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Show So The Public May Know The Other Side of the Story 1 1 On Tuesday afternoon there appeared on the front page of one of the larger Utah daily newspapers a story spread over three columns whose contents could be interpreted as reflecting reflect-ing criticism by the mayor and city council of Bingham of Justice Jus-tice of Peace Alfred Henkel, an elective officer of the Tenth precinct pre-cinct and appointive justice for the city. In fairness to Mr. Henkel, Mayor May-or Ed Johnson and the council, the other side of the controversy should be given residents of Bingham Bing-ham Canyon. The first criticism, chronologically, chronologic-ally, of Mr. Henkel's conduct in office was his reported call on the county attorney's office in regards to local gambling. This accusation was unfounded, Mr. Henkel says, as he. called Leonard Leon-ard W. Elton, deputy county attorney, at-torney, in regards to the disposition dispo-sition of a court case concerning children of two' families in Bingham Bing-ham district. If gambling complaints com-plaints were sent from Bingham to the attorney's office, it does not follow that the complaint came from the justice of peace. Mr. Henkel has been accused of tipping off law officers on violations vio-lations of traffic ordinances in Bingham Canyon. As far as appears ap-pears on the surface, there is nothing wrong with this procedure. proce-dure. It is the privilege of any citizen at any time to report traffic traf-fic violations. In the past residents resi-dents of Salt Lake City, as in other cities, have been requested by law officers to cooperate with them by reporting traffic law violations. Another event which was played play-ed to a, fare-thee-well in the daily was the case of Ernest C. Ganes, 35, of Copperfield, who was sentenced sent-enced Monday to serve five days in the city jail or pay a $10.00 fine for parking in a restricted zone. On paper this penalty seems to be. high, but according to attorneys, at-torneys, as Mr. Ganes reportedly denied parking in a no-parking zone and is alleged to have testified testi-fied falsely in court, he could have been charged with perjury. It should also be noted that the city ordinance states that a maximum maxi-mum fine of $50 and a 30-day jail sentence for parking in a restricted re-stricted zone may be given. In this particular case, according accord-ing to City Attorney Elliott W. Evans, "Justice was meted out". Mr. Ganes might have been charged and fined further for his reported disrespectful and defiant conduct when he was arrested by Chief of Police S. P. Davies and at his appearance in court. The city council Wednesday night voted full approval of the justice of peace's disposition of the Ganes case and his policies. "Mr. Henkel is doing a good job," Recorder Morris stated yesterday in quoting council members. According to Eugene Morris, city recorder, Mr. Henkel has turned over more fines to the city council than any justice of the peace who has previously occupied the job and is the first man to hold the office that could be depended upon to keep regular regu-lar hours at the City halL Recently County Auditor Fer- -. rell Adams complimented Justice Jus-tice of Peace Henkel on his care- ' v fully -kept court records. Record '. er Morris states that Mr. Henkel';.-. records are always up-to-datar (Continued on paf 8) So The Public May Know The Other Side of The Story (Continued From Page One) and every cent collected in fines I is turned over to either the county coun-ty or city. The article in the daily stated that Mr. Henkel had turned in h his resignation to the city council jand later written a letter with-I with-I drawing his resignation. The 1 truth of this is that Mr. Henkel did hand in lus resignation, but the city council tabled it without ever reading the contents and the resignation was returned by City Recorder Eugene Morris. Since Mr. Henkel has been justice of the peace in the Tenth precinc t, he has conducted a very efficient small claims court. Because Be-cause of this service local merchants mer-chants have been able to recover lot) per cent on bad accounts without cost to them. This has probably caused several defendants defend-ants to criticize Mr. Henkel un justly. In a ju.tice court it ii almost inevitable that a certain amount of resentment will follow when defendant-, are fined. In ord.r that our local court will be above sterna of unjust criticism, it necessary that the precinct and c.ty justice have the support of city officials, law en-loivemeht en-loivemeht ofikt-r-, and county and city attoi ,'iL-y.-;. Those citizens who have lea., .n to believe that the ju.stue of peai e is tiymg to the best 'f h;-; abilities to be a fair and holier. I official will also want to give him support in his somewhat some-what thankless task and in discharge dis-charge of Ins often disagreeable duties. |