Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-26

District Attorney; r. L. Colding, w.
w. Osborne. E. A. Cohen and T. F..
johnson, attorneys, and w. Walter
Mangum and Percy W. Miller. news
paper men.
Other witpesses are P. w Meldrim,
W. w. Mackall Gordon Saussey, A.
P. Wright, F.. H. Abrahams. d. &.
Barrow, w. l.. Cam, 7. NJ. Cunning
ham, w. V. Davis, Jacob Gazan, A.
R. Lawton. of Savannah; NJ. A. Ba-
ker, of Brunswick, and w. R. Beach,
l.. Carter and V. A. Padgett, CT Way
cross.
Most of the Savannah lawyers are
in Washington to-day in the interest
of having a new Judge appointed for
this district. They take the position
that in admiralty law it is important
to have judge in a port the size of
Savannah. They have been working
to have Judge Speer retained at Ma
con and a new judge named here.
They will return for the hearing.
Lawyers Have Grievances.
Time ard again Savannah attorney
have MADE the charge in Judge
Speer's court that they could not get
fair trial for their clients because,
they alleged, Judge Speer discrimi-
mated against Chatham County men
serving on the jury. This charge was
primarily responsible for much of the
bad feeling existing between Judge
Speer and several of the attorneys,
for it was often made in court when
y. Ill, l.
have been some real heated discus
sions.
1t was some years ago that Judge
Speer reproved Judge Adams by tell
ing him that he was unethical. The
argument became so heated that
Judge Adams tainted as result Of
excess choler Judge Speer thought
he had dropped dead and ordered
court adjourned. He was so unnerved
that he cid not sit again that session.
From this time the feeling between
the two jurists was very bitter, and
there were lively tits almost every
time their paths crossed. Judge Ad-
ans was one of the moVants to have
new judge named for this district.
Tomlinson Johnson, former clerk OF
the court will, it is said, make the
charge that he was dismissed so that
Judge Speer could install one of his
alleged favorites. Johnson, a Savan-
nah man, was clerk. and lived here,
as provided for. Cook Clayton was
named to succeed him. but lived in
Macon and lives there now. The
charge will be made that when Clay
ton is with the court in Savannah he
Charges up per diem and mileage as if
the court We're in Macon and he were
er1f,, !, 20. &c
reported.
Speer Reaches Savannah.
Judge Speer, his wife and sister
were the only persons concerned II
the investigation who arrived in The
city yesterday. The judge arrived
early m the morning, and ESTABLISHED
himself at the DeSoto Hotel
1t was late in the afternoon before
anyone learned ne was in the city
and the only persons except news
paper men who visited him were hold
ers of Federal offices here
Respondent in gray fedora. spats
a red necktie with a large pearl stick
pin and neatly cut blue serge, he
looked none the worse for the week
before the investigating committee
He declined to discuss his case.
II have too much respect for the
gentlemen on the committee to go into
the merits of the case while it il in
their hands. | have the greatest con-
fidence in the ability of each to get at
the truth, and therefore | would rather
not talk" he said.
Speer Does a Tango.
When asked how he was feeling, ne
executed q tango step very gracefully,
and remarked, We'll. | certainly do
not feel like the aged jurist' the
newspapers persist in calling me-
Percy Miller and Walter Mangum
will tell of the celebrated story that,
it is alleged, Judge Speer wrote in
which he said there was a plot to as
sassinate him, and of the story he is
said to have written the next day
denying it.
Several stories are told of happen
ings in his court but none has been
more wiGely commented upon or
caused more bad feeling than his al
legged favorite. Several times attor-
news pleading cases before him have
unconsciously ratified or jingled loose
change in their pockets. Almost every
time it mas happened Judge Speer has
called the attorney by name.
Mr.. ---, how much money have
you in your pocket"
Three dollars, sir"
We'll, / will just fine you two o!
those for contempt. Now. let me hear
YOU rattle the remaining one"