The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-04-27
POS7OFF|CE SCANDAL
LEADS TO TYNER'S
DISMISSAL,
Tyner Summarily Removed and Mrs.
Tyner's Case Is Before the At
torney General for Action.
Mrs. Tyner Refuses To
Return Papers Which
She Abstracted.


Of the rostoffice department affairs oc-
CURED just before the department closed
today. when Postmaster General Payne
announced the summary dismissal of
James y. Tyner, assistant attorney gen
tral for the postofiice department. coup
ling with the announcement the startling
charge that all the papers and records
in the safe Of the latter's office had been
distracted by 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 that the circum-
stances in the case will be submitted b.
him 10 the department Of justice tomor-
row morning Other sensational develop
ments are expected to follow. The ques-
ton of arrests is now under considera-
ton and Will be passed on Immediately
by Attorney General Knox
Letter of Dismissal for Tyner.
The facts are told tersely in the letter
oil dismissal signed by Postmaster Cen
eral Payne late yesterday afternoon and
made public tonight. The letter is as
follows:
y
Assistant Attorney General for the Post
office Department-Sir: You are hereby
removed from the office of assistant at
torney general for the postofiice depart
mcnt
Il deem it proper TO give you the rea-
sons for this summary action on the
part Of the department. Early in the
month 81 March communicated to YOU.
Z frirpd a YpnupSt
Your resignation. After painful inter-
licu wi,h YOU. and more painful one
1,il.i Airs Tyner. ! consented TO modify
IA, demand for your resignation so that
j. nigga; take Effect May !. 1903; with the
pro1is3 however, that YOU were given
leave of absence from The time of the
acceptance az the resignation 10 the date
IF Is taking effect with the understand
ing that yon were not in any way to
undertake, to discharge the duties Of the
office
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Tyne1
came to the office Of the assistant attor-
ncy general for he postotFice department,
entering in the regular way. and went
through The main Office to the private
Office. closing he door behind her She
then unlocked the door entering from the
i,t ,lic hail INTO the private room ana ad-
mi ed her sister. AifS- Ibsti ittA, Nli's'r
SOB wa formerly an assistant in your
office and whose conduct is now under
invest iGatlO1. lily tho department. she
also admitted. iu the same manner. q.
= Hammer. an cNport in the employ OF
the NoSlcr safe Company. with whom
sh5 made an arrangement Ia meet her
at the department. Al her direction MI.
Hammer opened The safe in the room. and
she took thercfrom al papers. records
s.I articles of every kind and carried
lAen away With nor
Immediately upon learning what had
arcn done ! directed the fourth assistant
postmaster general to send wo inSpec-
Tors IT, your house 10 demand, IN the
M me If the postmaster general. the de
livery TO them Of any pc uers. documents
or other materials which has been ali
s5racteG from the safe This demand
WAS refused ny Mrs. TYner. and she like
wise refused 4" permit the inspectors to
soc Won or t. sec ans examine The uapers
in her presence Mrs Tyner further
stated to the post@ftica inspectors that
she committed this act with your knowl-
edge ana by your direction Further
comment on this transaction. on my part
Is moi necessary.
The facts in tn ease viii he sub
mtted to the attorney general of the
T-lite.i states for such action in the
premises as ne may deem proper. Very
respectfully. H. @. PAYNE,
POSTMASTER General"
Mrs. Tyner Took Papers from Safe.
Airs Tyuer came TO the Office Of the
assistant attorney general on the fifth
goo1 of the poStotnre building, at 3:45
O o'clock Tuesday afternoon and remained
there exactly an hour. When she ar
rived Acting Assistant Attorney Cen
c1aI Chrjetiancy. who has had charge
of the office for months past in the
absence If General Tyner who has been
: a the office The clerks were at their
desks Mrs. Tyner passed from the pup
lie room into the private office and
closed the door behind her. Being then
2 lone in the office. She stepped to the
door opening into the public corridor and,
by previous arrangement. admitted Mrs
barrett. mother of Harrison J. Barrett,
the former law clerk Of She postoffice
department and 6 G Hammer, a safe
expert.
An Inspector discovered Mrs. Tyuer in
the Office and reported her presence to
his superior officer Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow. Postmaster
p, yne also was notified. Mr Bristow
asked authority t. have Mrs. TTner
elected from the office. The authority
came TOO late When the Inspector re
turned AIRS fyneT and her party had
left. The safe, ou being examined was
found To- bc empty The affair Gated
much excitement among the investga T.
ing official but The news was con
ces5Iej carefully f;om the public Two
inspectors were despatched to the Tyner
residence ~ recover the papers. Mrs
yuer refused 10 give them up. saying
ihat she was acting under the direction
Of har husband She told the lnspe~.
telS. 81 they reported. that they had a
right TO the papers as M TYner Was
atll assistant attorney general. and.
aseover. insisted thai the papers were
e ii private character. The in
ors reported that Mrs. Tyner de-
I the "a GERS belonged solely to
Icnf. and she announced cmphaticaIly
That she did not propose To have her
papers submitted to the scrutiny Of the
inspectors.
What Caused the Investigation.