The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-24
The OFFICIALS DEFIED
Tyner's Wife Abstracts Papers From His Office,
and Refuses 10 Surrender Them---CaSe
Goes 10 D. partmsnt Of Justice
Today.

Washington April pa most sensa-
tional development of the investigation
of Post Office Department affairs oc-
CURED just before the department closed
today when Postmaster General Payne
announced the summary dismissal of
James N. Tyner, Assistant Attrney Cen
eral for the Post Office Department,
coupling with the announcement with the
startling charge that all the papers and
records in the latter's office had been
abstracted by Mrs. Tyner, wife of the dis
charged official, with the assistance of
two others. The Postmaster General
states that Mrs. Tyner refused the de-
mand of the government for the Teturn
of the papers taken and said that the
circumstances in the case will be sub
mitted to him to the Department of Jus
tice tomorrow morning. Other sensational
developments are expected to follow.
The question of arrests is now under con-
sideration and will be passed on imme
diately by Attorney General Knox. The
facts are told tersely in the letter of
dismissal signed by Postmaster General
EdYHb IdlS yesterday dtItAhubn anu ltlGhb
public tonight. The letter is as follows:
april %, 1908
"Hon. James N Tyner, Assistant Attor-
ney General for the Post Office Depart
ment.
"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 reas-
ons for this summary action on the part
of the department. Early in the month of
March I communicated you through a
mutual friend, a request for your resig
nation After a painful interview with
you, and more painful one with Mrs
Tyner, l consented to modify the demand
for your resignation so that it might
take effect on May 1, 1908; with the pro-
viso, however, that you weer given leave
of absence from the time of the accept
ance 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. Tyncr
came to the office of the Attorney Gen
eral for the Post Office Department en-
tering in the regular way and went
through the main office to the private of
flee, closing the door behind her She
then unlocked the door, 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 al
so admitted, in the same manner, c. G..
Hammer, an expert in the employ of the
Mosler Safe Company, with whom she
had made arrangements to meet her at
the department. 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.
Immediately upon learning what bad
been done directed the Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General to send two inspec-
tors to your houses to demand, in the
name OF the Postmaster General, the de-
livery to them of any papers documents
or other materials which had been ab-
stracted 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 fur
ther stated to ;he Postoffce Inspectors
that she committed this act with your
knowledge and by your direction Fur
ther content on this transaction on my
part, is not necessary.
"The facts in the case will be sub
mitted to the Attorney General of the
United States for such action in the prom
ises as he may deem proper.
VERY respectfully.
"H C. PAYNE,
Postmaster General"
Mrs Tyner came to the office of assis-
tant attorney general on the fifth of tho
Postoffce Department at 3:45 o'clock
Tuesday afternoon and remained there
exactly an hour. When she arrived Act
mig Assistant Attorney General Chris
tiancy, who has had charge Of the office
for months past in the absence of Gener-
al Tyner, who has been in poor health
for a long period, was in the office. The
clerks were at their desks. Mrs. Tyner
passed from the public room in the pri-
vatc office and closed the door behind
her. Being then alone in the office she
stepped 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 Postofiee Department and
c. G.. Hammer, a safe expert
An inspector discovered Mrs Tyner in
the office and reported her presence to