Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-29
FIELDER ATTACKS
SPEER'S ACTS
ON BENCH
Continued from Page I.

ely EfittAtu Allt lldliiNS llpAiA q 49,
Il asked the clerk If there had been
any order regarding the drawing of
the jury ! was told there was none
Later / found one on the record 1t
had been filed later in an effort to
cover up what had been done
II prepared challenge. setting
forth the Illegal drawing of the jury
intending to prove by l.. 4. Morgan
and George F. White that the men
had been selected, and not drawn.
This challenge was never filed. |
consulted with my clients and told
them If they had money enough to
carry the case to the Circuit Court OF
Appeals it ought TO be fled but If not
Judge Speer would overrule the chal-
lenge and in so doing would make
such remarks as to prejudice the jury.
They did not have the money and we
did not file IT,
we went into the trial with sew
eral men on the jury who had ac-
cepted favors from the United States
Court Judge Speer took the case
from the Government attorney and
prosecuted it himself.
My next experience was in the
Chancery peonage case from Pulaski
No lawyer ever went into trial more
determined to have no breach with
the judge. At the very outset he took
charge of the. prosecution. He con-
tinually asked the District Attorney
questions, trying to make him bring
out points that he had overlooked,
Held Witnesses Week.
The character of these men was
such that it was the principal defense.
had several witnesses of character.
He said, What is all this array of
t,II he
would limit me to three witnesses.
II was in May. very hot. but he kept
all of those witnesses in a little room
through the week One of them was
so years old and although | called
Judge Speers attention to IT, he ig-
nored the request
we went into the trial and | made
the usual motion for a direction of
the verdict. He overruled it in long
dissertation winding up by saying if
ever there was a peonage case this
was one. realized that my only
chance was the jury and | decided to
argue the case.
II was several times interrupted by
the Judge and he took particular ex-
ception to my use of the word mig
ger He made long dissertation and
wound up by threatening to strike
my name from the eligible lawyers AT
his bar
Judge Threatened Jurors.
AT any rate. the jury took the case
and brought in very righteous YER
dict. The people of Pulaski were de-
lighted and decided to have the jury
at the annual barbecue and possibly
the counsel
Judge Speer published card in
the newspapers saying that it would
be very unfortunate If the jurors
went: that they were still officers of
his court and might be punished for
contempt. The jurors decided to go
anyway, but the HawkinsVille people
called 1t off They took the position
that they knew the Judge could not
fine the jurors for contempt, but the
Judge would get the.- for something
else"
How about the Brannan case?'
Mr. Fielder was asked,
THE two men were out on bond
and he sent them to jail during the
trial ! offered to increase the bond,
Or security, but he would not con-
sent
Tells of Huff Case.
Were you counsel for w. A,
Huff?".
Yes"
VIII you relate the history of this
Ease to the committee"
This case has been taken to the
Court of Appeals four times, but |
have the record here.
1T was on August 5, 1899, that a
so called creditors bin had been filed
against Mr.. Huff and the estate.
There were two creditors. One of
them had a Judgment from one of
the local courts. The full amount of
the claims was S4922. An ex parte
hearing was held and receiver
named for property that has since
sold for more than 100000. This first
debt for 81 Ala was the first lien on
piece of property that was assessed
by the city of Macon at $4,000"
Mr. Fielder here read from the Off
nial record of the case. which was
read in Macon last week before tho
Col Robert l.. Colding Grand Mas
ter of the Masons OF Georgia, who
followed Mr.. Fielder on the stand this
said that Judge Speer
browbeat one of his witnesses into
completely changing his testimony.
resulting in a man going to the peni
tertiary for four years
Anton P. Wright, a Savannah at
torney, was called next, and corrob-
grated the evidence OF w. " Davis,
of yesterday with reference to the
proceedings of the Elec
trio Supply Company.
NJ. A. Baker. of Brunswick, was
called after Mr.. Wright. Mr.. Baker
was a turpentine manufacturer and