South Bend news-times., 1914-01-31
Fedora! Judge Under ImpeaCh-
ment Takes Stand at Savan-
nah and Replies to ASSaiI-
antS-DenieS Their Stories.
SAYS DIST. ATTORNEY
FAVORED LIQUOR MEN
Wanted to NOlIe Pros DebauCh-
cry Cases and Was Inactive
Against Naval Stores Trust
Jury System Bad.

SAVANNAH, Ga. Jan. 3l.-When
the investigation Of Federal Judge
Emery Speer met at 10 o'clock TO-DAY.
it became known that the judge would
take the stand this afternoon. 20 make
an exhaustive statement before the
committee The request Of his coun-
sci for permission. allowing Judge
Speer TO read statement, at first de-
MED, has been reconSiderpd. II the
judge goes on the stand he viii be
closely interrogated by the committee.
Judge Samuel 3. Adams was the
first witness Saturday. He was at one
time a member OF the supreme court.
He said that he had known Judge
Speer since '6S. when they were at
Georgia university together. Asked
10 his fitness as a judge he said he was
essentially a partisan, moody, uncer-
tain. variable. lie could not help TAX
ing sides in a case. He could not help
exercises a partial prerogative, par
ticularly in the supervision in the
drawing of the jury.
He said that he could not speak
with personal knowledge. except In the
Greene and Gaynor case. He had
heard in this case the jury had been
drawn from some four or five counties
He also stated that in another case he
had heard the Judge direct that GER
tain men he drawn from other coun-
ties Judge ADAMS was associated
with the prosecution in the Greene
and Gaynor case.
After Judge Adams had concluded
Judge Speer took the stand IN his
own behalf and was questioned by las
own counsel Mr. Callaway. counsel
for Judge Speer. said:
MIR. Ackerman stated at Macon
that YOU raised the fee for Talley and
Hayward. stating that they needed tn
money" Answering this charge Judge
Cpaer said
.'No such statement was made at
any time"
Hayward receivers"
Absolutely no."
Did YOU ever favor them ,"
cit is in records and / wrote one
referee who asked me IL IL would be
proper TO appoint my son-in-law and
I told him to refer 10 the record.
Judge s. B. Adams. who just left
the stand, practiced for a number or
years before his brother. Judge a. r
Adams. on the superior bench. Tne
son OF Justice Harlan practiced before
his father and the son OF Judge New
man practiced before him"
Did you have anything to DO with
the employment Of Isaacs and Hey
ward?"
Never"
Alderman Booze Lawyer.
He was asked about the row with
Akerman testified 20 in Macon.
He charged Akerman with oelng a.
lied with the liquor interests and had
nolIe pressed several internal revenue
cases that he thought should be pros
ecuted.
''Two Of these were houses Of de
bauchery. where liquor was sold 70
aid in prostitution. He took the stand
that t1le cases should not be tried
said they should. They have not been
tried nor have they been nolle pross-
ed They are still on the books and
will be tried if I remain judge"
did you ever have any other dill
/ ference with Mr.. Akerman p
yves II was in some railroad ar
fairs. Mr.. AkeYman was trying to
serve two masters have never be-
Iieved Mr.. Akerman was faithful 10
his trust in the prosecution OF tne
naval stores trust. wrote letter 10
: the president calling his attention O.
! Il have here a very fiattering reply
| from him and a letter from the attor-
ne,, general thanking me for my zeal
BUSINESS and stating the affair would
( be corrected"
Iudge Speer admitted using court
officials for personal services but de-
clared he had always paid them.
Answering the charge that he spent
little tirne in his district. Judge Speer
said the records will show that ne
had been in open court two hunored
| DAYS In the year.
/ Regarding Atty. Gen. Felders
charge that he was extremely dis
courteous. Judge Speer said Fielder
made improper arguments tryins 70
stir up race prejudice. when Il vas
| necessary 70 stop him
! Regarding the charge that 1uries
have been Improperly drawn judge
/ Speer said:
/ 'T want 10 say that when I came on
the bench in this district. I found the
iuries made up almost exclusively or
professional jurors. a great maur were
I Negroes who were purchasable" "
At 1.3O p M Judge Spcer left me
stand. Chairman Webb after thank
ine the public and the press declared
! the hearing adjourned subject to CALI