The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-28

sensational He.
veIOpments Expected to Follow.
Washington, April "a most sen
satiOnaI development Of the investiga.
ton Of the postoffice department oc
Cured just before the department clos
ed today when Postmaster Genera
Payne announced the dismis.
sal Of James Tyner, assistant attorne5
general for the postoffice department
coupling with the announcement tn
Startling fact that all the papers anC
records in the safe Of the latter's office
had been distracted by Mrs. Tyner
wife Of the discharged official, with the
assistance of others. The postmaster
general states that Mrs. Tyner has re-
fused the demand of the governmen
for the return of the papers taken and
SAID that the circumstances in the case
will be submitted by him to he de-
partment of justice tomorrow morning.
Other sensational developments are ex-
pected to follow. The question Of ar
rests is o under consideration and
will be passed On Immediately by At
torhey General Knox.
The facts are told terseIy in the let
ter of dismissal signed by Postmaster
eneral Payne late yesterday afternoon
and made public tonight. The letter is
as follows:
April %, 1903.
Hon. James N. Tyner, Assistant AttOr-
ney General, for the Postofice De-
partment:
Sir: You are hereby removed frOmI
the office OF assistant attorney general
for the pOstOfi department.
Il deem it 2 per to give you the rea-
sons for this summary action on the
part of the apartment. Early in thel
month of : -srch 1 communicated tol
you. through a mutual friend, a request
for your Tvsignation. After a painful
interview v ith you, and a more painful
one with Hrs. Tyner, l consented toI
modify th- demand for your resignation
so that ! might take effect on May IL
1908, with the prOvisa however, that
You Were given leave of absence frOml
the tire of the acceptance of the resig-l
nation TO the date of it's taking effect,l
with the understanding that you we're
not in any way to undertake to dis
charges the duties of the office.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Tynerl
came to the office of the assistant attor-I
general for the p~ostofice depart-I
ment. entering in the regular way, andI
went through the main office to theI
private office. closing the door behind
her. She then unlocked the door. en-
tering from the public hall into the pri-
vate room nd admitted her sister, Mrs.
Barrett, whose son was nOminaIIy an asl
sistant in your office. and whose con-
duct is now under investigation by theI
the department. She also admitted. ini
the same manner. C. G.. Hammer. an
expert in the employ of the Mosler Safel
Company. with whom she had made AMI
arrangement to meet her at the del
Dartment- At her direction Mr.. Ham,
ner opened the safe in the room. andI
she took therefrom all papers. records
and articles of every kind and carried
them away with her.
Immediately upOn learning of what
had been lone I directed the fourth as
postmaster general to send two!
Inspectors ~ Jul AIoOoC ~ Cll@dllu iii
the name of the postmaster general theI
delivery to them of any papers dOcu-l
or other materials which hadI
been distracted from the safe. This
demand was refused by Mrs. Tyner: and
she likewise refused TO permit the in
spectOrs to see you or to see and exam-i
ne the papers in her presence. Mrs.
further stated TO the ~postofficeI
~ Al
with Your knowledge and by your dill
Further comment on this transaction
on my part. is not necessary.
The facts in the case will be sub
.itted to the attorney general of the
United states for such action in the
premises as he may deem proper
Very respectfully.
H. C. PAYNE,
Postmaster General"
Mrs Tyner came TO the office of the
assistant attorney general on the fifth
of the postofice building. at 3:45I
clock Tuesday afternoon and remafn-
u there exactly an hour. When she
-rrIVtd Acting Assistant Attorney
General C~hriSuIncy. who has had
.harse of the office for months 5 inl
absence of General Tyner. Who has
'eeH in poor health for a long period
III the office. The clerks were att
heir desks Mrs Tyner passed from
public room into the private office
ma closed the door behind her. Being
hen alone IN the office she stepped to-
o opening into the public cor
and. by previous arrangement, adj
litted Mrs. Barrett. mother of Har-
Is0n J. Barrett. the former law cleRk
f ,he pOstofice department, and c. G.I
tanner. a safe expert.
Mr. Christiancy reported the presence
n the office of Mrs. Tyner to two in
pectoTs who were investigating affairs
Ith the officers and also personality
communicated the fact of Mrs. Tynersl
.ppearance in the Office to Postmaster