The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-04-29
4 BIG SENSATION.
Official Stir il Washington Caused BY
Series Of Scandals.
a EIGE OFFICIAL DISMISSED.
He Is OF o;; sick Leare. ami Ills
Wife Goes 10 His oihce and
Takes Papers from
Safe.

4 Washington dispatch says most
sensational development Of the inveS-
tigation of the postottice department.
affairs occurred just before the depart
mcnt closed Thursday when Postmas-
ter General Payne announced the SUM-
mary dismissal Of James \. Tyner,
assistant attorney general for
the postotfice department, coupling
with the announcement the startling
charge that all the papers and recorcs
in the safe Of Uhe latter's office had
been distracted by Mrs. Tyner, wife
OF the discharged official, with the as
sistance of Others. The facts are told
tersely in the letter OF dismissal,
signed by Postmaster General Payne,
late Wednesday afternoon and made
public tonight. The letter is as fol
lows:
April %, 1908.
Hon. James \. Tyner, Assistant At
torney General for the Postotfice De-
partment:
Sir: You are hereby removed from
the office OF assistant attorney general
for the postotfce department.
I deem it proper to give you the rea-
sons Tor this summary action on the
part Of the department. Early in the
month Of March I communicated to
you, through mutual friend, the 1e-
quest for your resignation. After a
painful interview with you, and a more
painful one with Mrs. Tyner, I con.
Sected to modify the demand for your
resignation so that it might take ef-
feet on May l, 1908, with the proriSo,
however, that you were given leave OF
absence from the time OF the accept
ance Of tie resignation to the date OF
it's taking effect. with the understand
ing that you were not in any way to
undertake to discharge the duties Of
the office.
Late Wednesday afternoon Mrs.
Tyner came to the Office OF assistant
attorney general for the postotlce de-
oartment, entering in the regular way,
and went through the main office to
the private office, closing the door be-
hind her. She then unlocked the door,
entering from the public hall into the
private rooms and admitted her sister.
Mrs. Barrett, whose Son was former
ly an assistant in your ctfice, and
whose conduct is now under inyeStlga-
ton by the department. She also ad-
nitte6' in the same manner, 6. G.
Hammer. an expert in the employ CT
the Mo ler Safe company. with whom
she made an arrangement to meet her
at the department. Al her direction
Mr.. Hammer opened the safe III the
room, and she took therefrom al pa
pers. records and articles Of every kind
and carried them away with her.
Immediately upon learning what
had been done directed the fourth as
s,stant postmaster general TO send two
INSPECTORS to your house to demand.
in the name OF the postmaster general,
the delivery to them Of any papers,
documents OK other materials which
had been abstracted from the safe.
This demand was refused by Mrs. Ty-
ner: and she likewise refused to per-
NIT the inspectors % see you or to see
and examine the papers in her pres
ence. Mrs. Tyner further stated tC
the postotfice inspectors that she COM
mitted this act with your knowledge
and by your direction. Farther COM
.nent on this transaction, on my part,
is not necessary.
The facts. in the case will be sub
nitted to the attorney general Of the
United States for such action in the
premises as he may deem proper.
Very respectfully,
II. G. Payne,