Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-02
TEE.
FINISHES
IT'S LONG
INQUIRY
Jurist, Last Witness Before Con~
gressionaI Investigators, Wig
orousIy Defends Himself. K

SAVANNAH, Jan. 31.-With
the testimony of Judge Emory
Speer in his own behalf, who wigs
orously attacked his accusers, as
the climax, the hearing of evi4
dence by the special congression4
al committee Investigating
charges of official misconduct on
the part of the judge of tho
United States Court for tho
Southern District of Georgia, was
concluded here ON Saturday.
The committee adjourned when
Judge Speer left the stand, sub.
ject to the cali of Chairman
Webb.
The committee probably will re%
convene in Washington next week to
begin the preparation of its report to
the judiciary Committee of the
House of Representatives, which wiz
| report 70 the House and recommend
or dissrprove of impeachment pro-
ceedingS being instituted against tha
Judge. 1t will then be necessary fow
the House to vote on the Judiciar9
Commuters report. If a majoritN
vote for impeachment. Judge Specs
will have to face trial before the bag
Of the United States Senate.
Hearing Lasts Two Weeks.
The taking OF testimony has been
under way two weeks in Georgia, a
week being spe examining wit 4
nesses in Macon and another weeA
here. Leading lawyers. court and
State officials, railroad and corporaA
ton officers and others who have 1g4
ured in litigation or trials in Judge
Speer's court during the 20 years ha
has been on the bench have been
heard. Many grievances, real or fam.
cied. have been aired. The testimony
taken forms vol1minous record.
Only one other witness besides
Judge Speer was heard to-day. Hs
was Judge Samuel B. Adams, a Lead
ing member of the Savannah bar and
former member of the Suprema
Court OF Georgia. He told of his
connection as counsel with the Green's
and Gaynor case and other litigation.
and gave as his opinion that judge
Speer ls essentially a partisan, moody.
uncertain and variable.
With Mr. Volstead, of the Invests
eating committee. opposed, it was de-
cided to put Judge Speer on tho
, stand after one fitness had been ex4
amined this morning. Chairman
Webb asked If counsel wished to cali
Judge Speer. Counsel stated thar
while no preparation had been nadas
Judge Speer would take the stand.
He was sworn and his counsel fire
questioned him.
Questioned by Counsel.
Judge e. H. Galloway, of COUNSEL
began the Interrogation, as follows:
MIR. Alderman stated at Macon that
1Oh AdlSth liiC Ice AOI dliSy anu
Hayward. stating they needed the
money"
mo such statement was made at
any time" replied Judge Speer. I'VE
were at Mount Airy when Mr.. Aker-
man came to me and asked me about
1t. Without replying to Mr.. Alderman,
turned to Mr.. Merrick and dictated
the opinion you win find in the req
ord"
Mr.. Alderman said you threatened
to put anyone In Jail that suggested
that you be disqualified"
ut is absolutely untrue"
IBID you ever disqualify in cases
which Tailey and Hayward were re-
tanned on a contingent fee?"
Always, sir"
did you not .stpone the forma-
ton Of the Talley & Hayward part-
nership?"
1T was in the Greene and Gaynor
case. They intended to form the part
Contipued IN paaa . CoIunan 4