The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-26
Postmaster General Payne Re-
 IisVes Attorney Christiancy
HE COURTS INVESTIGATION
All of the Papers Removed From Safe By Mrs. Iyner Are Examined and Found to Be Private
 Property.

Washington. April 25.-The two impor- tant developments today in the investi- gation of the abstraction of papers from the safe of the office of the assistant attorney general for the postofflee depart ment which led to the dismissal of that official were submissions of what pur- ported to be the papers to the inspection of postal officials and the decision of Postmaster General Payne to immediately relieve Acting Assistant Attorney Gen. eral A. c. Christiancy from his office pending an investigation of his conduct.
 The action in the case of Mir Chris tiancy was taken at his own request. He states that he courts the fullest investl- gation. MT. Christiancy has held the of- flee of assistant attorney since January l, 1901, and has been in charge of the legal affairs of the department most of the time since then owing to General Tyners absence. caused by i'll health.
 General Tyner's counsel today submit ted to Postmaster General Payne and Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow papers which they said the Ty- ners claimed constituted all that had been taken away but a statement made later
  correspondence on the subject and the submission of the papers specifically de- clines to accept the statement that the papers submitted necessarily constituted all that were abstracted.
 Tyner's Lawyer Talks.
 Counsel after leaving the postmaster general made statement in part as follows:
 Yesterday in response to notification from the department of justice that Gen. eral Tyners offar to aeliver the papers shou'd be made to the postmaster gen. eral, Mir. ] erry proposed to the postmas- ter general that representative of the postoffice department should meet coune sel at General Tyners house that the papers should be examined and such as l were private returned to Generai=L-11A. ner and the others somewhat public in nature. delivered to the department. 1t l was especially desired that the govern ment representatives should question l fully General Tyner, Mrs. Tyner and Mrs. Barrett as to what occurred on Mrs. Ty- ner's visit to the postoffice department on Tuesday last. The postmaster general in reply said substantially that if Gen eral Tyner would cause the papers to be returned he would have them examined in the presence of General Tyner and would restore to him all the papers, docu-
 
 to him. This morning after consultation the postmaster general was asked to per init Mrs. Tyner and Mrs. Barrett to come to his office with counsel for full ex- animation. The postmaster general re- fused. Thereupon counsel brought to the | postoffice department all of the papers in discussion. They were examined mi- nutely in the presence of the postmaster general by MT. Bristow, including the | to nf Gpparal EVnPF. and especially of Mrs. Tyner. On the con- clusion of this examination all of the pa- | pers, by direction of the postmaster gem eraL were returned to General Tyner ex- cept the papers indicated in a statement | of General Tyner, which referred to the matter connected with the conduct Of 1 former inspector of the department now dead. and which had never been filed, | and which matter was disposed of over | four years ago..
 Postmaster General Talks.
 Subsequently, the postmaster general gave out statement. After reciting the proposition of General Tyner's counsel and its rejection by him (setting forth the letter in reply) the statement concludes | as follows:
 'orhis morning MT Perry and General l Kitchener came to the department bringing l with them package which they stated | contained the papers and documents which had been taken from the depart ment in the manner set forth and offered | to submit the same 70 inspection.
 "In response MT. Perry opened the package in the presence of the postmaster | general, General Bristow and Mir. Mich ener. Every paper exhibited was found | to be the personal and private property of General Tyner or of Mrs. Tyner. except | ing one package of papers which con l tained the letters, statements, memoranda and other evidence relating to de- partmental matters that had been con- cluded about four yeyars ago.
 "'The department does not accept the | action taken this morning as evidence that all the documents, papers and other properties so carried away have been re- | cluded about four years ago.
 1 Postmaster General Payne reported that he undoubtedly would relieve Chris tiancy pending an investigation. He was not certain what form the suspension would take, but thought 1t would proh1 ] ably be an indefinite leave of absence. | He said he had asked the attorney gem eral to recommend some one who could be | designated temporarily for the office and 1 said that this assignment probably would | d. .a1.a.r