The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-24

WASHINGTON, D. c., April GAS
q result of the investigation Of postof-
fee department affairs Postmaster
General Payne today announced the
summary dismissal of James N. Tyner,
assistant attorney general for the post
office department and charged that all
the papers and records in the safe Of
Tyner's office had been abstracted by
Mrs. Tyner, wife of the discharged Of
Rcer with the assistance of others.
The postmaster general says that
Mrs. Tyner has refused the demand of
the government for the return OF the
papers and said circumstances in the
case would be submitted by him to the
department of justice tomorrow. Other
developments are expected to follow.
The question of arrests is now under
consideration and will be passed on
Immediately by Attorney General Knox.
The letter of dismissal is rs follows:
Tyner's Congo.
You are hereby removed from the
office of assistant attorney general for
the postoffice department. | deem it
proper to give you the reasons for this
summary action on the part of this
department. Early in March l commu-
nicated 10 you through u mutual friend,
a request for your resignation. After
q painful interview with you and a
more painful one with Mrs. Tyner, l
consented to modify the demand for
your resignation, so that it might take
effect on May l, 1903, with the proviso,
however, that you were given leave of
absence from the time Of the accept
ance of the resignation to the date of
its taking effect with the understand
ing that you were not in any way to
undertake to discharge the duties of
the office.
Mrs. Tyner's Achievement.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs.
Tyner came to the office Of the assist
ant attorney general for the postoffice
department, entering In the regular
way, and went through the main office
TO the private office, closing the door
behind her. She then unlocked the
door entering from the public hall into
the private room and admitted her sis
ter, Mrs. Barrett, whose son was for
merly assistant in your Office and whose
conduct is now under investigation
by the department. She also admitted
In the same manner G. C. Hammer an
expert in the employ of the Mosler Safe
company, with whom she had made an
arrangement to meet her at the de-
partment. At her direction Mr. Ham
mer opened the safe and she took
therefrom all papers, records and ar
ticles of every kind and carried them
away with her.
THE fourth assistant postmaster
general was instructed to send two as
Eistants to your house to demand the
delivery to them of any documents. pa
pers or articles that had been abstract
ed from the safe. This demand was re-
fused by Mrs. Tyner and she likewise
refused to permit the inspectors to see
you or to examine or see the papers in
her presence. Mrs. Tyner further
stated to the postoffice inspectors that
she committed this act with your
knowledge and by your direction. Fur
ther comment on this transaction on
my part is not necessary. The facts in
the case will be submitted to the at
forney general of the United States for
such action in the premises as he may
deem proper"
"Of a Private Character"
Mrs. Tyner told the inspectors, so
they reported, that they had a right to
The papers, as Mr.. Tyner was still as
slstant attorney general, and, more
over, insisted that the papers were all
or private character She also de-
ciared the papers belonged entirely to
them and she declared emphatically
that she did not propose to have her
papers submitted to the scrutiny of
the inspectors. Other pressure, 1t is |
understood, was brought to bear both
on Mr.. and Mrs. Tyner, but both re-
FUSED to deliver the papers or even
Blow them or indicate their nature.
1t Is suspected at the department that
the papers have some connection with
The recent conduct of the office Some
weeks ago turf investment concern.
whose affairs were aired in court, al
legged that its operations and working
methods had been sanctioned by the
assistant attorney general for the
postoftice department. The charges. in
Folving the office of the assistant at
torney general and a lawyer formerly
connected with that office were venti
lated very generally at the time and
an investigation was ordered bv tbe
postmaster general This was really
the inception of the inquiry into the
department. 1t resulted in a formal
request for Mr. Tyner's resignation bv
Mr.. Payne, dated March 16 last. Mr..
Tyner had been in exceedingly bad
health for some time and has visited
the office at long intervals, leaving the
office in charge of his assistant for
months. He is suffering from an ex-
ceedingly severe case of paralysis and
IN consideration of this fact, the re-
quest for his resignation was based on
Ill health.
Postmaster General Affected.
The announcement of Yesterdays
developments was made by Postmas-
ter General Payne this afternoon to
newspaper correspondents In voice
that trembled with emotion, he said
CHAT he regretted to have to saw that
he had found it necessary to remoxe
from office the assistant attorney gen
eral, and after speaking in a general
way about the facts that had deyel-
oped he read the correspondence.
Then he announced that he could saw
nothing further and that he preferred
not TO be asked any questions.
MIR. Tyner at the time the papers
were taken was still technically as
sistant attorney general and this fact
Bill figure in the consideration of the