Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-24
High Postal Official SummariIv
Removed from Office.
Accused and Requested to Resign
Wife Rifled Department Safe.
And Postmaster General Takes Prompt
Action in Matter. !,

closed to-day, when Postmaster Gen.
crai Payne announced the summary
dismissal of James H. Tyner, assistant
attorney general for the post Office de-
partment, coupling with the announce
ment the startling charge that all the
papers and records in the safe of the
latters office had been distracted by
Mrs. Tyner, wife Of the discharged Of
Href, with the assistance of others.
VIE postmaster general states that
Mrs. Tyner has refused the demand of
thcl government for the return of the
papers taken and said the circum-
stances IN the case will be submitted
~ him to the department of justice,
tomorrow morning. Oother sensational
developments are expected to follow.
The question of arrests is now under
consideration and will be passed on by
Attorney General Knox.
The facts are told tersey in the let
ter Of dismissal signed by Postmaster
General Payne, late yesterday after
noon. and made public, tonight. The
letter is as fellows:
Washington, D, -. April %, 1893.
James n, Tyner, Assistant Attorney
General for the Post Office Depart
ment:
Sir: You are hereby removed from
the office of assistant attorney general
for the post office department.
u deem it proper to give you the rea-
sons for this summary action on the
part Of the department.. Early in the
month Of March, / communicated to
you. through mutual friend, "a re-
quest for your resignation. After
painful ore with Mrs. Tyner, l con-
@cnted to modify the demand for your
resignation so that it might take eff
feet on May I, 1903; with the proviso
however that you were given leave of
absence from the time of the accept
iincc Of the 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, yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Ty-
ror came to the office of the assistance
attorney general for the post office de-
partment, entering in the regular way,
went through the main Office to the pri-
vate Office. closing the door behind her.
She then unlocked the door entering
from the public hall into the private
room and admitted her sister, Mrs.
Garrett, whose son was formerly as
sistant in your office and whose CON
duct is now under investigation by the
department. She also admitted in the
same manner Nj. G.. G. Hammer. an
expert in the employ of the Mosler
Safe Co., with whom she had made an
arrangement to meet her ut the depart
lnent. At her direction Mr.. Hammer
opened the safe in the room: and she
took thercfrom all Papers, records and
articles of every kind, ard carried them
away with her.
immediately uron leaning what had
been done | directed the fourth assist
ant postmaster general to send two in
#pcctCrs to your house to demand in
the name of the postmaster e neral,
the delivery to them of any papers,
documents or other materials which
had been abstraCtcd from the safe This
demand was refused by Mrs. Tyncr;
and she likewise refused to permit She
inspectors to see YOU or to see and cx-
anime the papers in her possession.
Mrs. Tyrer further stated to the post
Office inspectors that she committed the
act with your knowledge and by your
direction. Further comment on this
transaction, on my part, is not ncccs-
gary.
The facts in the case will be sub
mitted to the attorney general of the
United States for such action IN the
premises as Re may deem proper
VERY respectfully.
H. c. PAYNE,
Postmaster General.
Mrs. Tynor came to the office of the
assistant attorney general on the fifth
floor of the post Office building ut 8 Is
O'Clock, Tuesday afternoon. ana re-
n"tnrd there an hour. When she ar
rived Acting Assistant Attorney Cen
"i3i thrist!anCy. and the clerks were
ut their desks. Mrs. Tyncr passed from
the pubic room into the private Office
and admitted Mrs. Barrett and Nam
nor. Mr.. Christlancy reported the pres
once in the office of Mrs. Tyner to two
inspectors who were investigating af-
fairs connected with the Office and ais;
personally communicated the fact OF
Mrs. Tyner's appearance in the office tC
Postmaster General Payne. The in.
srectors reported the matter to thcil
Superior officer, Fourth Assistant Post.
master General Bristow Mr. Bristov
asked authority to have Mrs. Tyne
elected from the office. The authorit!
came too late. When the inspector re
turned Mrs. Tyner had left.
The safe was found to bc empty. Tw,
inspectors were despatched to the Ty
ne: residence to recover the papers
Mrs. Iyncr refused to give them up
saying that she was acting under tn
direction OF her husband. She told tn
inspectors, so they reported, that h
had a right to the papers, as Mr. Tyne
was still assistant attorney general
and, moreover, insisted that the paper
were all of Il private character. Tn
inspectors reported that Mrs. Tyne
declared the papers belonged solely L
them and she announced emphaticall
that she did not propose to have he
papers submitted to the scrutiny of tn
inspectors.
1t is suspected at the department tina
the papers have some connection witt
the recent conduct of the office. Som
weeks ago a turf investment concern
whose affairs were aired in court al