Evening star., 1926-10-04
COOLIDGE PRAISE
OF MILLER READ
Letter Lauding Him for "Effi-
Cient Services" Pro-
duCed at Trial.

By The Associated Press.
NEW YORK, October 4.-Thomas
". Miller, former alien property
Gust odian. whom the Government
charges accepted $4,000 of a $441 ,00C
brihe paid for release Of 81 100000 OF
impounded American Metal Co. shares,
was lauded by President Coolidge for
his efficient services" it was revealed
today at the Daugherty Miller con
spiracy trial.
A letter signed by President Coolidge
and dated March, 1925. was read to
the jury by William Rand, Miller's
counsel. The letter expressed the
Presidents thanks for "all you've
done" and for efficient services. .
The letter was reply to Miller's S
letter of resignation.
The Presidents letter said in part:
Il wish to express to YOU on leaT-
ing the public service my thanks
for all you have done in the way of
helping me. You were very active
in the conduct of the campaign of
1920. and, while your public duties
were such as to make your activities
less in 1924, ] know that | had your
cordial support.
Il want to congratulate you upon
being chosen to assume the duties
of the head of an international vet
Grams association. You will certainly
find there an opportunity both for
satisfying your own desire for public
activity and for promoting the gen
eral welfare of the world. You must
take with YOU into this field my
thanks for all the efficient service
YOU have rendered in the past and
my best wishes for the future"
Reporter Takes Stand.
Harry y. Price. a reporter for the
Washington Post. was called by Max
-. Steuer, counsel for Harry Nj.
Daugherty. former Attorney General
Price testified that on April 19, 1921.
the date on which the Government
contended Daugherty was comforting
in New York with Richard Merton,
German metal magnate, who paid the
$441 600 bribe. Daugherty was in the
party of President Harding who had
come to New York to dedicate a
statue of Gen. Bolivar. Venezuelan
patriot and warrior.
This testimony did not account for
the time Daugherty spent in New
York. or show that he did not see
Merton, but was offered. Steuer said,
10 show that Daugherty did not travel
from columbus to New York, at Gov
ernment expense simply to keep an
anpointment with Merton.
Steuer did not admit, in any way,
,bat Daugherty did meet Merton,
smith. King or Miller while in New
York.
Daugherty Secretary Testit1es.
w Frank Gibbs. who was a stenog-
"a nhe,, for Harding when Harding was
senator. but who was private sec
retarv 10 Daugherty when the latter
was Attorney General, testified that
no handled all mail and interdepart-
mental papers intended for Daugherty.
>-o claims for seized enemy property
ware received for Daugherty in 1871,
Cihhs testified. Gibbs said he never
heard Of the American Metal Co. claim
and had no knowledge of such claim
being paid. -,
regard to claims in the ATTORNEY Cen
erals office" Gibbs said explaining
mat Daugherty paid no attention to
such matters.
After 1922. when newspapers printed
stories alleging graft in the payment
of the American Metal Co. claims,
(.ihhs said instructions were given the
denartment that all claims for more
than $4,000 were to be signed by the
President. -,
The trial was resumed today with
Continued on Page ., Column 81