The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-04-24

w sensational development of the
investigation Of postomc. depart
ment affairs occurred just before the
department closed today, when Post
master General Payne announced the
summary dismissal of James ~ Tyuer
assistant attorney general for the post
Office department coupling with the
announcement the startling charge Chat
all the papers and records iu the safe
of the latters office had been distracted
hy Mrs. Tyner. wife of the discharged
Official with the assistance of others.
The postmaster general states that
Mrs. Tyner has refused the demand of
the government for the return OF the
papers taken, and said the circum-
stances lu the ease would bee submit
Ted hy him to The department of JUS
Zee tomorrow morning. Other seusa-
bpnal developments are expected The
question of arrests win Doe passed on
Immediately by Attorney General Knox
Letter Of Dismissal.
The facts are told t.rseIy in the let
Ter OF dismissal sent by Postmaster
General Payne late yesterday afternoon
ana made public tonight The letter
follows.
james ~. Tyuer. Assistant Attorney
General of the Post0Hce Department
Sir: You are hereby removed from
The office of assistant attorney general
Tor the posJOthce department
deem 10 proper 90 give you the rea-
sons for this summary action ON the
part of the department Early iu the
month of March / communicated TO
you, through "a mutual friend, % request
Tor your resignation. After "a painful
interview with you. and a more pain
iul one with Mrs. Tyuer. I consented Co
modify the demand for your resi- suatiou
So That 20 might take effect ON Nav ].
1908, with the proviso however that
you We're given leave of absence from
The time of the acceptance of the res
ienation GO the date of It's taking effect.
With the request that you We're not n
any way to undertake lJ discharge the
duties of the office,
Papers Stolen.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs Ty-
ner came to the office OF the assistant
attorney general for the postonce de-
partmeDt entering lu the regular way.
and went through the main office 90 The
private office, closing the door behind
her. She then unlocked the door enter
ing from che public hau into the pri-
waite room and admitted her sister, Mrs.
Barrett. whose SON was formerly assist
ant iu your office and whose conduct
is now under Investigation by the de-
parment She also admitted iu the
same manner C.. c.. Hammer. an exc
...rt On the employ of the M.s!er Safe
company, with whom she had made au
arrangement to meet her at the depart
meuL AT her direction Nr Hammer
opened the safe Boo tho room and she
took therefrom all papers. records and
articles of every kind and carried them
away with her.
Mrs. Tyner's Nerve.
Immediately upon learning Whl,
had been done, ] directed the fourth as-
sistaut postmaster general t1 send tW1
inspectors tu your house ,u demand. iu
che name OF the postmaster general
the delivery of amy papers. docum nts
or any materials which had been abb
srracted from the safe. This demand
was refused by Mrs, Tyner, and she
likewise refused Co permit the uspec-
tors Co see you or tO see and examine
the papers iu her presence. Mrs Tyner
further stated t1 the pustudice lnspec-
Tors that she committed this acJ with
your knowledge and 10y your direction.
Further comment on This transaction
ON my part is not necessary.
"The facts bon the ease viii Doe sub
mitted Co Che attorney general a' the
United States for such action iu the
premises ass Boz may deem proper. Very
respectfully. III. O.. PAYNE,
Postmaster General"
Her Plans Well Laid.
Mrs Tluer came tc the office of The ass
FI9taut attorney general ON the uttl
floor of IHe UH-fufIIeU building HI $3.50
Cd clock Tuesday afternoon. and remained
there Gam hour. When she arrived Acuus
Assistant Attorney General Dhr.staney,
who had charge OF tlH office for months
past lu ilr Hnerur. of General IyHer,
who bias been boo poor health for % long
period WAS .u OBJ. office. Tho clerks
were 90 their desks. Mrs. IEuer passed
office and closed che door behind her
FeIuE alone u the office. SH. stepped tn
The door opening into ruD uuHl.- corridor
and ny previous Arrangement admitted
Mrs Barrett mother ut Harrison +. Ear-
r-tL the former lHW clerk oft tIr pust-
office department and %. d. Hammer Cd
safe expert
Mr. Chrlztlaucy reported the presence
OF Mrs IyuDr boo iHr office tU two iu-
spectors and t0 Postmaster General
PAYNE. Au Inspector also reported lHr
matter tr Fourth Assistant Postmaster .
BrlstoW. Alr. ErletUW asked authority lo .
have Mrs lHuer elected from the office
the authority came TOO late.
Left the Safe Empty.
When the Inspector returned Mrs Tyuar
had left THE safe Uu being examined .
was found tu be- empty The affair created .
great excitement among the llFestl-a l.as .
officials. but the news was concealed .
carefully from the public Two inspectors .
were dispatched tO Che Iyuer residence .
20 recover the papers. Nrs IEuer rec
acting under tho direction of lUr lus-
band. She told the INSPECTORS 500 tneg ro- .
ported chat they Eat rIelJ tu Che
papers. as Mr IEuer was sam assistant
.rury general and. moreover. insisted
thai the papers were dH oft private .
character. The inspectors reuurrgl that
Airs. Tyucr declared tnr papers belonged .
solely t0 them. and she announced em- .
have her papers submitted tu the scrutiny (.
of the inspectors. Other pressure, 10 is .
understood. was brought tu heHs both F.
on Mr.. and Mrs Tluer. 5ut both uU- F.
equivocally refused to deliver the papers f.
IN is believed al The department that .
the papers have some connection with .
the recent conduct of The office. Sew .
eral weeks ago 90 turf investment cone .
Germ. whose affairs were aired iu court, F.
alleged that Its working methods had I.
been sanctioned boy the assistant general +
attorney FOR the postof1ce department F.
Charges Involved.
Charges involving the office OF the ass .
sIstaut attorney general and lave
yer formerly connected with that office .
were ventilated very generally at that .
time. and am Investigation was organ
ICED by the postmaster general This
was really the inception of the nvesu- +
cation that has spread to every part
OF the department The complaints crys-
railzed into formal request for Mr.
Tyner's resignation. signed by Post .
master General Payne. ul March @ last.
Mr Tyn-r had been Dob exceedingly bad I
health for "a long time and had visited /