Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-20
5PEER ACCUSED
Of 6 AY|NC
VERD|CTS
Attorney Charges Judge Takes
Sides in Cases on Trial
Before Him.

MACON. Jan. 20.-J. w. Preston,
- retired attorney, was the first
fitness to-day before the committee
- congressman investigating Fed
oraI Judge Emory Speer's official
.,r5,,ct He said that in the John
~ Roberts case and in the Williams
,sa Judge Speer had denied the de-
,.o5ants fair and impartial trials,
,,arifesting an intent and purpose to
,rfoa about their conviction. He said
r..dga Sheer generally took sides"
,,, tho trial of all cases before him.
He praised Judge Speer's mental ca
rac.rv and ability to preside. He said
tho nudge took personal charge of all
asses and sought to sway juries, at
,ornevs and parties, and that his
,ou,er was overpowering" and caused
unjust verdicts.
win,berIy on Jemison Case.
Iinter Wimberly, member of the
legislature and ex-city attorney, was
allied to testify as to the Henry Jem-
fsan case. which was taken up yes
.ardav. Representative Fitzhenry
,onducted the examination. Mr..
Wimherly testified that Judge Speer
would not Immediately make the
mandate of the Supreme Court the
order of his court, and that the judge
reserved his decision for three years
.n the contempt cases against him
self Chief Conner and Superintend-
,n+ Wimbish, who had rearrested
Iemison after the negro, one OF Judge
Speer's minor employees, had been
released from the chaingang by the
nudge for the second time.
Mr. Wimberly was an evasive wit
7ess. and it was only after repeated
luestions from Chairman Webb that
10 admitted that Judge Speer was
nlIy informed of the Supreme Court
mandate in the Jemison case and that
Tldge Speer would not act on the
mandate for more than seven
months.
petitioned Judge Speer.
Isn't il true" asked Chairman
Webb, that you petitioned Judge
sspeer in person to make the Su-
ureme Court mandate the order OF
his court. and that after he knew
being told by you, in faCt-that the
supreme Court had nullifed his de-
..sion and declared he had no juris-
dictton in the case, that he attached
YOU and two other officials for con-
Tempt Of court and kept you and them
under the rule for several years, on
an order that was palpably void
isn't that true?" asked Mr.. Webb.
Mr. Wimberly: Yes, l believe that
is the truth"
When Mr.. Winlberly had been eX-
nused. the investigation adjourned
until > o'clock.
r. J. Simmons, of The Macon
News, will be the next witness.
Restrictions on Counsel.
When the investigation was re-
Sumed to-day, the investigating com
mittea Of Congressman announced
that the attorneys for the jurist would
he restricted in their cross examina-
ZION Of witnesses. 1t seemed to be
the opinion of the committee that toe
much latitude has been allowed
Judge Speer's counsel in this partic-
MAR yesterday, in consideration OF
the fact that this hearing is equiva-
lent to Grand Jury inquiry and is
not a trial
More than forty witnesses from va
rious parts of the State arrived to-
day One of them is Attorney Cen
eral 7. S Fielder.
To Hear Huff Thursday.
colonel w. A. Huff will hardly &C
on the stand until Thursday. He will
he permitted to tell his story in full
Judge Speer's lawyers and friends
are confident that the first days prob
ing did not hurt him.
John r. l.. Smith, one of Macon's
prominent lawyers testified late Mon
gay afternoon that he thought Judge
SPeers mentality was now impaired
lie also declared that the court has
lost the confidence of the people, and
ne attributed it to the Judges high
udhd, domineering and dictatorial
i"elhods, somewhat untrammeled by
law, and to his showing of favors tC
some attorneys and manifesting
slfong antipathy to others, which like
wafer constantly dripping on a stone
uao gradually exhausted the patience
Of the public"
MT. Smith swore that in the trial
a criminal case in 1912 Judge
9peer practically ran the District
attorney, Alexander Alderman, out OF
curt by sneering at him and seek
4S 10 beHttle him in the presence
VI me jury" He said there was per-
s'hdl anlmus between the Judge and
'"e District Attorney.