The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
Fifteen New Indictments in
 Postal Fraud Case
VARIOUS KINDS OF CHARGES
James U. Tyner, Formerly Assistant Attorney General for Postoffice De- partment, and H. J. Barrett, His
 Assistant, Are Indicted.

supreme court lOI the DISlIiCL Dl ODluIu- bia, as the final result of the investiga- ton in the post office department. Sever al of the findings were against persons who have already been indicted. The new indictments involve James N. Ty ner formerly assistant attorney general for the postoffice department, and his assistant. Harrison J. Barrett; James T. Metealf, superintendent of the money order system of the postoffce depart ment; Norman Metcalf, son of James T.; Harry c. Hallenbaek, president and gem eral manager of the Wynkopf- f-Hallen- back and Crawford company of New York, the firms which for several years supplied the department with it's money order blanks, and William Doremus, who is connected with house which has been supplying a stamp cancelling machine.
 There were additional indictments against August w. Machen, formerly superintendent of free delivery; George w. Beavers, formerly chief of the salary and allowance division; w. Scott Towers, who was in charge of a sub-station of the Washington City postoffice, and State Senator George A. Green of New York. In some cases there were several indict- ments against one person.
 Concerning the indictment against Ty- her and Barrett the following statement was made by the postoffice department:
 Department Makes Statement.
 Three indictments charge Tyner and Barrett with conspiracy, and two add- tional indictments charge Barrett with agreeing, while still in office to receive lees for services rendered, or to be rem dered in cases pending before him, as off cer. All the indictments are founded up- on the treatment by Tyner and Barrett of the business of the so-called Bond h. vestment company.
 It is charged that it was the duty of Iyner and Barrett, assistant attorney general and assistant attorney for the postoffice department, respectively, to in- vestigate the methods of concerns charged with improper use of the mails, and in case of guilt to report to the postmaster general and recommend the issue of a fraud order; that they investigated the business of the Bond Investment company and learned that they were all carrying on a business that involved fraud, or lot tery, or both but that instead of recom- mending to the postmaster general the issue Of an order that would prevent the delivery of mall or the payment of money orders to these concerns, Tyner and Bar rett conspired to give them unobstructed use of the mails, in order that Barrett might profit thereby
 Barrett Got Partnership.
 Tt is charged that Barrett entered into an agreement with J. H Nelms, of the Baltimore bar, for partnership in law, to become effective January l. 1901 the ob- Ject being to share in the profits which might arise from representing bond in- vesfment concerns before the postoffice department; that In pursuance of conspir- acy with Tyner, Barrett investigated the schemes of the concerns and wrote and signed the report theron; that this report declared the business in its existing form to be illegal and not entitled to the use of the mails; but that its basic principle was sound and that it could be made over so as to be legal; and that Tyner and Barrett procured the signature of the postmaster general to a letter written by Barrett stating that a reasonable time would be given to those companies for making over their business; during which time their use of the mails would not be interrupted.
 'It is charged that this opinion was printed at government expense and sent to every known company with A circular letter to each stating that the business of that company was illegal; that at about the same time, December, 1900, Barrett sent to each company an announcement that he had resigned his position and en- tered into partnership for the practice of law at Baltimore and Washington.
 Was After Business.
 The purpose of the conspiracy is alleged to be the sending of business to Bar rett's firm, especially as the opinion gave nc instructions as to the proper way of making over the contracts, but showed that Barrett knew how it was to be done. In pursuance of this conspiracy, it is al- legged that Tyner and Barrett refused to consider or approve new contracts sub mitted prior to the time Barrett returned except for the one or two concerns that had already retained his services"
 The principal charge against Tyner and Barrett Is that of misconduct in office; in obstructing and preventing the duty and orderly administration of law.
 The charge against Hallenback and the Metcalfs is that of conspiracy to defraud the United States to furnish the postal service with it's money order blanks. Nor man Metcalf was employed as clerk in the office of the Wynkoop, Hallenback and Crawford company at 80 week. It is alleged that conspiracy o-isted between Hallenback and the Metcalfs in that there was an agreement between them that there should be no inspection of the forms supplied by the company. That on account of this agreement that the forms were printed on inferior paper; that only  one side of them was Autographed, while the contract called for the lithographing of both sides. and that by other devices the company was enabled to save large sums of money at the expense of the gov ernment While it is not stated in the indictment it is asserted by the postoffce authorities that the government lost at least s50,OO0 in one year by this arrange ment.
 r~k
 The charge against Machen is that of accepting a bribe in connection with the delivery of badges worn by rural free de- livery carriers These badges were made by Charles J. Heller of Philadelphia.
 There are two new indictments against Beavers, one of them charging him with accepting s25 each on a number of book
 
 (Contnued on Second Paqe)