Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-30
CHARGES SPEER
TRIED To FORCE
BANKRUPT toy

SAVANNAH, Jan. 30-When the
Speer hearing opened TINS morhihs
there were but eight witnesses to be
examined and their statements we're
TO be short There is little doubt the
evidence will all be in to-day but
hearing may be held tomorrow 10
take little documentary evidence.
W. w. Lambdin, Of Waycross, an
attorney. was the first witness he
was questioned about the Beach
Manufacturing Company case ana
the conduct Of Judge Speer in It.
He said that Immediately after the
resignation Of Max lsaacs at Bruins
wick three important bankruptcy
cases were brought into court TheS
were the Beach case, the Gray Lum-
Der Company and the Carter company
cases
SAYS Concerns Were Scared.
"Isaacs ana Hayward we're the at
torneys and il threw shock INTO me
South Georgia business world
Lambdin said The word vas spoken
that the two attorneys had the ear or
the judge and hs backing Every
company that had any accounts be-
came afraid
I'm the Beach case, at an eX-parte
hearing. Judge Speer, without giving
the company an opportunity to be
heard. named r l.. Morse, of Athens,
permanent receiver" he said.
I'VE filed petition denying in
solvency, and when 1t came TO be
heard Judge Speer ntimated that
settlement might be reached Lamb
din testified.
I'VE did not think so. but following
a conference with Leon Wilson, my
partner, and Judge Speer, the judge
SAID things looked pretty bad for the
defendant"
Mr.. Lambdin charged that in max
ing the receivership permanent Judge
Speer put in the court record, by
consent" when as matter of fact
the attorneys had vigorously fought
the receivership.
Finally Won Case.
Mr.. Lambdin said that just a year
before a petition to throw the same
firm into bankruptcy had been denied,
because in this case Talley and Hey
ward represented the company, with
other counsel.
In all three Of the cases Isaacs and
Hayward had a fee dependent on ths
firms being thrown into bankruptcy.
Said Mr. Lambdin:
Judge Speer was disqualified alb
soutcly to sit in either case, because
Hayward was his son-in-l law. An
other Judge would have declined t.
hear the case, but we would have
faced a Jail sentence if we had sug-
gested such a thirg. Finally the ca Sc
was heard before a jury in Savan-
nah with Judge Newman presiding
and the company was declared solV
vent"
Continuing, Mr.. Lambdin said that
as well as being attorneys for the
petitioner. tn receiver, Morse. got
the courts permission to name his
own attorney. He named lsaacs &:
Hayward. who were not only counse,
for the petitioners. but for the re-
Ceivers.
The witness was asked about the
affairs of the Gray Lumber Company.
"Isaacs & Hayward were attor-
neys for the petitioners" he SAID.
This time Judge Speer did not APP
point a receiver. but issued rule to
show cause why receiver should not
be named.
"a few days before this was to be
heard Gray went over to Macon and
signed an agreement not to oppose
the receiverskip. provided Mr.. Gray
be made temporary receiver. One OF
the petitioners was a man from I'LL
nois, who said the company owed him
$500. We proved this was not so in
court. The amount of the claims was
then below $500 and the company
could not be adjudged bankrupt