The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-28
SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES IN
PosToFFicE SCANDAL.
RESIGNATION WAS ASKED
Assistant Attorney-GeneraI for Postal
Department summarily Fired by
Secretary Payne.

/
sensational development of the in
vestigation Of p%ostofice department
affairs occurred just before the de-
partment closed today. when Post
master-Genera Payne announced the
summary dismissal OF James H.
Tyner, assistant encouragement for
the postoffice department, coupling
with the announcement the startling
charge that all the papers and records
in the safe of the latters' office had
been distracted by Mrs. Tyner, wife
of the discharged official, with the
assistance of others. The postmaster
general states that Mrs. Tyner has re-
fused the demand of the government
for the return of the papers taken,
and said the circumstances in the
case would be submitted by him to
the department OF justice tomorrow
morning. Other sensational develop
ments are expected. The question
of arrests will be passed on immedi-
ately by Attorney General Knox.
The facts are tersely told in the
letter of dismissal sent by Postmas-
ter-General Payne late yesterday at
ternoon and made public tonight. The
letter follows:
James N. Tyner, Assistant Attorney
General for the Postoffice epart-
ment:
"Sir: You are hereby removed
from the office of assistant attorney
general for the postoftice department.
81 deem it proper to give you the
reasons for this summary action on
the part of the department. Early in
the month Of March | communicated
to you through a mutual friend, a re-
quest for your resignation. After a
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 1, 1908, with the pro-
viso, however, that you were given
leave of absence from the time OF the
acceptance of the resignation to the
date of it's taking effect, with the re-
quest that. you were not in any way
to undertake to discharge the duties
of the Office.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Ty'
e came to the Office of the assistant
encouragement for the postofhce
department, entering in the regular
way. and went through the main office
to the private Office, closing he door
behind her. She then unlocked the
door entering from the public hall into
the private room and admitted he
sister, Mrs. Barrett, whose o was
formerly assistant in your office, ant
whose conduct is now under investlga
ton by the department. She also ad
mitted, in the same manner, S. e. u
Hammer AN expert in the employ q
the Mosler Safe company. with whom
she had made an arrangement to meet
her at the department. At her dlrec
ton Mr.. Hammer opened the safe IL
the room and she took therefrom al
papers. records and articles OF ever!
kind and carried them away Will
her.
Immediately upon learning wha
had been done l directed the fourth as
sistant acknowledgements to SEM
two inspectors to your house to de
mand, in the name OF the postmaster
general, the delivery OF any papers
documents, or any materials Whlcl
had been distracted from the safe
This demand was refused by Mrs. Ty
ner, and she likewise refused to per
nit the inspectors to see you or t
see and examine the papers IN ne
Mrs. Tyner further state
to the postoffice inspectors that sh
committed this act with your knowl
edge and by your direction. Furthe
comment on this transaction on m
part is unnecessary.
1.-THE facts in the case will be sui
mitted to the Encouragement OF tn
United States for such action in tn
premises as he may deem proper.
Very respectfully,
SIT In H. C. PAYNE.
POSTMASTER General"
Mrs. Tyner came to the Office
the assistant encouragement on In
fifth floor of the postoffice building
OAK a,clock Tuesday afternoon an