Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-04-25
FROM WASHINGTON.
,orrespopdence of the Alexandria Gazette.

Office Department, sdIu inns aieOi" OOA
that he today applied to the Postmaster
General to be temporarily relieved from
duty pending an investigation of his
Office. on account Of the Abstraction OF
papers from the safe in General Tyner's
Office by the latter's wife, while be
(Christiancy) was the responsible head
of that division on duty at that time.
The next development expected in
the postofice scandals, which cDhtinue
0 rage fiercely, is the suspension or
removal of George A. G. Christiancy,
assistant attorney for the department,
who sat by complacently while Mrs.
Tyner, the wife of his late chief, rihed
the safe in the private Office and carried
away. almost under his nose, such
papers as she cared to have in her own
possession. Postmaster General Payne
has refused to comment on Christianeys
actions, or lack of actions, in the matter,
beyond referring to them as "queer;"
but it is quite clear that he is contem-
plating steps that will tend to sharpen
the wits of others who may find them
selves similarly situated at any time.
Christiancy is a native of Michigan,
but was appointed to his position in the
Postofice Department from Nebraska.
His place pays 81, $50 per annum. 1t
is quite unlikely that the department
will be able to proceed successfully in
the courts against Gen. Tyner or his
wife. The manner in which the papers
we're obtained from the Office safe
has given rise to all sorts of suspicious;
in fact. it has been suggested that other
officials under fire, who have not been
suspended from Office pending the in
yestigation, have had similar oppOrtu-
mites for removing documents which
might have caused them embarrassment,
whether they took advantage of these
opportunities or not. As in case OF the
Tvners. their word will have to be taken
for the fact that nothing of an irregular
character was transacted; for, as i'll the
case of the Tyners, no one has record
of the papers in their care and no one Is
able to state positively that no advantage
was taken of opportunities. But what
ever these suspicious may be, there is no
proof that anything was done which may
make the doors liable to the penalties OF
the law. Section 540S is the one under
which criminal proceedings would be had.
1t provides fine of g, 900 or imprisOn-
ment up to three years, or both, for the
fraudulent removal or destruction of any
record, document, paper, or proceeding
bv any officer having custody of same.
As the Postmaster General admits that
he is unable to state what documents
we're in the custody of Gen. Tyner, his
case would fall at the first question. The
improperly of Mrs. Tyner's act is well
recognized, however, and practically ad
mitted by her cOunseps offer to return
the papers taken from the safe. Post
master General Payne declines to accept
the documents, however, as he would
have nothing bnt the word of the parties
in question to convince him that really
all that was in the safe would be turned
over. Attorney General Knox will take
no further interest in the case unless
again approached on the subject by the
Postmaster General. The information
transmitted to him is of too meager
character to justify court proceedings.
If more evidence is disclosed, he is
ready to proceed unGer the law
At noon today Ross Perry and Col. l..
T. Kitchener, attorneys, representing
Gen Tyner, called on Postmaster Gen
eral Payne, bringing with them a big
bundle of papers, presumed to be those
which were taken from the safe few
days ago The attorneys went at once
into consultation with Gen. Payne and
remained closeted with him for some
time. 1t is said that the future course
of the government in relation to Gen.
Tyner Will depend upon the outcome
of this consultation.
After their conference Mr.. Perry and
Col. Kitchener, representing Gen. Tyner
stated that they had submitted all of the
papers distracted from the safe to Post
master General Payne and Fourth AS
sigant Bristow, and that these officials
had returned to them for General Tyner
all save one batch relating to
charges against a former employe
of the department now dead. They
declare that all of the papers,
excepting those specified, were Of purely
personal character and had no Econnec-
ton with the records of the department.
They say that yesterday they offered to
deliver the paper to any one whom the
Postmaster General might send for them,
but that Mr.. Payne declined and that
he also declined to allow them to bring
Mrs. Tyner and Mrs. Barrett to the de-
partment to be examined as to the cir
cumstances Of the safe opening. Gen.
Tyners representatives assert that they
court the fullest investigation of his
conduct and hope that he, as well as his
wife, may have an opportunity to make
full statement on the witness stand.
Surprising ignorance on the part of
the officials of the Postofice Department
regarding the contents of Judge Tyner's
safe has developed and in view of the
sensational abstraction of all the papers
from the safe this Ignorance promises to
be the occasion of serious embarrass-
ment to the government. As the case
stands it looks very much as if Mrs.
Tyner, who was the leading spirit in
riAing the safe, has the whole govern
ment of the United States dazed. She
is so years of age and weighs about one
hundred mounds She has snanDed
her fingers in the faces of postoffce in
spectors and has practically defed the
Government 10 do its worst. The public