Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-20
SPEER ACCUSED
Of s WAY|NG
VERD|CTS
Attorney Charges Judge Takes
Sides in Cases on Trial
Before Him.

MACON. Ian. 20.-J. W. Preston,
G. retired attorney, was the first
r.ttness to-day before the committee
81 Conpressmen investigating Fed
oral Judge Emory Speers official
conduct He said that in the John
p Roberts case and in the Williams
case Judge Speer had denied the de-
4sndants fair and impartial trials,
vnanifesting an intent and purpose to
brino, about their conviction. He said
I,dee Speer generally took sides"
I'm the trial of all cases before him.
u. praised Judge Speers mental ca
nacitv and ability to preside. He said
the Judge took personal charge OF all
,,so, and sought to sway juries, at
,crnevs and parties, and that his
mower was overpowering" and caused
unjust verdicts.
Winberly on Jemison Case.
Ninter Wimberly, member of the
legislature and ex-city attorney, was
called to testify as to the Henry Jem-
tson case, which was taken up yes
ferdav. Representative Fftzhenry
conducted the examination. Mr..
Wfnherlv testified that Judge Speer
would not Immediately make the
mandate of the Supreme Court the
order of his court and that the judge
reserved his decision for three years
in the contempt cases against HIM
self Chief Conner and Superintend-
ont W-imbish, who had rearrested
Ien,ison after the negro, one of Judge
Sneer's minor employees, had been
released from the changing by the
nudge for the second time.
Mr. Wimberly was an evasive wit
ness and il was only after repeated
Questions from Chairman Webb that
he admitted that Judge Speer was
fully informed of the Supreme Court
mandate in the Jemison case and that
Judge Speer would not act on the
mandate for more than seven
months
Pettioned Judge Speer.
Isn't it true asked Chairman
Webb that you petitioned Judge
Speer in person to make the SUI
preme Court mandate the order of
his court. and that after he knew
being told by you, in fact-that the
Supreme Court had nullified his de-
c.siOn and declared he had no juris-
d.ction in the case, that he attached
You and two other officials for con-
tempt of court and kept you and them
under the rule for several years, on
an order that was palpably void
isn't that true?" asked Mr.. Webb.
Mr. Wimberly: Yes, | believe that
is the truth"
When Mr.. Wimberly had been eX-
cused, the investigation adjourned
until o'clock
r j. Simmons, of The Macon
News, will be the next witness.
Restrictions on Counsel.
When the investigation was re-
sumed to-day, the investigating com
mittee of Congressman announced
that the attorneys for the iurist would
be restricted in their cross eXamina
Ton of witnesses. 1t seemed to be
the opinion of the Committee that toe
much latitude has been allowed
Judge Speers counsel in this partic-
uiar yesterday, in consideration OF
the fact that this hearing is equiva-
lent to a Grand Jury inquiry and is
not a trial.
More than forty witnesses from 49,
rsous parts of the State arrived to-
day. One of them is Attorney Cen
eral T s. Fielder.
To Hear Huff Thursday.
Colonel W. A. Huff will hardly &c
on the stand until Thursday. He viii
he permitted to tell his story in full
Judge Speer's lawyers and friends
are confident that the first days prob
ing did not hurt him.
John r. l.. Smith, one of Macon's
prominent lawyers testified late Mon
Gay afternoon that he thought Judge
Npeers mentality was now impaired
lie also declared that the court has
lost the confidence of the people, anc
ne attributed it to the Judges high
hand. domineering and dictatoria
methods, somewhat untrammeled BY
law, and to his showing of favors tC
some attorneys and manifestins
strong antipathy to others, which like
water constantly dripping on a stone
mad gradually exhausted the patience
OF the public"
Mr.. Smith swore that in the tria
OF criminal case in 1912 Judge
Hpeer practically ran the Distric
Attorney, Alexander Alderman, out o.
court by sneering at him and seek
ing to belittle him in the presence
OF The jury" He said there was per.
Spnal animus between the Judge ano