Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-29
CHARGES HI:
PICKED HIS
JUR|ES
Colonel Huff's Counsel Adds to
Accusations Of Official Mis-
conduct Against Jurist.

SAVANNAH, Jan. 2S.-One of the
bitterest denunciations of Judge
Emory Speer made during the hear
ing before the Congressional Inves-
tigating Committee, looking into the
charges Of official misconduct against
the aged jurist, was that of Attor-
ney General Thomas s. Fielder, at Sa-
vannah to-day.
During the afternoon Judge Boiling
Whitfield, a lawyer, OF Brunswick,
testified that shortly after the forr1a =
ton of a partnership between Max
Isaacs and Mr.. Hayward, Judge
Speer's SON. in law, the two tried to
throw several large companies into
bankruptcy. He said the business in
terests of the Southeast felt insecure
when Isaacs formed the partnership
with Hayward.
1t was the first time during the
hearing the committee has turned its
attention to the alleged questionable
practice of Isaaes, who is now under
Indictment in the Appling Superior
Court for baratry.
Attorney General Fielder was re-
called at the afternoon session for
Il cross examination by ex-Congress-
man Howard. For half an hour the
two parted words on small technical
points. He was unable to shake Mr..
Fielder in any of his statement
After charging him with illegally
drawing a jury in the trial OF two
peonage cases at Macon and forcing
the defendants to'accept thereon three
men who had in previous cases been
favored with receiverships, at the
request of Chairman Webb he gave
the following opinion of Judge Speer's
administration:
1T is a known fact among lawyers
on this circuit that one can look al
his face at the beginning of a trla
and tell whether he will win or lose
a case. No lawyer who is a gentle
man can practice in his court and
not know and feel this instinctively
I'VE Are All Kings testers"
We all like to fight fair and above
the table. but we can not do it IN
his court 1t seems that justice has
no part and that the truth is never
looked for We are all kings testers
Tor him to sharpen his wits upon. The
count is known as Judge Speer's
court, not the United States District
Court.
The layman knows and the lawyer
knows that if he can hope to win a
case in Judge Speer's court he must
get a lawyer who. for the while al
least, basks in the sunshine of Judge
speer's favor.
I would say unequivocally that
Judge Speer's administration Is UNI
satisfactory and the wonder is that
'ne people have suffered so long. II
gives me no pleasure to make these
remarks, but / thing 1t Is my duty
10 my people, the people of Georgia. =
Insists Action Illegal.
Ek- Congressman Howard. cross
examining Mr.. Fielder, tried to bring
uut thar in selecting a jury from a
~, IN the hands of the Marshal, as
ar Fielder said he did, Judge Speer
.ad really been benefactor to AT
,19fhey Fielder and to the defendants
ne round Mr., Fielder agreed with him
vi thls point so far as his defend
an being acquitted, but reiterated
Gie charge that the jury had been
LEGALLY drawn and no judge on any
"eh'h could draw jury in such a
way without violating the law
=, Cites Peonage Cases.
MT Fielder was first asked If he
nHeW anything of charges of official
Misconduct against Judge Speer.
n ~ was in 1910 that | was in the
'lahnan peonage case" he said. ~
ny 10 the court to see the jury list
ID oeeame suspicious in learning that
~ me Jurors were from Macon.
SSned about it and found the names
b baa not been drawn from the box,
M NV selected from a list. The law is
b,S4il on this point. The jurors should
~ arawn from the box in the pres
u.e OF the clerk and marshal In
w W. case. however, l was told that
0prge. White, the marshal, had
Ia