The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-28

stepped. to the door opening into the
public corridor and by previous ar.
rangement admitted Mrs. Barrett,
mother Of Harrison J. Barrett, the
former law clerk OF. the postofice de-
partment, and G. G. Hammer, a safe
expert.
Mr.. Christiancy reported the pres
ence Of Mrs. Tyner in the Office to
the inspectors and to Postmaster-Gen-
eral Payne. An inspector also report
ed the matter to Four Assistant Post
master.General Bristow. Mr.. Bristow
asked authority to have Mrs. Tyner
elected from the Office. The author
ity came too late. When the inspector
returned Mrs. ryner had left. On be-
ing examined the safe was found to
be empty by the investigation officers,
but the news was concealed carefully
from the public. Two inspectors were
dispatched to the Tyner residence
to recover the papers. Mrs. Tyner
refused to give them up, saying she
was acting under the direction Of her
husband. She told the inspectors,
so they reported, that they had no
right to the papers, as Mr.. Tyner was
still assistant encouragement and
moreover insisted the papers were all
OF a private character. The inspectors
report that pressure vas brought to
bear on both Mr.. and Mrs. Tyner but
both unequivocally refused to deliver
the papers or even show them.
1t is believed at the department that
the papers have some connection
with the recent conduct OF the Office.
Several weeks ago a turf investment
concern, whose affairs were aired in
court, alleged that it's working meth
dds had been sanctioned by the as
sistant encouragement for the post
office department. In the charges in
volving the conduct of the assistant
encouragement and a lawyer former
iy connected with that Office were venti-
lated very generally at that time and
an investigation vas ordered by the
acknowledgement. This was really
the inception of the investigation that
is spreading to every section OF the
department.
The complaints crystallized into
formal requests for MI. Tyner's res
ignation being made by the postmas.
ter-general in March last. Mr.. Tyner
had been in bad health, and had visit.
ed the office only occasionally, leaving
the office in charge OF his assistant
for months at a time. He is suffering
from an unusually v e case OF
paralysis, and in consideration of this
fact the request for his resignation
was based on his i'll health. -.
The correspondence which took
place just prior to Mr.. Payne's de
parture on his cruise in the West In
dies follows:
"Ofice of the Assistant Attorney-Gen
eral for the Postoffice Department
Washington.
, H. C. Payne, Postmaster-General:
Dear Sir-Lest the effects of the
light stroke of paralysis which re
Gently disabled my left leg partially
t and left arm totally may prevent m
from performing my duties satisfac
r torily for some time to come as as
sistant encouragement for the post
Office department, l deem it proper tt
> tender my resignation of said ofice
> to take effect May l, 1908.
r ct is painful to me to thus seve'
. my connection with the postal service
with which l have been closely as
sociated as an officer of the de
! partment and a member OF congress
sional committee at intervals for
period of over 20 years.
n Truly yours,
t JAMES TYNER."
The postmaster-general's acknowl
n edgment follows:
L washington, March 9.-James Ty
ner, Assistant AttOrney-Genera
Washington, d. c. My Dear Sir:
have your letter Of today, tenderin
It your resignation OF the position OF as
sistant encouragement OF the pos
d Office department.
FEW MORE ISLANDS.
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