The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-24
NERVE OF MRS. TYNER
SHOWN IN A RAID ON A GOVERN
MENT SAFE.
PLAYED A SHREWD GAME.
TOOK PAPERS THAT ARE BE-
LIEvED TO REFLECT ON TYNER.


Attorney General of the Depart
meht Summarily Dismissed-His
Wife Had Entered His Private
Office, While He Was Practically
Suspended, and Rihed the Safe of
Important Papers.
Washington, April pa most sensa-
tional development of the investigation
of the postoffice department affairs oc-
Cured just before the department
closed to-day, when Postmaster Cen
eral Payne announced the summary
dismissal of James N. Tyner, assist
ant attorney general for the Postoff1ce
Department, coupling with the an
nouncement the startling charge that
all the papers and records in the safe
of the latter's office had been abstract
ed by Mrs. Tyner, wife of the dis
charged official, with the assistance of
others.
The Postmaster General states that
Mrs. 'Tyner has refused the demand
of the government for the return Of
the papers taken, and said that the
circumstances in the case will be sub
mitted by him to the Department of
Justice tomorrow morning.
Other sensational developments are
expected to follow. The question of
arrests is now under consideration, and
will be passed on Immediately by At
tOrney General Knox.
The facts are told tersely in the let
ter of dismissal signed by Postmaster
General Payne late yesterday after
noon, and made public tonight. The
letter is as follows:
Postmaster Generals Letter.
April %, 1903.-Hon. James N. Ty-
ner, Assistant Attorney General, for
the Postoffice Department. Sir: You
are hereby removed from the Office of
assistant attorney general for the Post
office Department.
Il deem it proper to give you the
reasons for this summary action on the
part of the department. Early in the
month of March 1 communicated to
you, through mutual friend, a request
for your resignation. After a painful
interview with you, and a more pain
full one with Mrs. Tyner, 1 consented
to modify the demand for your resig-
nation 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 the res
ignation to the date of it's taking eff
feet, with the understanding that you
were not in any way to undertake to
discharge the duties of the office.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Ty-
ner came to the Office of the assistant
attorney general for the Postoffice
Department, entering in the regular
way, and went through the main Office
to the private office, closing the door
t0l,s L. 1I=11 i 1.1.1-
entering from the public hall into the
private room and admitted her sister,
Mrs. Barrett whose son was formerly
an assistant in your office, and whose
conduct is now under investigation by
the department. She also admitted, in
the same manner, G. G. Hammer, an
expert in the employ of the Mosler Safe
Company, with whom she made an ar
rangement to meet her at the depart
ment.
''At her direction Mr.. Hammer open
ed the safe in the room; and she took
therefrom all papers, records and ar
ticles of every kind and carried them
away with her.
Immediately upon learning what
had been done 1 directed the fourth
assistant postmaster general to send
two inspectors to your house to de-
mand, in the name of the Postmaster
General, the delivery to them of any
papers, documents or other materials
which had been distracted 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
to the postoff1ce inspectors that she
committed this act with your lmowl-
edge and by your direction. Further
comment on this transaction, on my
vt ic nv
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, H. c. Payne,
POSTMASTER General"
How 1t Was Done.
Mrs. Tyner came to the office of the
assistant postmaster general on the
fifth floor of the postoffice building at
3:45 O'Clock Tuesday afternoon, and
remained there exactly an hour. When
she arrived Acting Assistant Attor-
ney General Christiancy, 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 at
their desks. Mrs. Tyner passed from
the public room into the private office,
and closed the door behind her. Be
ing then alone in the office, she step
ped to the door opening into the pub
lie corridor, and by previous arrange
ment, admitted Mrs. Barrett mother
of Harrison J. Barrett, the former law
clerk of the Postoffice Department, and
G.. G.. Hammer, a safe expert.
An inspector discovered Mrs. Tyner
in the Office and reported her presence
to his superior officer, Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Bristow. Post
master General Payne was also not1-
fed. Mr.. Bristow asked authority to
have Mrs. Tyner elected from the Of
flee. 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.
Cause Grdeat Excitement.
The affair created much excitement
among the investigating officials, but
the news was concealed carefully from
the public. Two inspectors were dis
patched to the Tyner residence to re-
cover the papers. Mrs Tyner refused
to give them up, saying that she was
acting under the direction of her hus-
hand. She told the inspectors, so they
reported, that they had a right to the
papers as Mr.. Tyner was still assist
ant attorney general, and, moreover.
insisted that the papers were all Of
private character.
The inspectors reported that Mrs
Iyner declared the papers belonged
solely to them. and she announced en-
phatically that she did not propose to