Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-25
SPE.ER DEFIANT
AF TER WEEK Of
ACCUSAT|ON 6
All Undertaking Testimony of
Hearsay Character" Declares
Accused Jurist's Counsel.

MACON, Jan. 24.-After a week of
taking testimony replete with sensa-
lions in this city, in which he was
held up as a judicial tyrant, a syco-
nbant a pandercr for publicity, a
n1aver of favoriteS, a user of drugs,
mental weakling, a victim of self
ronceit and a man otherwise unfit to
continue in the office he has held for
% Years, the special Congressional
committee named to investigate
charges of misconduct by Judge En-
ory Speer. of the United States Court
for the Southern District of Georgia,
viii leave here tomorrow night and
convene in Savannah Monday morn
Ing TO continue the probe that his
qccusers aim shall result in his trial
and impeachment by the Senate of
the United States.
So vigorous has been the denunci-
alton by witnesses that twice-yes-
rarday and to-day-Judge Speer lost
his self-restraint and demanded the
right TO be heard in refutation of the
charges and insinuations against him.
And twice has Chairman Webb, of
the nvestiga ting committee, forced
him to desist, plainly telling the jurist
that he could offer no defense before
this committee, his only recourse be-
Ing before the Senate in event his
impeachment is ordered by the
House.
Resents Lewis Attack.
To-days outburst came during the
testimony of r. Cotton Lewis, special
agent Of the Department of Justice,
who made the original investigation,
~, he
where Judge Speer holds court, delv-
ing into the jurist's acts for many
wears past. Mr. Lewis had accused
Judge Speer of showing marked ia
vortism for his son-in- law, A. H.
Howard. and the latter's law part
ner J. n. Talley. former private sec
retarv to the Judge. The law firm of
Howard & Talley. he said, had re-
ceved several hundred fees. amount
Ing to several thousands of dollars,
through the acts of Judge Speer in
his judicial capacity, in appointing
them receivers, counsel etc.
Goaded by these charges. Judge
Speer leaped to his feet, purple with
rage. and declared:
Il want all of the facts to go into
this record. For 2S years 1 have rep
resented a district twice as large in
population and wealth as the entire
State of Florida, and l have tried to
serve it faithfully, but l have been
detained before the country and | de-
mand the right to let the people know
all Of the facts"
White Defends Judge.
Mr. Lewis was on the witness
stand practically all of the morning
4 session to-day. The other witnesses
heard were George S. Jones, law part
Ter of one of Judge Speer's counsel;
4 George f. White, former United States
\ Marshal, and Colonel William A.
+ Huff, aged ex-Mayor Of Macon, whose
estate has been in Judge Speer's
bankruptcy court for fifteen years.
The latter was recalled to give more
4 details concerning his sensational tes.-
timony Of earlier in the week,
Mr. White, who for nine years was
e Marshal of the district, and who had
been intimately associated with the
Judge for 25 years, during all of which
time he had some connection with the
court, swore that the judge had never
used bailiffs, deputies, criers or mes
4 sengerS as his personal servants, as
had been charged, without paying
them himself for such work
Mr.. Jones testified that Judge
4 Speer was unfair, arbitrary and OPP
4 pressive. He said the judge was too
4 quick to appoint receivers in bank
. ruptcy on eX parte evidence and had
4 several times been censured for it by
the Appellate Court.
"Muckraking," Says Lawyer.
Undertaking testimony of hear
say character, that's all Not a single
mpeachable fact has been brought
out against Judge Speer during the
/ whole investigation this week-not a
i single charge has been supported by
evidence that will stand for a sec
i ond before the United States Senate
declared Judge Enoch Galloway, one
4 OF the attorneys for Judge Speer
when the committee concluded the
weeks investigation here this after
4 noon