Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-24

| affair created much excitement among the
| investigating officials, but the news was
concealed carefully from the public
Two inspectors were dispatched to the
Tyner residence to recover the papers
Mrs. Tyner refused to give them up saying
that she was acting under the direction oil
her husband. She told the inspectors, sc
they reported. that they had a right to the
papers as Mr.. Tyner was still assistant at
torney general, and, moreover, insisted that
the papers were all of private character
The inspectors reported that Mrs. Tyner
declared the papers belonged solely TO them
and she announced emphatically that she
did not propose to have her papers SUBJ
| mitted to the scrutiny Of the inspectors.
Other pressure, 1t is understood. was
brought to Dear both on Mr.. and Mrs.
Tyner, but both unequivocally refused to
deliver the papers or even to show them Or
indicate their nature.
May Have Important Connection.
At the department it is suspected that the
papers have some connection with the re-
cent conduct Of the Office. Some weeks ago
a turf investment concern, whose affairs
were aired in court. alleged that its opera
tons and working methods had been sane.
toned by the assistant attorney general
for the Post Office Department.
The charges involving the office of the
assistant attorney general and a lawyer
formerly connected with that office were
ventilated very generally at that time and
an investigation was ordered by the Post
master General. This was really the In
ception of the investigation that has spread
into every part of the department.
The complaints crystallized into formal
request for Mr.. Tyners resignation, signed
by Postmaster General Payne, on March
0 last. Mr.. Tyner, who Is IN bad health, had
visited the office at only rare Intervals,
leaving the Office entirely in charge of his
assistant for months at a time. He is SUI.
fering from an unusually severe case or
paralysis, and in consideration Of this fact
=, e.. It, ,(rp,,o Ion, hQ @
on his i'll health. The correspondence which
took place just prior to Mr.. Payne's de-
parture on his cruise in the West Indies Is
interesting in this connection. 1t is as fol-
lows;
Some Interesting Correspondence.
"Ofice of the Assistant Attorney General
for the Post Office Department. Wash
ington.
Hon. Henry C. Payne. Postmaster General.
my Dear Sir: Lest the effects of the light
stroke of paralysis which recently disabled
my left leg partially and my left arm to-
tally. may prevent me from performing
my duties satisfactorily for some time to
come as assistant attorney general Of the
Post Office Department, I deem It proper to
tender my resignation OF said ONCE TO take
effect May /, 1903
TT is painful to me to thus sever my
connection with the postal service, with
which have been closely associated as an
congressional committees at intervals over
a period of forty-two years.
Very truly yours, ,,,
To this letter the Postmaster General sent
the following acknowledgment:
March 0, 1903.
Hon. James N. Tyner. Assistant Attorney
General, Washington, D. c.
MY Dear Sir: have your letter Of today
rendering your resignation Of the position
of assistant attorney general for the Post
Office Department.
II regret the serious affection which has
come to you, and which is of such a serious
character as to preclude your discharging
the duties OF your Office. 1t must, indeed,
be painful for you to sever your relations
with the department with which you have
been associated for SO many years, and of
which you were at one time the official
head.
all the circumstances. but 1 deem it but
| Just and proper that 1t should take effect
May l. 1908, and that you be given leave
of absence until that date trust that this
will give you rest and freedom from care,
and will be OF material aid in bringing i'm
provement to your condition. which Is at
the present time Of such a serious nature
as to render impossible any labor on your
part. With kindest regards, 1 am very
sincerely yours. II. G. PAYNE.
POSTMASTER General"
A Question Involved.
At the time the papers were taken from
the safe Mr.. Tyner was still technically
assistant attorney general. This fact will
figure in consideration of the question by
the Department Of Justice.
1t is pointed out, however, that although
Mr.. Tyner still held the office, his resig-
nation not having yet become operative,
the acceptance of the resignation was
with the strict understanding, specifically
stated in the letter of acceptance, that he
would not attempt to administer the duties
of his Office.
1t is fully realized by Postmaster General
Payne that the case presents delicate
situation. and for that reason he declined
today to enter into discussion of the
facts.
Mr.. Tyner has been in the government
service in various important capacities for
many years. He Is from Indiana. He
served as assistant attorney general for the
Post Office Department and later was first
assistant postmaster general
Subsequently he became Postmaster Gem
feral. and later he again assumed Office