New-York tribune., 1903-10-06
POSTAL SCANDAL CLIMAX
j. n. TYNER INDICTED.
Bills Also Found against II. j. Bar
rett, II. &. HaIIenbeck and Others.
rERoM The TRIBUNE BUREAU. ]

Washington. Oct. 5.-The climax of the postal
scandal came to-day. when James Noble Tyner.
who for thirty-nine years has been prominent
in the service Of the government and was for
merly Postmaster General Of the United States
vas indicted by the grand jury for conspiracy
to defraud the government he had served so
long. Seventy-seven years old. stricken with
paralysis. disgraced by summary dismissal from
the honorable place OF Assistant Attorney Cen
eral for the Postoffice Department. Tyner was
indicted to-day and at a hearing held at his
house gave bail in 5000. Three Indictments
were found against Tyner and his nephew and
former assistant n the Postofice Department
Harrison J, Barrett. zach charging them with
conspiracy 20 defraud the government. and two
more have been returned against Barrett. charg-
ing him with receiving fees for services rem
dered or TO be rendered IL cases pending before
him as an officer of the government
In addition to Tyner and Barrett James 7.
Metcalt his sor- Norman r. Metcalf, and H c.
HaHenheck OF the wynkoop- p-HaHenbeck-Craw-
ford Company Of New-York, have been indicted
in connection with the contract for printing
money order blanks which that company held
for long time
An indictmer- against ". D. Doremus. an
other against State Senator George E Green
and George ". Beavers. a new indictment
against ". Scott Towers and George w Beavers
and another against August W. Machen. make
up the list Of those returned by the grand jury
to-day and complete the first phase Of the post
Office investigation. no further indictments being
expected from the data now in hand.
THE TYNER AND BARRETT CHARGES
The Tyner and Barrett indictments present the
most sensational feature OF the entire investiga-
ton. and the one which baf1ed the postal in
spectors longest. The case. as finally ferreted
out by inspectors vickery and Fulton. presents
q remarkable story of malfeasance. It is charged
that or July 3. 1900. Harrison J. Barrett. the
assistant attorney for the Postofhce Department,
entered into an agreement 10 form a partner
ship with one J Henning Nelms, a Baltimore
attorney. with the distinct understanding that
the firm so formed should handle the cases Of
concerns 10 which the use Of the mails had been
forbidden BY T1-ner and Barrett On Novem-
i
ine Fortv-nine are specifically named in the
Indictment. most Of them known as "get-rich-
ouick' concerns. All Of these we're declared by
T,-ner or Barrett 70 be without the pale Of the
law: but instead OF informing the Postmaster
c;aneral so that he might issue fraud order
AGAINST them. it was agreed between the two
that Barrett should prepare opinion. which
should be printed and sent to the concerns
whose affairs were under consideration. and that
the Postmaster General be advised that these
COMPANIES should have a reasonable time in
which so 10 amend their methods OF doing busi-
ness as 10 warrant their use OF the mails. In
the opinion so prepared Barrett said: I am
thoroughly convinced that the basic principle
underlying the bond investment proposition is
sound" a statement which. officials say. he
must have known 20 be absolutely false This
o,irion II is charged contained an unnistakable
,n+ir7ation that while the companies were con-
aucttne their business in technical violation OF
the law. some minor changes would enable them
70 escape a fraud order. but it failed even 70 in
+ir,atA what amendments were necessary 10 ac-
-on,plsh that result Having obtained the con-
sent Of the Postmaster General to the delay
recommended a copy Of such permission, the
printed opinion and personal letter signed by
Barrett were forwarded to each OF the concerns
affected IN his personal letter Barrett informed
them that he would sever his connection with
the department on December 81. and would
thereafter be associated with Nelms. and that,
aside from Tyner. he (BarretD was the only
person who knew what were the amendments
necessary 10 insure TO the fraudulent companies
Continued page
lT- rFr rfaz
rsrdsor bx Day I.luA Stezns-s. Good Muslc.-AGvs.