The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-24
PAYNEs SUMMARY ACTION
Removes High Official of the
 Postoffice Department.
The Iattsr Had Been Under Cloud and It is Believed His wife's Object Was to Secure Pos session of Damaging
 Evidence.

Washington. April 3.-As a result of the investigation of Postoffice Depart naent affairs, Postmaster-Generai Payne today announced the summarily dismiss Bal of James N. Tyner. Assistant Attor- ney-General for the Postoffice Depart .nent. and charged that all the papers and records in the safe of Tyner's ofiice had been abstracted by Mrs. Tyner. wife of the discharged officer. with the assist ance of others.
 The Postmaster-General says that Mrs. Tyner has refused the demand of the Government for the papers. and said circumstances in the case would be sub mitted by him to the Department of Jus tice tomorrow. Other developments are expected to follow. The question of 1ar- rests is now under consideration. and will be passed on immediately by Attorney General Knox.
 The letter of dismissal. signed by Post- snaster-General Payne yesterday after moon and made public tonight. is as fol- lows: -..s. ,.s
 
 Washington. April P. 1903. aon. James N. Tyner. Assistant Attor-
 Eey-General for the Postoffice Depart
 ent:
 sir-You are hereby removed from the office of Assistant Attorney General for the Postofice Department.
 deem 1t proper to give you the reasons for this summary action on the part of the Department.
 Early in the month of March I com- unnnicated to you, through mutual friend, request for your resignation. After a painful interview with you. and more painful one with Mrs. Tyner, I consented to modify the demand for your resignation so that 1t might take effect May 1. 1908; with the proviso however, that you were given leave of absence from the time of the acceptance of the resignation to the date of its taking ef- feet. with the understanding that you were not in any way to undertake to dis charge the duties of the office.
 Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Tyner came to the cfice of the Assistant Attor- yley-General for the Postoffice, entering in the regular way and went through the main ohice 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 Eister. 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 0. c. Hammer, an ex- pert in the employ of the Mosler Safe Company, with whom she had made an arrangement to meet her at the Depart ment.
 Broke Open the Safe.
 At her direction. Mir. Hammer opened the safe fin the room and she took there from all papers, records and articles of avery kind and carried them away with her.
 Immediately upon learning what had been done, I directed the Fourth Assist ant Postmaster-G to send two in- spectors to your house to demand in the name of the Postmaster General the de- livery to them of any papers. documents pr other materials which had been ab- stracted from the safe. This demand was refused by Mrs. Tyner and she likewise refused to permit the inspectors to see you or to see and examine the papers in her presence. Mrs. Tyner further stated ko the postoffice inspectors that she com mitted this act with your knowledge and by your direction. Further comment on this transaction on my part is not neces- gary. *.'-" The facts in. the case will be submitted Co the Attorney General of the United States for such action in the premises as he may deem proper.
 Very respectfully.
 H. c. Payne.
 Postmaster-General
 Mrs. Tyner came to the offlce of the As- Bistant Attorney General on the fifth floor of the postoffice building at 3:45 o'clock Tuesday afternoon and remained there exactly an hour. Mir. Bristow asked au- therity to have Mrs. Tyner elected from the office. hut the authority came too late. When the inspector returned Mrs. Tyner had left. The safe on being examined was found to be empty.
 Refused to Surrender Papers.
 The affair created much excitement among the Investigating officials but the news was concealed carefully from the public. Two inspectors were dispatched tc the Tyner residence to recover the papers. Mrs. Tyner refused to give them up. saying she was acting under the di- rection Of her husband. She told the in- l, spectors so they reported, that they had right to the papers as Mir. Tyner was stll Assistant Attorney General. and moreover. insisted that the papers were all of a private character.
 It is suspected at tie Denartuent that the papers have some connection with the recent conduct of the orhce. Some weeks
 
 ago a turf investment concern whose af- fairs were aired in court. alleged that its operations and working methods had been sanctioned by the Assistant Attor- ney. General for the Postofice Depart- ment. The charges involving the office of the Assistant Attorney General and A lawyer formerly connected with that of- flee. were ventilated very generally at that time and an investigation was or dered by the Postmaster General. This was really the inception of the investiga- lion that has spread into every part of the department. The complaints crystal fized into a formal request for Mir. Ty- ner's resignation signed by Postmaster 'Seueral Payne March last. Mir Tyner had been in exceedingly bad health for long time and had visited the office at @~AS HArs Intervals. leaving the ofiea sn-