The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-27
DEFAULTER ROYCE.
More Light on His Motives
for His Acts.
A BROTHER-IN-LAW'S VISIT.
The Directors of the Veterans Home
Association viii Meet Tonight
to Discuss Their Loss.

Yesterday Colonel E. K. Royce, the de-
faulting treasurer of the Veterans Home
Association. who attempted suicide q few
days ago. had so far recovered from the
effects of his wound as to enable DIR.
Thayer, his attendant physician, to proph-
esy his speedy recovery. While still par
tally paralyzed. Colonel ROyce's brain is
clear, and he is able to converse with his
associates on business topics and to plan for
himself and the association a way out Of the
trouble into which he has led them.
10 commence at the beginning, it may b Q
said that long years ago Colonel Royce had
financial troubles in the East, from the con-
sequence of which he was saved by the hus-
band OF sister of his wife, named Napier.
lie came TO California, where his record as
soldier OF the u Union and his abilities as
lawyer com biBed with a pleasing address
ana anaDle manner won him friends aud
business. But Colonel Royce could not
stand prosperity, and when he had practi-
cally won the celebrated Steen and Handy
case, as 1t is known among lawyers, he
allowed his expectations Of a contingent fee
to run away with his better judgment.
AS time passed he found it necessary to
mortgage. so to speak, portion of the
money he was TO receive from the Steen-
Handy case to 4 gentleman in this city. 1t
was about this time that lie was elected
treasurer of the Veterans Home Assncia-
ton, and one of his first acts in his official
capacity was to apply the funds belonging
to that institution to his private use. The
check of the United States Government for
$1,000, the amount of this appropriation by
congress Tor the Veterans Home in Cali;
tornia. came into his hands shortly after his
election as treasurer. and lie deposited but
$500 Of the amount cot: ierting the other
5000 to his own use.
The fact that his books Is treasurer we're
never examined rendered. The man overload
IN his regulations, and srch items as $3.50.
the receipts Tor grapes so on the Veterans
Home lands and the mt-ey paid into the
canteen, which, by the wax was established
by him, all went for his pfyate needs.
All this time, hOweveS Colonel Royce
like nine out of every tes embezzlers, was
counting upon decisit..; in the Steen-
Handy case, which woux give him sufi-
cient ready money to rexlace the amounts
taken from the Veterans Some Association
funds. But n nemesis wss on his track in
the shape of creditors in Che East, who had
waited long and patientlf for their Money
his brother-tn-law, Na2ier, arrived from
the East aud demanded some security for
the loans which had been made him. Royce
had but one thing to offer, his interest in
the Steen- Handy case, already handicapped
by claim. but this he gave TO Napier
1t was on the night Of the very day that
he assigned the balance of his interest in
the Steen- Handy case to lis brother in-law,
Napier, that the directors Of the Veterans
Home Association held j meeting, and 1T
was announced that it wHuld be necessary
Tor tile association TO give uute OF $1,000 to
the First National Bank of this city IN order
TO secure ready money t. pay the contract
OrS who were at work on the soldiers home.
Colonel Royce knew that there should be
not only the $1,000 needed but $4,000 be-
sides in bank and he realized that the
beginning of the end had come. w c.
Burnett, who had just been elected presi-
dent, demurred to giving the note, and he
and others EXPRESSED some surprise hat the
association was so short of funds. Expla-
nations were offered and finally it was de-
cided by the board to make the note when
it was needed, but ut the same time it was
advised TINT thorough overhauling of the
financial affairs or tile association be made.
Royce saw his danger and, be it said to
secure the association against loss.
II was he that recommended that the
treasurer give a bond OF $4,000 and he
evidently did so in the vain hope that by
giving bond for that sum he could secure
that amount To his old comrades, TO matter
what happened TO himself. That lie tried
to secure bond is known; that he was
told That any bond he might give would
only be taken after his books were ex-
ported is also known and that meant
immediate detection. Napier's demand
upnn him had taken away from Royce his
main hope of replacing the money OF the
association that he had used, and in conse-
quenee lie delayed the making of the $1,000
note until the last possible moment, hoping
against hope that something would turn up
to help him out of his difficulty.
Finally came the day when the $1,000 note
had to be made and deposited in order to
secure ready money. When President
Burnett signed IL he said that the associa-
TONS finances needed locking into, and
that an investigation should be made at
once.
This was said without thought of any
defaicatOn OF Royce, as Mr.. Burnett says,
but simply because the directors thought
the money was being injudiciously spent and
that too great hberalitY was being isplayed
in certain directions and in certain move
meuts. Royce became then satisfied that
the Jig was up" and after dozen vain
attempts to procure aid evidently decid ed
upon suicide.
President Burnett Of the Veterans Home
Association has had several conferences
with Royce. and yesterday lie stated that
Napier was willing TO forego his claim
upon Royce's interest in the Steen- Handy
suit until after the association had been
paid.
Colonel Royce not only expresses every
desire, but is more than anxious to secure,
if he can, the association against loss. To
President Burnett he said on Tuesday night
that be was ready to enter into any con-
tract the association desired.
The directors Of the Veterans Home
Association meet Tonight Ii is probable
that at the meeting Colonel Royce's exact
interest in the Plumas County lands will be
stated, and also the offers OF one, If OF two,
of the men who hold claims ON the colonePs
interest in the Steen- Handy suit TO with
draw in favor of the association will be
reeeiVR1. Such q thing as criminal prose-
cution Is not thought of by the association
even should Colonel Royce recover at
would benefit us none and only forever ruin
n N al 10 txoc ha 8
President Burnett yesterday, when asked
as to the legal steps, II any, TO be taken
against the defaulter.
DR.. Thayer firmly believes Royce will re-
cover, but admits that he is surprised aud
that his recovery will be in the nature of a
small wonder. The doctor says he is not
at all astonished at the peculiar way in
which Royce shot himself, for the reason,
as he gives by inference, that he believes
the deed was done while the man was tenn
porarily insane.
I've bad charge of an insane asylum"
said DR.. Thayer. ''for many years, ana have
had number OF patients try to commit
suicide and in the most extraordinary ways
imaginable. Colonel Royce was soldier.
and some wound that he may have seen on
field of battle, resulting in instant and
painless death. may rave led him to attempt
its repetition upon himself.
"He Is alive, much better even of his
paralysis, and | have hopes, strong hopes, Of
saving his life. If do l am confident that
he will render the Veterans Home Associa-
ton dollar for dollar due them. Now
about the note he is said TO have written be-
fore shooting himself. | can only say this.
There was no note on his person >when |
reached him, and no statement of any kind
written by him to be found upon his BODY
in case of death as explanatory of it. /
looked over his papers carefully and this l
know TO be true.
"The bullet fired into his brain by Colonel
Royce IS still there. What kind of a re-
volver was II? don't know nor do know
where the revolver is now. I've said all |
care to say, good evening"" and the doctor
shut the door.
Mr.. Napier is now showing every dis
position to aid Colonel Royce in a settlement
OF his present trouble even at his own ex-
pense financially. At the meeting OF the
board of directors of the Veterans Rome
Knight SOme Dlan of sattiaD,ant ,viI ~