The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-27
CORONER DOES NOT BLAME TREASURER Paris Discusses Stand Taken
 by Treasurer Miller SAYS MILLER IS RIGHT Contention Is Made By County Treas urer That He Is Without Authority
 to Pay Certificates Pre-
 sented by the Coroner.
SAYS MILLER IS RIGHT

The stand taken by County Treasurer II. Clanton Miller in refusing to honor warrants drawn by Coroner ". D. Paris has caused somewhat of a sensation at the county courts building Last Monday Mir. Miller refused to pay jurors summon ed by the coroner on certain lnquests' The contention is made by Mr. Miller that he is without authority to pay the war rants presented by the coroner.
 MT. Miller stated at the time that he hae taken the stand he has upon in structions from his attorneys. It is said at the court house that these instruc- tions were given him by the law firm Of Miller & Sharpe-N. l.. Miller of this firm being a brother of the County Treasurer. Judge Sharpe presided in the city court of Birmingham when the coroner made a test case, several years ago, with ref erence to this matter.
 Coroner's Statement.
 'I do not blame Mir Miller in the least, ' sad Coroner Paris yesterday He Is do- ing just what he thinks is right and agree with him thoroughly. His acton in refusing to honor the certificates pleases me for the reason that I have always wanted the members of the Board of Revenue of Jefferson county to first ap- prove my certificates, or warrants be- fore they are paid
 up to six months ago the Board of Revenue always handled these matters, but since that time I have been going to the county treasurer direct for my money
 For the past four years have under taken to ascertain whether or not l am coroner of Jefferson county. or if some oLe else is If these technicalities are forced upon me, I shall commence to take steps for my own protection in the near future. If I so desired, under the law could summons between twelve and fif- teen juries each month, and the county would finally have to pay for 1t. As 1t Is, however, I do not average four Jury in quests each months, which is a great saw ings to the county. Whenever there Is a death from an unknown cause, l in- vestigate 1t thoroughly and sometimes find that a jury is necessary. I always report directly to the grand jury.
 coroner's Jurles.
 ''The law provides that the members of the coroner's jury shall be paid $2 per diem, and on each jury there are six men, am always careful in selecting this jury making an effort always to get the best citizens obtainable. There is no provision for the payment of witnesses before a coroner's jury. The coroner receives ten cents a mile from the county when he goes to investigate a death.
 "The books in my office are open and ready for inspection by any judge, jury man or county official who may desire to look at them. I always keep a full record. and this record has been of ma terial assistance to the police department of Birmingham and other officers of the law.
 Thereafter my monthly statement will 10 to the Board of Revenue to be audited. Jurors will have to wait until this state ment Is audited and ordered paid by the board, on the first of each month before they can obtain their money. This may work hardship on some but 1t cannot be helped, under the present conditions"