The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-01
Appears Before the Con
gressional Investigating
Committee and Denies
Charges Brought Against
Him, Giving the Reasons
Why the District Attor-
rey Favors His Removal
From the Bench.
aY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Savannah, Jan. 31.-The congress
sional investigation of the official con-
duct Of Judge Emory Epeer terminated
this afternoon and members of the
com-aittee are leaving tonight II
WASHINGTON The committee allowe
Spear three weeks in which to file
his reply in a brief, after which they
will decide whether or not to recon-
nerd Impeachment of the jurist.
Judge Sleer was the last witness ex-
amincd. Declared he had always dis
qualified himself in cases with which
his ser in-law was connected and de-
clarcd the breach with District At
tor-eE Alerrnan grew out of our di-
vcrging views on questions involving
policy OF law ana principles of NOR
aIity on which we Georg.a "a people de
iendCi. alderman" said the judge,
allied himself with the LIQUOR inter
csts and insisted on me mol pressing
certain cases
DENIED ANY PROPOSAL.
Judge Speer was interroga led by E.
IT. Callaway, one of his counsel. The
ritness denied having told District At
tolney Alexander Akerman that he
would raise the Iatter's fee in bank
ruptcy ease If he would Withdraw his
rotest 4saIpsts fees awarded in the
& 4 So ssSs IA 81 tiErn on raneE s. HeySvard.
Il IN zsSi1 ~ta III MI a@xBrh II liH eddszraft
sI lseFfnan Is
]. ..iarsd thar Judge Speer had made
|aucli a profosal.
Judge Speer also denied having
threatened 20 sentence to Iail any law
yer who sought to disqualify him in
ease in which his son-in-law A. H.
Hayward, was counsel. Mr.. Akerman,
in his testimony yesterday before the
committee stated that Judge Speer
had made his threat in November
1910.
Il always disqualified myself in cases
where TaIIey & Hayward had connee-
tion.'' declared Judge Speer. 81 had
nothing, whatever to do with the part
nership between TaIley & Hayward.
My n-in-Iaw never consulted me.
did. however, delay the partnership
for a time on account of the Greene
Caynor case. / never asked for a
favor for my son-in-law and 1t has
never occurred to me that a lawyer
who happened to be the son-in-law or
a Judge should be debarred from prac-
ticing his profession"
Judge Speer was then asked to ex-
plain the brea ch between himself and
District Attorney Akerman.
"Our differences said the witness,
grew out of our diverging views on
questions involving the policy of the
law and principles of morality upon
which the welfare OF the people de-
pended. In the first place I was anx-
ious to enforce the revenue laws so
as to aid the PEOPLE of the south in
enforcing their prohibition laws.
WITH LIQUOR INTERESTS.
''Mr. Akerman allied himself with the
liquor interests" continued the judge,
"and insisted that I mol PROSE- certain
liquor cases. He insisted this was OBJ
hgatory upon me because compro-
mise on these cases had neen effected
between the collector of internal reve-
lua and the attorney general
''Nfr. Akrnan was a very needy man
when / first appointed him referee in
bankruptcy. ] did not ike his ac-
cepting employment from the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad Company. while |