The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-04-25
PAYNE REMOVES TYNER
Postmaster General 7 axes Sum-
mary Action With Attorney.

mary Action With Attorney.
WIFE RAIDS DEPARTMENT SAFE.
Mrs. Tyner Abstracts Papers and In
spectors Fail to Recover pocu-
ments-Lawyer Accused of Aiding
Turf Firms.
Washington, April ga most sen
sational development in the lnTestlsa-,
ton Of postoffice affairs occurred just
before the department closed when
Postmaster General Payne announced
the summary dismissal OF James N.
Tyner, assistant attorney general Tor
the postoffice department, coupling
the announcement with the startling
charge that all the papers and records
in the safe of the latter's office had
been. distracted by Mrs. Tyner, wife
of the discharged official, with the as
4 sistance of others. The postmaster
general states that Mrs. Tyner has re-
fused the demand of the government
for the papers taken and said that the
circumstances in the case would be
submitted by him to the department
1 OF Justice today Other sensational
developments are expected. The
question of arrests will be passed on
Immediately by Attorney General
Knox. The facts are told tersely in
the following letter of dismissal,
signed by Postmaster General Payne:
"Hon. James N. Tyner: Sir-You are
hereby removed from the office of as
sistant attorney general for the post
office department. deem it proper to
give you the reasons for this summary
) action on the part of the department.
Early in the month of March I COM
municated to you through mutual
friend request for your resignation.
After painful interview with you
and a more painful one with Mrs.
Tyner, | consented to modify the de-
mand for your resignation SO that it
might take effect May 1, 1903, with
the proviso however, that you were
given leave of absence from the time
of the acceptance of the resignation
the understanding that you were not
lin any way to undertake to discharge
the duties of the Office. Late Wednes-
day afternoon Mrs. Tyner came to the
Office of the assistant attorney general
for the postoffice department, and
went through the main office to the
lprivate Office, closing the door behind
her. She then unlocked the door en-
terfng from the public hall into the
private room and admitted her sister,
Mrs. Barrett, whose son was formerly
assistant in your Office, and whose con-
duct is now under investigation by the
, department. She also admitted, in
the same manner, G. G. Hammer, an
1 expert in the employ Of the Mosler
Safe company, with whom she had
: made an arrangement to meet her at
the department. At her direction Mr.
Hammer opened the safe in the room
] and she took therefrom all papers,
9 records and articles Of every kind and
carried them away with her. Immedi-
: ately upon learning what had been
. done l directed the fourth assistant
Z postmaster general to send two in
= spectors to your house to demand In
the name of the postoftice department
2 the delivery to them of any papers,
documents or other materials which
, had been distracted from the SAFE
2 This demand was refused by Mrs.
. Tyner, and she likewise refused to
permit the inspectors to see you or to
BEE and examine the papers in her
presence. Mrs. Tyner further stated
: TO the postoffice inspectors that she
e committed this act with your knowl
!, edge and by your direction. Further
) comment on this transaction, on my
i, part, is not necessary The facts in
:; the case will be submitted to the at
! torney general of the United States
for such action In the premises as
]; he may deem proper"
!. 1t is suspected at the department
J; That the papers have some connection
Il with the recent conduct of the office
y Some weeks ago turf investment
concern, whose affairs were aired in
court, alleged that it's operations and
working methods had been sanctioned
by the assistant attorney general for
!, the postotfice department. The
charges involving THE office or the as
e sistant attorney general and lawyer
/; formerly connected with that office,
were ventilated very generally at that
(; time and an investigation was ordered
!; by the postmaster general. This was
really the inception of the investiga-
tion. that has spread into every part
/; Of the department..
Mr.. Tyner had ben in exceedingly
bad health for long time and had
visited the office at only rare intervals,
leaving the office entirely in charge OF
his assistant for months at time. He
Ia suffering from an unusually severe
ease OF paralysis and in consideration
B Of this fact the request for his resig.
hation was based on his i'll health.
; Fore and Att Wins Derby.
Nashville, Tenn, April 24.-Eight
Il y