Last Act

Attorney General Sargent, having served four years in the Cabinet of Calvin Coolidge, served one day and a fraction in the Cabinet of Herbert Hoover--until William DeWitt Mitchell was confirmed and sworn in. It was under Herbert Hoover that Mr. Sargent performed his last official act. That act was the signing of a parole releasing Col. Thomas Woodnutt Miller, onetime (1921-25) Alien Property Custodian, from Atlanta Penitentiary.

Miller, tried with onetime (1921-24) Attorney General Daugherty for defrauding the Government, was convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of $5,000. On Daugherty, one juror disagreed and he was discharged. Miller began to serve his term last April. He behaved himself well in jail and was to have been discharged next July. Last December he was recommended for parole. In spite of the custom of releasing convicts at Christmas time. Attorney General Sargent did not see fit to sign the parole then. But he did not forget. He bided his time, until his last hour in office. Then, safe from the jibes of the Senate which was on the point of adjourning, Mr. Sargent set Col. Miller free.