthe examination. Mr..
Wimberly 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
Jemison 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 1t 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
Judge Speer would not act on the
mandate for more than seven
months.
Petitloned Judge speer.
isn't It true" asked Chairman
Webb, that you petitioned Judge
Speer in person TO make the Su-
preme Court mandate the order OF
his court and that after he knew
being told by you, in fact-that the
Supreme Court had nullitied his de-
cisiou and declared he had nc turis-
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 true7" asked Mr.. Webb.
Mr., Wimberly: yes, believe that
is the truth"
When Mr.. wimberly had been ex-
cused, the investigation adjourned
until 2 o'clock.
Sells Judge Cocaine.
T. ]. simmons managing editor OF
The Macon News, testified as the
first witness this afternoon that
Judge Speer frequently solicited pub
LEFTY and often wrote articles about
himself and cases in his court.
Louis Pellew, a druggist, testified
that he had sold Judge speer about
four ounces of cocaine per year for
ten years or more.
Mr.. Pellew also testified that after
being summoned as witness, he had
consulted with Judge Speer and his
attorneys, He said that he had
knowingly sold the cocaine In viola
ton of law. He admitted he had
been given receivership appointments
by Judge Speer in 1912 and 1918.
Restrictions on Counsel.
When the investigation resumed
this morning, 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-
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
rious parts of the State arrived to-
day. One OF them is Attorney Cen
eral T. 8. Fielder,
To Hear Huff Thursday.
Colonel W. A. Hun will hardly go
on the stand until Thursday. He will
he 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
day afternoon that he thought Judge
Speer's mentality was now impaired.
He also declared that the court has
lost the confidence OF the people, and
he attributed IL 20 the Judges high
hand. domineering and dictatorial
methods, somewhat untrammeled by
law, 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 that in the trial
OF criminal case in 1912 Judge
Speer practically ran the District
Attorney, Alexander Alderman, out of
court by sneering at him and seek
ing 10 belittle him in the presence
of the jury" He said there was per-
sonal animus between the Judge and
the District Attorney.