The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-28
POSTAL SAFE OPENED
Papers and Records Abstracted By
Mrs. ]. N. Tyner ar6 Others.
SHE REFUSES TO GIVE THEM UP

Oismisses James n. Tyner, Assist
ant Attorney General to Department.
and Several Arrests May Follow.
Washington. April PA most SEN
Rational development Of the investiga-
lion OF postoflice affairs occurred.
when Postmaster General Payne an
nounced the summary dismissal OF
James y. Tyner. assistant attorney
general for he postOficc department.
coupling with the announcement the
startling charge that all the papers
and records in the safe OF the depart
ment had been distracted by Mrs.
Iyner wife of the charged official with
the assistance of others. The post
master general states that Mrs. Tvner
has refused the demand OF the gov
eminent for the return of the papers
taken. and said the circumstances i'm
the case Will be submitted boy him to
the department of Justice. Oiher sen
sational developments are expected to
follow. The question OF arrests is now
under consideration and Will be passed
ON Immediately by Attorney General
Knox.
The facts are told tcrsely in the. let
ter of dismissal signed by Postmaster
General Payne. The letter is as fol
lows.
Hon. James y. Tyncr. Assistant At
torncy General for the Postonice De-
partm,ut.
Sir-Nou are hereby removed from
The office of assistant attorney gem
eral for the postoaico department.
II deem it proper To Civ, YOU tho
reasons for this summary action on
the part of the department. Early in
the month cd March communicated
10 you. through a mutual friend re-
quest for Your resignation. After 4
painful Interview with YOU. and a
more painful one with Mrs. Tyner. I
consented To modify the demand for
your resignation so that it might take
effect ON May l. 1903. with the pro
viso. however. that you were given
leave OF absence from the time of the
acceptance of tho resignation to the
/ date of its taking effect with the un.
Outstanding that you were not in any
way TO undertake TO discharge the du.
+ ties of tho Office.
Mrs. Tynor came 10 the Office OF
/ the assistant attorney general for the
postoflice department entering in the
regular way. and went through the
main TO the private office. closing the
door behind her. She then unlocked
the door. entering from the public hail
into the private room and admitted
her sister, Mrs. Barrett. whose son was
formerly assistant in your Office. and
whose conduct IS now under inVesti-
cation by the department. She also
admitted. I'm the same manner G. O.
Hammer. an expert in the employ OF
the Mosler Safe Company. with whom
she had made an arrangement 10 meet
her at the department At her direc-
ton Mr.. Hammer opened the safe in
the room. and she took therefrom all
papers. records and articles of every
kind and carried them away with
her
Immediately upon learning what
had been done. I directed the fourth
assistant postmaster general to send
two inspectors TO your house TO de.
mand. I'm the name OF the postmaster
general. the delivery to them of any
papers. documents or other materials
which had hecn abstracted 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. Tvner further stated
to the postohice inspectors that she
committed this act with your knowl-
edge and by your direction. Further
comment on this transaction, on my
part. is not necessary.
THE facts in this case will be sub.
mitted to the attorney general of the
United States for such action in the
premises as he may deem proper.
IT. c. PAYNE.
POSTMASTER General"
It is suspected at the department
that the papers have some connection
with the recent conduct of the office
Some weeks ago a turf investment
concern. whose affairs we're aired In
court. alleged that it's operations and
working methods had been sanctioned
| by the assistant attorney general for
/ the pOstOffice department. The charges
/ involving the Office of the assistant
attorney general. and lawyer for
merly 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-
ton that has spread into every part
/ of the department. The complains
crystallized into a formal request for
| Mr.. Tyner's resignation. signed by
Postmaster General Payne. on March
| 9 last.
Mr.. Tyner has been in the govern.
ment service for many years, and Is
one of the best-known men in official
life in Washington. He and Mrs Ty-
ner and President and Mrs. Grant
were intimate friends