The Washington herald., 1907-05-25

Newspaper stories complimentary to pa
vid P. Dyer. jr.. Of ST. Louis, caused
President Roosevelt yesterday TO dismiss
Dyer from his office as an agent Of the
Federal government designated for the
special purpose of bringing a confessed
defaulter from Europe 10 this country.
The prisoner was Charles F. Grotefend.
former paying teller Of the Washington
National Bank. of St Louis He had de-
faulted. fed to Europe. and finally writ
ten to the Federal authorities in st. Louis
that he would surrender.
Dyer was designated by his father. then
United States district attorney in St
Louis and now United States judge. TO
go to Europe 10 get Grotefend and bring
him home. Young Dyer had been tried
on the charge of embezzling $500 from
the United States subtreasury in St.
Louis and had been acquitted.
Seek to Emphasize ViRdicatiOn.
When papers Chr0nicled this morning
that Dyer and Grotefend were 10 arrive
on the Deutschland, they said that Dyer
had been designated 20 go 10 Europe and
bring tie defaulter home 70 emphasize
his vindication When the President and
Attorney General Bonaparte read these
stories they made an inquiry, and Dyers
removal from his special Office was the
upsho:
The following official statement on the
subject was given out by the Department
If Justice last night:
'It was stated at the Department Of
Justice to-day that the President knew
nothing of the orders directing David p.
Dyer. ir.. 70 go abroad 10 receive the sur
render Of Charles r. Grotefend. former
" paying teller of the Washington Ma
uonal Bank Of St Louis
1T is usual FOR the United States At
torncy in the district in which similar
proceedings originate 90 designate some
person as suitable % bring an CXtradited
prisoner back 10 the United States. In
this the district attorney was the present
Judge David p. Dyer who designated his
son. David Z. Dyer, jr., and the appoint
ment was made I'm the usual course. as a
matter Of routine, without having been
called 20 the attention OF the Attorney
General, or any other superior officer OF
the department, without any direction
on the part Of the President. and wholly
without the Presidents knowledge. When
fl became evident from newspaper publi-
cations that an effort was being made 20
give the appointment the character Of a
'vindication 20 the younger Dyer. the de-
partment took steps % at once terminate
DyeT's connection with the service.
To BE Removed at Once.
''The United States marshal at New York
was directed 20 meet the Deutschland and
10 take Grotefend from Dyer's custody.
Under ordinary circumstances. the person
who brought Crotefend from abroad
would have continued 10 St Louis I'm
charge Of the prisoner. The Department
Of Justice desired TO dispense with Dyer's
services so as TO show that a wholly
unw1rranted significance had been given
10 the appointment which was. in fact.
due 20 an i1advertence, and as he had
sailed for the United States. the revOca-
ton could only take effect on the arrival
Of the steamer"
When Dyer was arrested in ST. Louis on
the charge Of embezZlng money from the
subtreasury his father was district attor-
ney. and it was necessary 90 employ "a
special attorney TO prosecute hlm. Before
his trial DC was dismissed from the Office
he he'd I'm the subtreasgry. After his
ecqui-tal, Dyer paid the full amount Of
his bond % cover the loss Of the money
for which he was officially responsible