Evening star., 1924-05-15
COL. MILLER TELLS
Of SEEING HARDING
0N0H|OMEDDL|NC
Admits He Objected to FIRE.
quent Visits of Jess Smith,
Urion and Wade Ellis.

Thomas w. Miller, the alien prop
erty custodian, gave the Senate
Daugherty investigating committee
today some interesting sidelights on
the conduct of the Department of
Justice under H. NJ. Daugherty.
Howard Manington, he said, was
introduced to him as zone of the big
men" influencing the department.
Warrington has been many times
mentioned as receiver of payments in
connection with liquor permits.
He also knew Jess w. Smith, Col.
Miller said, and had met Alfred Urion,
John Todd and other persons pre-
vioulsy mentioned in testimony as
close to Mr.. Daugherty. His own of
fetal duties and responsibilities
brought him into touch with the de-
partment, he said. and the Attorney
Generals legal rulings governed him
in administration.
Attorney in Case.
"In the American Metals Company
case, who appeared?" asked Senator
Wheeler.
THE National City Bank was at
torney in fact" Miller said, land a
man named Merte represented the
bank. In that case, senator, your
representatives have been in my Of
flee for a week or ten days.
My Office passed on it and made a
recommendation to the Department
of Justice"
He added he was mot equipped
with the details of the case.
alfred Urion is close friend Of
Mr.. Daugherty?" Senator Wheeler
suggested.
Il would consider him So" Miller
the committee, was named as attor-
ney for the Dempsey Carpenter fight
film distributors.
Omce of Jess Smith.
"You knew Jess Smith occupied an
office at the Department Of Justice?"
Senator Wheeler proceeded.
'I so considered it," Miller replied.
He testified that he had located
Smith at the Department of Justice
in telephone calls and personal visits.
Manington he only saw at the Depart
ment Of Justice on one occasion.
Warrington came to my department
once, early in 1921" Miller said, rep
resenting claimant"
you knew Manington wasn't a
lawyer and had no license to practice
before Departmental" asked Senator
II did not. I've learned more about
Warrington since your hearings than
before"
"Didn't Jess Smith come to you
many times and tell you what the At
torpau General Wanfpd dOno2o
Il won't deny that he told me on
many occasions that Mr.. Daugherty
or perhaps other people, wanted some
thing done, but 1 did not take orders
from Jess Smith in any'matter on how
to run my office"
Complained to Harding.
Todd, a former law partner of H. M.
Daugherty, had several claims for re-
turn of alien property, witness said.
One of his clients procured a return
of s1,500,OoO in IAN entirely proper
fashion"
Isn't it a fact that you finally went
to the President of the United States
Howard Warrington and others inter-
fering in your office?" demanded Sem
ator Wheeler.
Miller hesitated.
It's not pleasant tnlnS TO Talk
Of" he said, but I'm perfectly will
ing to tell you 1 told President Hard
ing that 1 didn't like the way, some of
the people from his own state walked
into my office.
IT thought President Harding, COM
ing from Ohio, could tell me about
Jess Smith. l mentioned to him Alfred
Urion and Wade Ellis and some of
the people l know have been men
toned here"
Questioned ON Banking.
Senator Wheeler switched the ques-
tioning to bank deposits. Mr.. Miller
said that he put his trust funds out
in banks, but required bonds.
"Mr. Smith asked me to put some
he went on, but, following my prac-
tice, / took the matter up with Attor-
ney General Daugherty, and he also
asked me to do So"
The Midland Bank has gone into liti-
cation with the committee to prevent
inspection of its books and NJ S. Daugh-
erty has resorted to the courts in his
refusal to testify.
The Treasury Department, the wit
ness said, contended that all his funds
ought to be deposited with it, but he
thought the Treasury was wrong.
Auditors were at work on the situation,
Mr.. Miller added, and their report
would show not only the correctness
of his position. but also that the gov
ernment had made money from his coll
lections of interest on deposits.
Jess Smith and w. F. Martin, the
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