The record-union., 1899-06-24
HINksOH HENLEY TROUBLE.
BAR ASSOCIATION DECLINES
TO CONSIDER IT.

Z -
Action Taken ON the Report Of tAe
Grievance Committee
Yesterday.
So far as the Sacramento County Bar
Association is concerned, the charges OF
unprofessional conduct brought by A
G.. Hinkson against William Henley
have been dropped.
The charges were filed with the Sec
rotary of the association, s. Luke
Howe, and by him referred to the
Grievance Committee. The committee
held an executive session on Thursday
night and yesterday morning reported
to the association, at it's called meet
ing, which was, owing to the absence
Of the President and Vice President,
presided over by R. T. Devlin-
On assuming the chair Mr.. Devhn
stated that the Grievance Committee
had met, heard the charges brought by
Hinkson against Henley read, consid-
cred them and endeavored to find out
what course to pursue. The committee
he said were of the opinion that the
charges, if true, were insufficient to
warrant disbarment proceedings
against Henley. The association, he
said, had no right to inquire into Hen
ley's professional conduct, aside from
the legal aspect Of the case, inasmucn
as the latter was not a member of the
association, and therefore not amen
able to it's rules and regulations.
Mr.. Devlin said it had been contend
ed by the plaintiff that if there had
been misconduct on the part of Attor-
ney Henley the association ought to
pass vote of condemnation. The COM
mittee, however, had agreed that the
charges We're not sufficiently grave to
warrant disbarment proceedings. Mr..
Henley had demanded a full hearing in
the matter.
Attorney Platnauer said that as
newspaper reporters We're present he
thought it would be unfair to give pub
licity to the charges. if they were to
be considered, inasmuch as they might
appear to be groundless. In such case
to publish them might injure Mr.. Hen
ley. He moved to go into executive
session.
The motion was combatted by w. A.
Anderson, c. T. Jones and District At
torney Baker, who held that the public
should be rightly informed as to the
proceedings. The motion was lost.
Mr.. Platnauer suggested that in case
the charges were read Attorney Hen
ley be permitted to address the meet
ing and it was agreed that he should
be granted such opportunity
~x,J-o =.
not the association desired to hear the
charges read.
w. A. Anderson said that while he
had no objection to such a course, he
was willing to act upon the report Of
committee without further invesuga-
ton.
c. T. Jones said the committee had
reported in the matter and he could
see no reason for going behind that re-
port He moved that the report De
adopted, but upon request Of Judge
Hinkson withdrew it to allow the latter
to make an explanation.
Mr.. Hinkson thought Mr.. Henley
should be given a hearing If anything
was to be done. He said the commit
tee had doubted whether the associa-
ton had right to take action in the
matter, and had advised him Q1inkson)
to report any further investigation he
might make. He felt that the charges
did warrant dfsbarment proceedings,
and quoted from the constitution of the
association to sustain his point. He
was ready to show authorities to prove
that the Court might order disbarment
proceedings, and that, under the pro-
visions Of the statutes, the result of
such proceedings. would be final. He
contended that the Court should de-
termine the suffieiency of the charges.
c. T. Jones raised the point Of order
that there was no motion before the
meeting. ~
Mr. Hinkson SAID he was merely max
ing report as requested by the COM
| mittee.
| Mr. Jones moved the report of the
committee be adopted, and the motion
was seconded by c. M. Beckwith and
District Attorney Baker, the latter
holding that if such report was to be
/. made it should be to the committee,
and not the association.
Mr. Hinkson said the report Of the
committee was to the effect that he
should present any points bearing on
the case, should he find them.
Mr.. Baker contended that they ought
to go before the committee, and again
seconded Mr.. Jones' motion.
Chairman Devlin said the motion
should be either to instruct the com .
mittee to drop further proceedings or
| direct it to proceed with it's investiga-
ton.
Mr. Hinkson asserted that; the
charges were sufficient to call for dis
barment proceedings, holding that the
Court, could under the statute. take
any action it saw fit.
Mr.. Platnauer moved that the COM
mittee be instructed to drop the pro-
ceedings. Mr.. Henley, he said, would
be only too glad to have Mr.. Hinkson
prefer charges, but he (Platnauer)
thought it unfair that Mr.. Hinkson
should use the association as cats
paw in the matter. He said the Court
was open to any charge he might de-
sire to make, but held it unwise to
drag the association in. He moved to
discontinue proceedings
Mr.. Hinkson said he was sorry that
Mr.. Platnauer should have so far for
gotten himself as to assert that the
association had been made a cats paw
in the matter Such language was un-
professional and ,,nca11ex7l for TJo ha n