The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-23
JUDGE SPEER DENIES
EVERY CHARGE MADE
His Accusers, lie Shows, Once
Highly Endorsed Him to
Roosevelt.
SAVED MONEY FOR HUFF
Refers to Records to Prove
Litigation in His Court
Was Not Expensive.

Macon, Ca. Feb. 2e.-Federal Judge
Emory Speer's answer to charges under
which his enemies seek to obtain his i'm
parchment. which was filed at Washing
ton on Saturday, was released here to-day
after Judge Speer had been officially In
formed OF the fling Of the document In
Washington.
The statement covers 35s printed
pages. lie denies the charges in general
and In detail. In reply to the charges
that he was tyrannical. partisan. dicta-
toriai. UNIT in temperament as Judge
he presents sixty pages OF Photographic
reproduction of letters OF Endorsements
from men prominent in the affairs OF the
nation and the State
The names Of virtually all lawyers
who accused him of being tyranncai and
oppressive at the hearings here and in
Savannah are attached to a petition urg-
ing Mr.. Roosevelt. then President, to Sc
lect Judge speer for the Circuit Court
OF Appeals OF the Fifth District. This
was dated January 81. 1903, and was
stamped by the appointment clerk. De-
partment Of Justice. Photographic repro
auctions OF letters from a referee in bank
ruptcy, William H. Hotchkiss and Adei-
bert Moot a lawyer both Of Buffalo. also
are given.
Recon- mel ded to Roosevelt.
These letters also are addressed TO
Roosevelt, and In the Hotchkiss letter
is the statement:
II sincerely hope you will be able T.
place Judge Speer where he may assist
in that Interpretation of the bankruptcy
law and l know that in so doing you will
honor a representative OF the South
whom we have all but adopted in this
northern city. and who Is know. a SIN
cere adm!rer Of your good self and the
present administration"
The letter Is dated January II. 1908.
and was written a few days after Judge
Speer addre ssed the Independent club IN
Buffalo. Among others are letters OF IN
dorsemen, from John Shelton WNliaTs'
Comptroller of the Currency Secretary
OF the Interior Lane. ex-senator Edmunds
of Vermont. officers OF the Kentucky
Brigade. Gen. Lewis. Lyman Abbott OF
the Outlook, Judge I6Uhlsaat OF Chicago
and state officials from the Governor
down.
Judge Kohlsaat wrote: Judge Speer
Is one OF the Galena orators He Is he
publican In accord with the better South
ern sentiment
Referring TO the Jamison habeas corpus
case, wherein he granted writ or
habeas corpus, taking a negro from the
Bibb county chain gang because he held
that Jamison received felony sentence
for a rnisdemeanor. and Of which he was
reversed by the United States Supreme
Court, Judge Speer holds that the Su-
preme Court did not reverse him on the
merits, but because the plaintiff had not
exhausted his res edies in the State court.
As to the mich debated charge that
ne had refused 10 obey the mandate OF
the Supreme Court. he cites the record OF
the case. showing that such was done as
soon as court held open session In Macon.
As to the famous Hun case, In which
Acknowledgement Fielder and Col W. \.
Hun testified that Judge Specr's court
had kept the estate in bankruptcy for
years and dissipated the assets. Judge
Sp.er goes on to show that 10y his admin
istratlon OF the property ne ultimately
had It sold for 900 more than the
valuation that Hun put on II In his testi
rnony. lie sets forth that II II had not
been for distractions by III" defendant
Hun would have saved $40, 600 ont Of his
estate He refers the committee with
out reserve to the court record IN this
case.
Replying 10 the charge that bankruptcy
administration In the district was so
pens!ve that lawyers for creditors fire.
auently attempted TO settle on almost any
terms rather than get into the court.
Judge Speer submits statistics to show
that the percentage of cost and admins
tration OF bankruptcy business In his
court In .097 less than the average In the
districts OF Representatives Webb, Ft1-
henry, Floyd and Volstead, members OF
the subcommittee which examined his
record.
Judge Speer also sives the percentage
OF expense In the districts where reside the
members OF the general judiciary Com
mittee Of the House ~ Representatives,
showing that the Southern District OF
Georgia was for the last ten years some
times as much as | per cent, below the
average. These figures he offers against
the charge Of excessive fees and waste
fuln.ss.
At no time IN the statement Is the frst
person singular used. A striking sentence
In the opening part OF the defence is:
at will be an easy task to turn TO
the record and precisely locate the occa-
sion and cause for the calumny and
discover that every important detractor
was the professional advocate and repre-
sentative OF the evils which IL had been
and IL the purpose of Congress to de-
stroy."