The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-05-01
I. BIG BIZ !. SENSATIONS.
.OMoial Stir in Washington Caused by
III Series Of Scandals.
"a HIGH OFFICIAL DISMISSED.


Wifo Goes 60 His Omce and
sssfs Takes Papers from
A Washington dispatch says Il most
4 sensational development of the invcs-
tigation Of the postotlice department.
affairs occurred just before the depart
mcnt closed Thursday when PostmaS-
ter General Payne announced the sun
mary dismissal Of James n. Tyncr,
assistant attorney general for
the postoificc Department., coupling
with the announcement the startling
Z charge that all the papers and recoros
B In the safe Of the lattcrS office had
been abstracted by Mrs. Tyner, wife
OF the discharged official, with the as
sistance Of others. The facts are told
! tersely in the letter Of dismissal,
signed by Postmaster General Payne,
4 late Wednesday afternoon aud made
$ public tonight. The letter is as fol-
4 lows:
April %, 1903
Hon. James n. Tyner, Assistant At
torncy General for the Postotlice De
partmcnt:
~ Sir: You are hereby removed from
the Office Of assistant attorney general
for the postotlicc department..
deem it proper to give you the rca-
sons for this summary action OH the
part of the department. Early in the
month Of March I communicated to
y you, through mutual friend, the tc-
:! quest for your resignation. After IL
L painful Interview with you, and d more
painful one with Mrs. Tyner, con
sented to modify the demand for your
resignation SO that it might take cf-
feet on May !, 1903. with the proyiso,
however, that you were given leave OF
absence from the time OF the accept.
ance Of the resignation to the date OF
its taking effect. with the understand
ing that you were not in any way to
undertake to discharge the duties or
the office.
Late Wednesday afternoon Mrs.
Tyner came to the Office Of assistant
attorney general for the postoilice de-
partment, entering in the regular way,
the private office, closing the door be-
+ hind her. She then unlocked the door,
4 entering from the public hall into the
K private rooms and admitted her sister,
Mrs. Barrett. whose son was former
-ly an assistant in your Office, and
whose conduct is now under investiga-
sstion by the department.. She also ad-
4 mitted in the same manner, G. G..
Hammer, an expert in the employ of
the Mo,lcr Safe company, with whom
she made an arrangement to meet her
at the department.. At her direction
Mr.. Hammer opened the safe in tile
room, and she took thcrcfrom all pa
pers, records and articles Of every kind
and carried them away with her.
Immediately upon learning what
had been done l directed the fourth as
;siStant postmaster general To send two
inspectors to your house to demand
In the name Of the postmaster general,
the delivery to them Of any papers,
documents or other materials which
had been abStractcd from the safe.
This demand was refused by Mrs. 'ry-
iner; and she likewise refused to per-
nit the inspectors to see you or to see
and examine the papers in her pres
'ence. Mrs. Tyner further stated To
the poStoilicc inspectors that she com
united this act with your knowledge
and by your direction. Further com
inent on this transaction, on nv part.
is not necessary.
The facts in the case will be SUB
,ntted to the attorney general of the
United States for such action in the
premises as he may deem proper
Very respectfully.
H. G. Payne,
Postmaster General.
Mrs. Iyncr came to the Office of the
assistant attorney general on the fifth
floor OF the postoilicc building at g..
O'Clock Tuesday afternoon and remain
ed there exactly an hour. When she
arrived Acting Assistant Attorney
General Christiancy, who has had
charge OF the Office for months past
in the absence Of Gen. Tyner, who has
fNnn fx, I,a 4,