Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-28
WRECKED
CENTRAL, SAYS
A. R. LAYTON
Continued From Page J..

cate that was operating il to the ad-
vantage Of the Richmond Terminal
| Company, which controlled the Rich
mond and Danville Railroad Judge
| Speer, he said. held that this control
was in violation Of the competitors
| clause of the Georgia Constitution,
| that the directors we're managing the
property in the interest OF the Rich
mond Terminal Company instead of
the stockholders Of the Central Of
| Georgia Railroad and Banking Com
rany. The naming of the receiver
and the expenditure of the company 5
| funds under Judge Speers orders.
| Colonel Lawton declared, absolutely
| destroyed the credit Of the company
and wiped out the savings that per
sons Of small means had put into
stock of the railroad.
Colonel Lawton was followed to
the stand by General Peter w. Mel
drim. one of the most celebrated OF
Southern attorneys playmate during
boyhood and Classmate at college with
Judge Speer
General Meldrim picturesquely re
lated an incident in the Greene and
Gaynor case when he said Judge
Speer insulted him, which brought
that time they had not spoken.
During this narrative Judge Speer
made an impassioned plea to the
Congressional committee to protect
him from such attacks and General
Meldrim started from his chair to-
ward the seat occupied by Judge
Speer. Chairman Webb had TO
threaten to exclude both from the
room to restore order.
A distinct sensation disclosed by
General Meldrim was an alleged
transaction between Judge Speer and
the late A. b. King. clerk OF the Fed
eral Court charging that Judge
Speer borrowed 81 200 from the
court register for which King was
responsible and refused to return it.
General Meldrim told the committee
Mr.. King had told him and he ad
vised Mr.. King to write the judge
firm letter and lated Mr.. King told
him the money had been paid. 1t
had remained open A. long it was al
legged that the interest amounted to
The; The hearing \dj5urned at 1:t5
O'Clock until O'Clock. when Colonel
Lawton will be recalled.
w. NJ Toomer of Jacksonville, for
merly of WayCross, was the first wit
ness of the afternoon. He was at
Clelland case. His evidence was large
Clelland case His evidence as large
~ a denial of the statement yester-
day by A. A. Lawrence that Judge
Speer forced the two men to plead
guilty.
w w Mackell. an attorney, was
called and substantiated the charge
of General Meldrim with reference TO
the King note for $1,000.
Marshal Receiver, He Says.
William -. Davis, vice president Of
the Savannah Trust Company for
merly with the Electric Supply Com
pany. was called next. He said he
was receiver for the company in the,
Superior Court, representing $4,000
of the creditors. He charged that
creditors representing $4,000 applied
for bankruptcy in the United States
Court and that when the majority
creditors offered settlement to the
minority at 40 cents Judge Speer,
who had appointed George White. his
marshal, receiver, declined TO dismiss
the case from his court.
Davis said that on a visit to Ma
con to discuss the case with Judge
Speer a concealed stenogra pher took
what had been said The Federal
DdlIhiuptCy proceedings were SuS-
tanned, he said, and instead of 40 per
cent, the creditors got Is per cent.
George White got $500 and had the
affairs only a month
MIR. Davis said he was cited in 1905
to appear before "Speer" for con-
tempt and the proceeding was still
pending.
The hearing adjourned at $50
oclock until 10 o'clock Wednesday
morning
coIdinq Promises Thrills.
George S. White, of Macon, former
United States Marshal the first wit
ness to-day, who testified at Macon
on Saturday, identified a statement
he had given in writing to the effect
that after long association with
Judge Speer he had never seen him
take any drug or stimulant
Taking of testimony in the alleged
plot to assassinate Judge Speer will
furnish thrills in the probe when ?.
l.. Colding, who has been summoned
Is witness, takes the stand
Colonel Coldings testimony will
deal with the Olsen case one of the
most famous in Chatham County
Olsen. the keeper OF the sailors room
ing house. was tried before Judge
Speer on a charge OF shanghaiing
Judge Speer, according to Colonel
Colding and newspaper men, wrote a
story for the papers stating that OIL
sens friends were going to assassi-
nate him, and the next day wrote a
story denying this. Colding was the
attorney for Olsen. He has made the
charge that in conducting the case
Judge Speer was eminently unfair to
the defendant and left no course open
TO the jury but to fine him.
Beach Case Figures.
That other evidence heretofore not
touched upon in the Speer hearing
would be introduced at the session
to- day, provided the witnesses could
be reached. seemed 10 be a certainty.
when II became known that a num-
Der OF former court officials had been
called and would probably take the
stand.
Another sensational development
the case may take was limited at in
the investigation yesterday, when
Chairman Webb tried to bring out
the facts In connection with the
| Beach bankruptcy case, and the pro
ceedings OF former Referee Max
lsaacs. OF Brunswick. in throwing the
| company into the hands OF receiver.
| Since the company's affairs went into
| the Federal Court Max Isaacs has
| been indicted in the State court for
/ bsrratry. or soliciting accounts with
which to throw the affairs OF the
| company into the United States