Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31
On STAND
IN DENIAL Of
CHARGES
Speer Refutes Accusations Of
Enemies Before Congressional
Investigating Committee.
Continued From Page I

Mr.. Talley was interested
Did you ever make Talley and
Hayward receivers"
Absolutely no."
Did you ever favor them"
Speer Cites PRESIDENTS.
1T is in the records that l wrote
one referee who asked me if it would
be proper to appoint my SON law,
and | told him to refer to the record,
| had never heard that the fact that a
lawyer happened to be related to d
Judge disqualified him from practiC-
ing My friend Judge S. B. Adams,
who just left the stand practiced for
a number of years before his brother,
Judge A. P. Adams, on the Superior
bench. The son of Justice Harlan
practiced before his father, and the
son of Judge Newman practices be-
fore him"
Did you have anything to do with
the employment Of Isaacs and Hey
ward?"
Never"
Did you have anything to do with
the forming of the partnership"
Nothing"
Did you ever ask Mr.. White II
make Isaacs and Hayward attorneys
in a case?"
Never in my life. have in cases
where / felt that highly specialized
legal skill was needed suggested so ne
certain law firm that l thought best
suited"
"Akerman Liquor Ally"
Judge Speer was asked about the
rupture with District Attorney Aker-
man, of which the latter testified in
Macon. He charged Mr.. Alderman
with being allied with the liquor in
terests, and that he (Akerman) had
endeavored to nolle PROSE- several in
ternal revenue cases that the judge
thought should be prosecuted. Two
of these, he said, were houses of de
hatchery where liquor was sold to
aid in prostitution Alderman took the
stand that the cases should not be
tried" said the judge. / said they
should. They have not been tried nor
have they been nolle pressed.
Did you ever have any other diff
ferences with Mr.. Akerman?"
Yes, it was in some railroad af-
fairs There were twenty cars on
the Atlantic Coast Line that were
dangerous to life and limb. The Gov
eminent was seeking to right this
MIR. Alderman was trying to serve two
masters. | reminded him of this and
he got very indignant"
Were there any other instances? %
Il have never believed Mr. Aker-
man was faithful to his trust in the
prosecution of the naval stores trust.
1t was so noticeable that | wrote a
letter to the President, calling his at
tention to it. l have here a vtry
hattering reply from him and let
ter from the Attorney General, thank
ing me for my jealousy and stating
the affair would be corrected"
Judge Speer was asked about NOR
rowing money from King, the late
clerk of court. Without hesitating he
said:
Yes, | borrowed the money. | had
just returned from a term in Con-
gress My salary was $4,000. | was
needy. Mr.. King knew it and offered
me the money at a low rate of in
terest. 1t was after that Mr.. King
was called upon to perform his first
official task in court. He made such
miserable failure that | made some
sarcastic newark. 1t angered him
and after court he said he would COM
pei me to pay it. He asked me for
the money and | Immediately fur
nished it,"
Several have said you had used
court officials as family servants"
Il have had the most kindly and
friendly relations. they have beer
most faithful. When they finished
their work at the court they would
go to my home and perform some
light services. For this | gave them
their board and housed them on my
place"
Cross Examined by Webb.
Chairman Webb here cross exam
n:f i s, e; '? S5:s said 'neAs efsv!s,
guilty you would have byen heavier
on them he asked.
Il would have been. sir: il is the
| usual custom" replied Judge Speer
Il merely wanted to be kind 10 the
two young men. to be merClful, anc
| II is this humane spirit on my par
| that has been construed as an usurpa-
| ton. There are hundreds OF good cit.
| izens in Georgia who owe their liber-
! ~ TO me and have become the very
! propagandis of the law"
The judge was next asked aboI
| the Talley x Hayward partnership.
| Il gave these young men some bust
! ness, because Mr.. Talley was one NJ
the best masters in the state he re'
piled
why was this partnership dis.
solved?"
Because they said I had placed 81
( many restrictions on them they coul,
not make a living"
lsaacs- Howard Partnership.
| Did you ever discuss the Isaacs &
! Hayward partnership before the for.
mation?"
NO; at. at least don't now recai
II. and ! certainly did not discuss i
| improperly"
Did you ever see the contract"
Il do not know that there was one.
You say YOU did not sign any mi I.
night order"
mo: that was the talk OF Craw.
ford and his railroad wreckers whC
came down here"
rs II true that YOU rode free-youi
horses. etc.-on tie Central?"
Il rode free when everyone els,
rode free"
1T is true you rode free after IN,
Z road was in The hands ~ tho ragsfx-