The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-04-30
ATTORNEY GENERAL
TYNER SUMMARlLY
REMOVED BY PAYNE.
Investigation in Post Office
Department Enmesbes
High Officials.
FORMERLY A CONGRESSMAN.
Once Postmaster General.--Wife Had
a Safe Forcibly Opened and
Removed All Papers.


Removed All Papers.
Washington. April 23,-Summary
dismissal of the attorney general at
the post office department from FUR
Their connection with that branch oil
the government; the possible arrest
OF his wife for illegal and forcible re-
moval OF papers from a safe in the
department are the day sensational
Incidents connected with the investi-
CATION into the affairs Of this branch
OF the public service, which has been
in progress for some time past.
The facts are set fort in the follow
ing letter from Postmaster General
Payne, made public tonight:
Washington, April 22-Hon
James N. Tyner, assistant Attorney
general for the Post Department
Sir; You are hereby removed from
the Office OF assistant attorney gen.
eral for the post Office department.
deem it proper to give you rea-
sons 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 q
more painful one with Mrs. Tyner, |
consented to modify the demand for
your resignation 80 TINT it might
take effect on May l, 1908; with the
proviso, however, that you were
given leave OF absence from the time
OF the acceptance OF the resignation
to the date OF its taking effect, with
the understanding that you were not
in any way to undertake to discharge
the duties OF the Office.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs.
Tyner came to the office OF the as
sistaDt attorney general for the post
office department, entering in the
regular way, and went through the
main Office to the private Office, clos
ed the door entering from the public
hall into the private room and ad
mitted her sister, Mrs. Barrett, whose
son was formerly assistant in your
office. and whose conduct is now un-
der investigation by the department.
She also admitted in the same man
ner Mr.. G. G. Hammer. an expert in
the employ OF the Mosier safe CON-
pany, with whom she had made an
arrangement to meet her at the de-
partment. At her direction 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.
Immedia tnlv Dpon learning what
had been done 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 material
which had be- n distracted from the
safe. This demand was refused by
Mrs Tyner; and she likewise refused
topermit the inspectors to see you.
or to see and examine the papers in
her presence Mrs. Tyner further
stated to the postoffce inspectors
that she committed this act with
your knowledge and by your direc-
ton. Further comment on this
transaction, on my part, Is not nec-
essary.
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, FL. C. PAYNE,
Postmaster General.