2580. Savannah Trust Company (Savannah, GA)

Article Text

# SPEER WRECKED CENTRAL, SAYS A. R. LAWTON Continued From Page 1. because control of the property had been acquired by a New York syndicate that was operating it to the advantage of the Richmond Terminal Company, which controlled the Richmond and Danville Railroad, Judge Speer, he said, held that this control was in violation of the compeitors' clause of the Georgia Constitution; that the directors were managing the property in the interest of the Richmond Terminal Company instead of the stockholders of the Central of Georgia Rallroad and Banking Company. The naming of the receiver and the expenditure of the company's funds under Judge Speer's orders, Colonel Lawton declared, absolutely destroyed the credit of the company and wiped out the savings that persons of small means had put into stock of the railroad. Colonel Lawton was followed to the stand by General Peter W. Meldrim, one of the most celebrated of Southern attorneys, playmate during boyhood and classmate at college with Judge Speer. General Meldrim picturesquely related an incident in the Greene and Gaynor case when he said Judge Speer insulted him, which brought about the estrangement and since that time they had not spoken. During this narrative Judge Speer made an impassioned plea to the Congressional committee to protect him from such attacks and General Meldrim started from his chair toward the seat occupied by Judge Speer. Chairman Webb had to threaten to exclude both from the room to restore order. A distinct sensation disclosed by General Meldrim was an alleged transaction between Judge Speer and the late A. B. King, clerk of the Federal Court, charging that Judge Speer borrowed $1,200 from the court register for which King was responsible and refused to return it. General Meldrim told the committee Mr. King had told him and he advised Mr. King to write the judge a firm letter and later Mr. King told him the money had been paid. It had remained open so long it was alleged that the interest amounted to $1,495. The hearing adjourned at 1:15 o'clock until 3 o'clock, when Colonel Lawton will be recalled. W. M. Toomer, of Jacksonville, formerly of Waycross, was the first witness of the afternoon. He was at-Clelland case. His evidence was large-Clelland case, His evidence as largely a denial of the statement yesterday by A. A. Lawrence that Judge Speer forced the two men to plead guilty. W. W. Mackell, an attorney, was called and substantiated the charge of General Meldrim with reference to the King note for $1,200. ### Marshal Receiver, He Says. William D. Davis, vice president of the Savannah Trust Company, formerly with the Electric Supply Company, was called next. He said he was receiver for the company in the Superior Court, representing $70.000 of the creditors. He charged that creditors representing $2,400 applied for bankruptcy in the United States Court and that when the majority creditors offered a settlement to the minority at 40 cents Judge Speer, who had appointed George White, his marshal, receiver, declined to dismiss the case from his court. Davis said that on a visit to Macon to discuss the case with Judge Speer a concealed stenographer took what had been said. The Federal bankruptcy proceedings were sustained, he said, and instead of 40 per cent, the creditors got 13 per cent. George White got $800 and had the affairs only a month. Mr. Davis said he was cited in 1908 to appear before "Speer" for contempt and the proceeding was still pending. The hearing adjourned at 5:30 o'clock until 10 o'clock Wednesday morning. ### Colding Promises Thrills. George S. White, of Macon, former United States Marshal, the first witness to-day, who testified at Macon on Saturday, identified a statement he had given in writing to the effect that after long association with Judge Speer he had never seen him take any drug or stimulant. Taking of testimony in the alleged plot to assassinate Judge Speer will furnish thrills in the probe when R. L. Colding, who has been summoned as a witness, takes the stand. Colonel Colding's testimony will deal with the Olsen case, one of the most famous in Chatham County. Olsen, the keeper of the sailors' rooming house, was tried before Judge Speer on a charge of shanghaiing. Judge Speer, according to Colonel Colding and newspaper men, wrote a story for the papers stating that Olsen's friends were going to assassinate him, and the next day wrote a story denying this. Colding was the attorney for Olsen. He has made the charge that in conducting the case Judge Speer was eminently unfair to the defendant and left no course open to the jury but to fine him. ### Beach Case Figures. That other evidence heretofore not touched upon in the Speer hearing would be introduced at the session to-day, provided the witnesses could be reached, seemed to be a certainty, when it became known that a number of former court officials had been called and would probably take the stand. Another sensational development the case may take was hinted at in the investigation yesterday, when Chairman Webb tried to bring out the facts in connection with the Beach bankruptcy case, and the proceedings of former Referee Max Isaacs, of Brunswick, in throwing the company into the hands of a receiver. Since the company's affairs went into the Federal Court Max Isaacs has been indicted in the State court for barratry, or soliciting accounts with which to throw the affairs of the company into the United States Court.