The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-04-24
WOMAN FIGURES
IN POSTAL SCANDAL
Mrs. Tyner. Wife of Assistant At
forney General Purloins Official
Documents From the Post
Office
Tyner is summariIy Dismissed--Wife Secured Ser
vices of Safe Expert to Obtain Papers
Thought to Incriminate Her Husband

Washington, April GA most SEN
sational Development Of the postoffce de-
partnent affairs occurred just before the
department closed yesterday, when
Postmaster General Payne announced the
summary dismissal Of James NJ. Tyner,
assistant attorney general for the postof
Hce department, coupling with the an
nouneement the startling charge that all
the papers and records in the safe of the
latter's office bad been abstracted BY
Mrs. Tyner. wife Of the discharged Of.
fetal. with tho assistance Of others. The
postmaster general states that Mrs. Ty.
1er has refused the demand Of the gov
rFnhent Tor the return Of the papers
taken and said the circumstances in the
case will be submitted by him to the
department OF justice tomorrow morn
ing. Other sensational developments
are expected 70 follow. The question
Of arrest is now under consideration and
viii BE passed on Immediately by Attor-
ney General Knox.
The facts are told terseley in the let
/, ter OF dismissal signed by Postmaster
General Payne, late yesterday afternoon.
and made public today. The letter Is
as Follows:
Washington, April %, 1908.
, "Hon. James y. Tyner, Assistant Attor.
ncy General for the Postoffice De.
partment.
a.Sir: You are hereby removed from
The Office OF assistant. attorney general
for the postoffee department. I deem
It proper to give you the reasons for this
summary action on the part of the de-
partment. Early in the month of Nlarcl
/ communicated to you. through mu.
tual friend. a request for your resigna
tion. After painful interview Will
YOU, and more painful one with Mrs
Tyner, consented TO modify the de.
mand for your resignation so that il
might take effect on May /, 1908; viii
the provision. however, that you were
given leave of absence from the time
Of the acceptance of the resignation t
the date Of It's taking effect. with thc
understanding that you were not in an,
way to undertake to discharge the du
ties of the office.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Tynei
came to the office Of the assistant at
toney general for to 7ostofice depart
ment. entering IN II" regular way am
went through the main Office to the pri
vate office, closing the door behind her.
She then unlocked the door entering from
the public hail into the private room
and admitted her sister, Mrs Barrett
whose son was formerly assistant in
your office and whose conduct is now
under investigation by the department
she also admitted. in the same manner
M. G. G. Hammer an expert in the en-
ploy Of the Mosler Safe company, with
whom she had made an arrangement to
meet her at the department. At her di.
rection Mr.. Hammer opened the safe in
the room, and she took therefrom all
papers, records and articles of every
kind and carried them away with her.
Immediately upon hearing what had
been done. directed the fourth assist.
ant postmaster general to send two in.
spectors to your house to demand. in the
name Of the postmaster general. the
delivery. to them Of any papers. docu.
ments or other materials which had been
abstracted from the safe. This demand
was refused BY Mrs. Tyner. and she like
wise refused to permit the inspectors
to zee you or to see and examine the pa
pers in her presence. Mrs. Tyner fur,
ther stated to the inspectors that she
committed this act with your knowledge
and by your direction. Further comment
on tbts transaction, on my part, is not
70 ary. i
Boz facts in the case win be submit.
Z ID. ~ ne attorney general of the Unitd5
STATES for such action in the premises as
he may deem proper.
N. c. PAYNE,
~Postmaster General