Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-24
Is DISMISSED
Sensational Development of In
yestigation of Postoffice
Department Affairs
MRS. TYNER Roes LOCKED SAFE
Says Papers Were Private and She Did
it BY Direction of Her Husband
Refuses to Give Up Papers-Payne
Tells of Tyner's Dismissal-De4ense
of Tyner.

of Tyner.
Washington, April PA most sensa-
tional development of the investigation
of p%ostoffice department affairs oc-
CURED just before the department
closed yesterday, when Postmaster
General Payne announced the sum
mary dismissal of James N. Tyne, as
sistant attorney general for the post
Office department, coupling with the
announcement the startling charge that
all the papers and records in the safe
of the latter's office had been abstract
ed by Mrs. Tyner, wife of the dis,
charged official, with the assistance of
others. The postmaster general states
that Mrs. Tyner has refused the. de-
mand of the government for h return
OF the papers taken and said circunl-
stances in the case would be submitted
by him to the department of justice
tomorrow morning. Other sensational
developments are expected to fellow.
The question OF arrests is now Under
consideration M will be passed on
Immediately by Attorney General
Knox.
Letter Of Dismissal.
The facts are told tersely in the let
ter of dismissal signed by Postmaster
General Payne late yesterday afternoon
and made public last night. The letter
is as follows:
Washington, April 22.-Hon. James
N. Tyner, assistant attorney general
for the p~ostoffice department.: Sir: You
are hereby removed from the office of
assistant attorney general for the post
office department.
l deem it proper to give o the rea-
sons for this summary action OH the
part of the department. Early in the
month of March l communicated to
you, thru a mutual friend, a request for
Your resignation. After a painful in
terview with you, and a more painful
one With Mrs. Tyner, l consented to
modify the demand for your resigna-
ton SO that 1t might take effect on May
l, 1903, with the proNiso, however.
you We're given leave of absence
from the time of the acceptance Of the
resignation to the date of its taking
effect, with the understanding that you
were not in any way to undertake to
discharge the duties of the Office.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. Tyner
came t o the Office Of the assistant at
torney general for the p~ostoffice de-
partinent. entering in the regular way
and wen. thru the main ctHce to the
private office, closing the door behind
her. She Their unlocked the door enter
ing from TIE public hall into the pri-
rate Don and admitted her sister, Mrs.
Barrett, whose son Was formerly as
sistant in your office, and whose con-
duct is now under investigation by
the department. She also admitted, in
the same amer, Mr.. C. q. Hammer,
and expert in the employ of the Mosler
Safe company, with whom she had
made an arrangement TO meet her at
the department. At her direction Mr..
Hammer opened the safe in the room
and she took therefrom all papers. rec
ords and articles of every kind and car
ried them away with her.
Immediately upon learning what had
been done I directed the fourth assist
ant postmaster general to send two in
spectors to your house to demand, in
the name of the postmaster general
the delivery to them of any papers.
documents or other materials which
had been distracted from the safe
This demand was refused by Mrs.
TyEer, and she likewise refused to per-
init hi inspectors to see you or to see
and examine the papers in her pres
ence. Mrs. Tyner further stated to
the postofice inspectors that she COM
mitted this act with your knowledge
and by your direction. Further COM
ment on this transaction, on my part,
is not necessary.
The facts in the case will be sub
mitted to the attorney general of the
United States for such action IN the
premises as he may deem proper.
Very respectfully,
II. C. Payne,
Postmaster General.
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