The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-12-24
POLICE JUDGE COMES
BACK AT THE MAYOR
JUDGE STRONG SAYS MAYOR
GIBSON WAS ARRESTED,
FINED AND APPEALED.

| The controversy over the enforce
ment of traffic laws in Moscow is
becoming interesting Mayor Gibson
recently charged that Police Judge
Strong was responsible for the fail
ure to stop fast driving and other
| violations Of the traffic ordinance
Judge Strong comes back and char
ges that Mayor Gibson refused to
take the medicine he prescribes for
others. The case is becoming inter
esting and, as they say in story
books: "the plot thickens" Police
Judge Strong's communication fol-
lows:
Moscow, Idaho, December %, 1920.
To the Editor of the Star-Mirror:
In recent issue of the daily the
mayor gives the public to understand
that any lack of enforcement of the
ordinance regulating "auto speeding"
is the fault of the police judge, and
says that of the persons who have
been ''sent up" for such violation ga
majority were dismissed without
fine" If his statement were true, it
certainly would have discouraging
effect-but had he taken time to ex-
anime the records, (Which are always.
open for inspection to any citizen)
he would have discovered he was
very much in error, as very few
speeders have missed a fine The
mayor and one member of the council
advised me that when q man was
"sent up he should be fined and DO
talk back" and if he did not pay his
fine send him to Jail, that according
to their idea the course of procedure
as defined by the statutes for deal
ing with offenses against the public
would be entirely ignored. This at
titude Of the mayor does not harmon
ize with his own action for when
"sent up" for an alleged offense Of |
auto speeding he plead not guilty and
when complaint was filed, process |
served. trial had and he was adjudged |
to pay fine he promptly appealed |
and secured a reversal of the Judge
ment, which was in marked contrast |
with two former mayors, who paid |
their fines without a murmur when
violation of the ordinance was
charged. A circumstance or two
might here be cited, of recent occur
renee I was informed by the chief
of police that the night police, Mr..
Stanley had cited a young man to
appear in court for violation of the
traffic rules relating to fast driving,
the man appeared, he was informed
of the charge against him and his
right to employ counsel and trial by
jury. He asked permission to go out,
and have a consultation, which re-
quest was granted. He returned in
an hour, waived formal complaint
and issue of warrant of arrest, plead
guilty and fine of $500 was ad-
judged, which was paid and defend
ant discharged. Two or three days
later, Mr. Stanley, the night police
man came in an interrogated me as
to whether the man appeared, and if
SO, had | fined him? | replied that
he had and that a fine of $500 had
been assessed and paid, he said it
ought to have been $4,000 for his
irving was furious As he had been
sent up" and the accusing officer
was not present, I could not judge
If the magnitude Of the offense,
hence the minimum fine Another
nan was "sent up" and was inform
ID of his rights but very promptly
olead not guilty, the police was in
formed of his plea, and some days
iICi, CHS COllpAclillliS WlIiiCoo OlOb +
defendant into court, and upon in {
vestigation the minimum fine was as /;
assessed and paid A day or two :
ater an interested party in the case
old me on the streets, that it was
lot fine, but piece of petty lar
eny. :
The above cases are typical of the !
many which came to me. The mayor t
$ respectfully invited to take this f
OBJ, and run it in the way he has 4
utlined it for me. '
I have no doubt but that the police Q
len would do their duty if left to
themselves, but believe the mayor 8
as caused them, as is expressed in 2
treet parlance, to clay down on their t
ob." q
A controversy through the news t
aper does not settle things perma-
emily, and / would gladly avoid
hem if possible. Several of my O
riends who know both sides of the i;
tory, have thought it advisable that {
1e mayors gentle imputations of my h
of duty should not pass D
Y unnoticed, and let the public know a
little of the other side of the story, h
ence this erkstle. n
Respectfully submitted, f
J. R. SRONG, ID
Police Judge. 6