Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-20
ODD ACTIONS
BY SPEER
CHARGED
Witness at Investigation Declares
the Jurist's Conduct Was
Strange at Times. +

MACON. GA, Jan. 1s.-John r. I.
Smith, prominent Macon lawyer,
the principal witness at the after
noon session OF the Judge Speer in
Vestigation, swore that he thought
Judge Speer either used drugs or
that his mentality had become i'm
paired
He recited an instance where Judge
Speer had him wait until after
court sitting, demeaned himself pc
culiarly, then said, Il am now ready
to sell you that horse about which
you talked to me the other day."
He said he had never talked with
Judge Speer about any horse, nor
did he want to buy a horse. but
Judge Speer insisted he had and
did Mr.. Smith also said that court
conditions on the district were very
unsatisfactory and that the court did
not have the confidence of the pub
lie. He said the people had the opin-
lon that Judge Speer had been in
huenced and could be Influenced in
the trial of cases and that certain
lawyers we're more certain of success
In their practice in the Federal court
here because OF their relations to the
judge.
Charges Personal Animus,
He gave the facts in a case yhere
ne said the judge because of personal
animus had sought to run the Dis
trict Attorney, Alexander Alderman
out Of court by belittling him in the
presence of the jury, sneering at him
and treating him discourteously"
one witness, former Recorder and
present Postmaster Custis Noting
ham, testified that Judge Speer had
repeatedly declined to make an order
or the Supreme Court the order of
his court, in the case of the CITY of
Macon VS.. Henry Jemison, who was
an employee Of Judge Speer. and IN
which the Judge interviewed SO az IN
release the negro from the chain
gang.
On the stand, Mr.. Nottingham de-
clared that Judge Speer's conduct
was high handed Intervention in a
case beyond his Jurisdiction"
Ex-Chief of Police Granville Con-
nor was the second witness. He said
that he was attached for CONTEMPT
for rearresting Jemison, following
the Supreme Courts order. and that
he did not know until three years
later, when he was advised by his
attorney. that Judge speer had dis
missed the rule OF contempt.
Speer and Huff Attend,
The charges being probed are large
ly the outgrowth of attacks made on
Judge Speer by Colonel William A.
HUFF, the aged Macon man. whose
100000 estate has been before .Iudsa
Speer in bankruptcy for more than a
decade
The subcommittee, which arrived
last night from Washington, is con-
Quoting public hearings in the Federal
courtroom, the first session beginning
a. Az NAONh lHiS llOTHlng. After
several days In Macon, the probers
will go to Albany, Brunswick, Angus
ia and probably to Savannah to take
additional testimony. Judge Speer
and Colonel HUFF, both Just recently
out Of sick beds. sat near each other,
but did not speak.
Judge Andrew J. Cobb, as chief
counsel for Judge Speer. made
statement in his behalf, declaring that
the Judge invited the closest scrutiny
Of his public and private career.
Former Superior Court Judge w. H.
FELTON, became one of Judge Speer's
counsel by volunteering his services
to-day.
Speer to Defend Record.
Judge Speer plans to go before the
committee in person and make a
statement covering his IS years OF
service on the Federal bench. IN which
he will defend his official conduct and
seek to refute the allegations against
him. Colohel HUFF, however, declares
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