The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-05-01
"a BIG SENSATION.
Official Stir in Washington Caused b,
Series Of Scandals.
a HIGH OFFICIAL DISMISSED.

"a HIGH OFFICIAL DISMISSED.
Ho Is or on Sick Leave, ana His
Wife Goes to His omce ana
Takes Papers from
Safe.
a Washington dispatch says IL most
sensational development OF the inyes-
tigation Of the postoillce department.
affairs occurred just before the depart
mcnt closed Thursday when PostInas-
ter General Payne announced the sum
mary dismissal OF james n Tyncr,
assistant attorney genera, for
the postoiiice department., coupling
with the announcement the startling
charge that all the papers and rccorrs
+ in the safe of the 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 aud made
public tonight. The letter is as fol
lows:
April %, 1908.
Hon. James n. Tyncr, Assistant At
torncy General for the Postoflce De
partncnt:
C,..
Sir: You are hereby cmu7ed from
the office OF assistant attorney general
for the postoilice department.
deem it proper to give you the rca-
sons for this summary action on Tn.
part Of the department.. Early in the
month of March l communicated to
you, through Il mutual friend the le-
quest for your resignation. After q
painful interview with you, and Il more
painful one with Mrs. Tyncr, con
scnted to modify the demand for your
resignation SO that it might take ef-
feet on May l, 1903, with the provso,
however, that you were given leave Of
absence from the inc Of the accept.
ance Of the resignation to the date Of
its taking effect. with the understands
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 postotiice de-
partment, 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
3 private rooms and admitted her sister,
Mrs. Barrett, whose son was former
5,ly an assistant in your Office, and
whose conduct is now under invcstiga-
s3tion by the department.. She also ad-
= mitted' in the same manher, G.. G.
Hammer, an expert in the employ OF
the Moeler Safe company, with whom
4 she made an arrangement to meet her
at the department.. At her direction
Mr.. Hammer opened the safe in the
room, and she took thcrcfrom all pa
pcrs, records and articles Of every kind
and carried them away with her.
Immediately upon learning what
had been done directed the fourth as
;sistant 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 or other materials which
had been abstractcd from the safe.
This demand was refused by Mrs. 'ry-
ner; and she likewise refused to per.
nit the inspectors to sec you or to sec
and examine the papers in her pres
ence. Mrs. Tyncr further stated tt
tho postOtlice inspectors that she com
mitted this act with your knowledge
and by your direction. Further com
Inent on this transaction, Oh my part,
is not necessary.
The facts in the case will be sub.
mitted to the attorney general Of the
United States for such action in the
premises as he may deem proper.
Very respectfully.
II. G. Payne,
Postmaster General
Mrs. Tyncr came to the Office Of the
: assistant attorney general on the fifth
floor OF the postotlicc building, ut 3. I5
o'clock Tuesday afternoon and remain
ed there exactly an hour. When she
arrived Acting Assistant Attorney
General Christlancy, who has had
charge Of the Office for months past
in the absence Of Gen. Tyner, who has
been In poor health for /; long period
was in the Office. The clerks were 1T
tileir desks. Mrs. Tyncr passed from
the public room into the private office
and closed the door behind her. BE-
ing then alone in the office she stepped
to the door opening into the public
corridor and, by previous usarrangcmcnt
admitted Mrs. Barrett, mother or
Harrison j Barrett, the former law
clerk o. the postotlicc department, and
G. G. Hammer, safe expert.
An inspector discovered Mrs. Tyncr
in the Office and reported her presence
to his supervior officer, Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Briatow. Post
master General Payne waS also noti.
fed. Mr.. BriStOW asked authority to
have Mrs. Tyncr elected from the
Office. The authority came too late.
When the inspector returned Mrs. Ty-
.ner and her party had left. The safe
on being examined was found to be
empty. The affair created much cX-
element among the Investigating Of
ticials, but the news was concealed
carefully from the public. Two in