Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-28
FINANCIAL BARTER
CHARGE IS DENIED
BY JUDGE HOWARD
Repudiates Allegations of
Edgar Latham "Con-
science Clear" Judge
Writes Bar Committee

Breaking his silence and making
complete denial of Attorney Edga
Latham's financial barter" charges
Judge G. H. Howard, newly-appoint
ed judge Of the Fulton superio
court, informed the grievance com
mittee of the Atlanta Bar association
Saturday afternoon that he proposed
to take his seat on the bench anC
serve to the best of his ability, "sus
tanned by clear conscience and thu
knowledge that I have done NJ
wrong"
The judges letter was in reply t
one from the grievance committee
inviting him to make a statement il
connection with charges, which the
committee Investigated Friday.
II am stating the facts fully, fair
ly and frankly" Judge Howard
wrote. II have never failed tc
deny the charges to any one who
has made inquiry of me and I have
been willing to answer them any
time in a tribunal having authority
and jurisdiction
The judge requested the commit
tee to make his letter a part Of the
record in the investigation, and the
committee members said this would
be done, and that full consideration
h. h. nj m
charges.
Tells of Conference
Judge Howard said he and Mr..
judgeship' shortly after Governor
Walkers nomination in the fall Of
1922, and that he told Mr.. Latham
he did not want the office. Later.
circumstances in connection with his
personal affairs caused him to
change his plans, he said.
The judge said he concluded from
talks with Governor Walker that
Mr.. Latham's application for the
judgeship was embarrassing" to
him and that Mr.. Latham had no
chance to get the appointment. Thus
convinced, he said, he set out to try
to retain Mr.. Latham's friendship for
some other way"
Acting on my own responsible
ity," the judge continued. 81 invited
Mr.. Latham to my office. I tried to
i persuade him not to set his heart on
the appointment, but he said he
would fight it out on the strength of
his strong Endorsements. His atti-
tude indicated anger and impotence.
= fo ipIy tor
over and suggested that he might
get something else. 1 said that So
licitor General John A. Boykin had
been mentioned for judge and might
accept, in which event Mr.. Latham
might get the solicitors place. Mr.
Latham said he did not want it and
did not propose to be mistreated. l
did suggest the name of a young
man for a place in the solicitors Of
flee, but his compensation was not
mentioned. I did not suggest a di-
vision of fees and do not see how
such an inference could be drawn
: from any thing said"
Denies George Opposition
; Judge Howard denied he told Mr..
Latham he was planning a race
against United States Senator Walt
er F. George. He also denied saying
he could make" Governor Walker
make appointments.
The jurist said shortly after his
talk with Attorney Latham, he
heard that the latter was accusing
him of being a double crosser." He
said he did not hear the charge
about the division Of fees until aft
er he had received the 7tment
from the governor.
1.-THE charges were filed with the
governor" Judge Howard said. "apd
he, with al 1.-The facts before him, de-
cided adversely to Mr.. latham"
The grievance committee will re-
>port it's findings in the case Mon
day or Tuesday, and the entire Lar
association will meet one night next
week to take actio~ it wos stated
Saturday night.
In reply to Judge Towards let
ter, Mr.. Latham reiterated his
charges in the following statement;
''I see in the early editions of the
Sunday papers statement from
Judge Howard in the shape of a
letter to the grievance committee
of the Atlanta Bar association.
= II do not care to make an ex-
tended statement since facts were
fully covered in my testimony before
the committee on Friday. I consider
Judge Towards statement as cor
roborative Of my testimony in near
Iy all particulars. In all others he
tries to place the blame on the gov
ernOr.
~ have sought an opportunity tc
face Judge Howard and make my
charges in his presence. He has
declined to face me. He still de-
clines. I do not care to carry on a
Iong-distance controversy with him
especially as he presents no facts tc
controvert."