Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-28
CHARGES He
PICKED HIS
JUR|ES
Colonel Huff's Counsel Adds to
Accusations of Official Mis-
conduct Against Jurist.

SAVANNAH, Jan. 2S.-Thomas S
Fielder Attorney General of Georgia,
the first witness in the Speer inquiry
Today, vigorously attacked the
Judges conduct in cases in which he
had appeared as counsel for defend
ants. It is the first time since the
earring opened that Judge Speer was
not in court.
Mr.. Fielder was first asked if he
NEW anything of charges of official
misconduct against Judge Speer.
1t was in 1910 that l was in the
Brannan peonage case he said. 81
went to the court to see the jury list
became suspicious in learning that
all the jurors were from Macon.
asked about it and found the names
aad not been drawn from the box,
but selected from list. The law is
plain on this point. The jurors should
be drawn from the box in the pres
ence of the clerk and marshal In
This case, however, l was told that
George. White, the marshal had
merely selected the names from list
Il asked the clerk if there had been
any order regarding the drawing of
The jury. | was told there was none
Later l found one on the record. 1t
had been filed later in an effort to
cover up what had been done
Speer Prosecuted Case.
Il prepared a challenge, setting
forth the illegal drawing of the jury,
intending to prove by l.. A. Morgan
and George F. White that the men
had been selected, and not drawn.
This challenge was never filed. l
consulted with my clients and told
them if they had money enough to
carry the case to the Circuit Court of
Appeals it ought to be filed, but If not
Judge Speer would overrule the chal-
ienge and in so doing would make
such remarks as to prejudice the jury.
They did not have the money and we
did not file it.
We went into the trial with sew
eral men on the jury who had &C
.epted favors from the United states
Court. Judge Speer took the case
from the Government attorney and
prosecuted it. himself.
My next experience was in the
Chancery peonage case from Pulaski.
No lawyer ever went into trial more
determined to have no breach with
The Judge. At the very outset he took
'narge of the prosecution. He con-
inually asked the District Attorney
questions, trying to make him bring
out points that he had overlooked.
Held Witnesses Week.
The character of these men was
such that it was the principal defense.
had several witnesses of character.
lie said, What is all this array of
proof" | told him. He said he
would limit me to three witnesses.
10 was in May, very hot, but he kept
al of those witnesses in little room
through the week. One of them was
80 years old and although ] called
Judge Speer's attention to it, he ig-
hored the request.
We went into the trial and | made
the usual motion for a direction of
The verdict. He overruled it in long
dissertation winding up by saying If
ever there was a peonage case this
was one. / realized that my only
nance was the jury and | decided to
argue the case.
i was several times interrupted by
me Judge and he took particular ex-
option to my use of the word mig
Ger He made long dissertation and
wound up by threatening to strike
nay name from the eligible lawyers at
his bar
Judge Threatened Jurors.
1T any rate, 1.-THE jury took the case
aud brought in a very righteous YER
'..t The people of Pulaski were de
( -tin,,a - Pax = Column 4.