The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-26
BADLY KEPT BOOKS
Royce's Deficit Shown to
Be Exaggerated.
With Bullet in His Brain He Gives
Valuable Assistance to Experts
and Points Out Errors.

1t is now known beyond doubt that
Colonel Clark Royce tried to take his life
by means of pistol.
That explanation of his attempt at suicide
would have commended itself to every ones
notice had it not been for the extraordinary
nature of his wound. Had The injury been
of an ordinary nature, such as is generally
inflicted by the passage of a bull let, there
need have been no mystery surrounding the
affair. But the fact that Colonel Royce lay
stricken with wound at the very surface
of his skull puzzled not few as to how it
was inflicted. The pistol theory was the
straw investigators caught after exhaustng
all others, and although seemingly i'm
probable. it turns out to be correct.
Dir. ThaYer, Colonel Rovce's medical
attendant, has preserved a sphinx-lke at
titude throughout the whole development OF
the case. Acting, as lie thought for his
friends best interests, tie has been eX-
treEely unwilling to divu'ge anything
which might tend to throw light en- the
matter. And most reluctantly has he been
compelled to admit certain facts when they
were placed before him in iudisputable
form.
The worthy doctor chuckles to himself as
ne spreads out his hands apolOgetlcally and
says: NV dear sir, what is the use of
asking me? | know less than you do about
II. ana yet Ut. i mayer DAu proved hlul-
self a no. I'm wOr hy disciple of the mag.cians
Of old in the way that he managed To
pOuuce upon and secrete the pistol as il Law
on the floor of room 81 the Burlington on
the memorable Friday when his old friend
lay gasping on his bed.
And besides there is no secret as to how
the wound was inflicted. Colonel Royce.
resolved en- suicide, deliberately placed the
muZZle Of the pistol on the top of his skull
and pulling the trigger with his thumb shot
downward into his brain.
BIZ fortuitous circumstances the ball in
pa Of completely shatterng the brain
passed between the two divisions or lobRs
Of which the brain is composed, and divert
ing from its course, lodged somewhere at
the base Of the brain close to The back of
his neck. There 1t remains and will remain
forever, for no medical skill can extract 1t.
Colonel Royce himself, though by no
means out of danger, is sufficiently re-
covered to converse with those around him.
To his eldest son he has given all the in
formation in his power. and on his behalf
young Mr.. Royce made the following state
ment TO TIE CALL representative:
MY father had no idea OF the trouble
into which he was falling until 1t was too
late 10 mend matters. He has admitted all
large lawsuits. Some Of these were taken
on contingencies. Gn account of these suits
he has been compelled to advance cOnsid-
cradle money from time 10 time and lie has
got himself into debt.
Now, take this Steen and Hendy case.
Steen has been making mis- headquarters at
my fathers Office for years. He has been
dependent on my father for support. And
why, last year a large sum Of money be-
came due on account Of this suit, which my
father had to meet. He was obliged to see
II out or lose all
And | bel eve that my father had other
obligations of similar nature. Hence his
troubles grew u on him and he used little
OF the Veterans money, knowing full well
that he had enough and more coming to him
in the near future 10 amply make up tho
amounts distracted. But he never drCamt
of the second appeal in the Steen case and
itterew him out of his calculations. He grew
respondent. and seeing his good name bout
to be suliied, resolved on Kidding himself Of
his troubles once and forever. How he sue
ceeded you know. He viii get well, hore
but the bullet cannot be extracted. Nature
will in time form its own covering for the
bullet and it Is probable that il Will not
trouble him.
One thing | wish to impress upon Won.
l have his solemn word, and he has nothing
TO conceal, that there is no shortage in his
accounts other than those connected with
the Veterans Home Association. lie has
embezZled no trust funds.
And have reason to believe that gross
caTeleSsness must have been exhibited bv
the Veterans Home directors in the keep
ing of their bnoks. They seem all Mt skies
and sevens. Only yesterday Colonel Rock
well and an expert called upon my father
with the books, and in very few minutes
he showed them errors amounting to con-
siderable sum. In a word, he showed them
that in place Of his shortage being $4,000
as they reported. it will prove to De between
SlJ.O0 and $4,000
This last statement was practically ad-
mitted last night by Colonel Rockwell. He
had been all day at the home in Yountyille.
accompanied by the expert. j. b. Horton,
and on his return stated that certain ac-
counts had come to light materially reduc-
ing The shortage.
These discoveries, coming upOn the strong
comments OF Judge Ham of Napa. tend to
show that some care should be taken i'm TIE
selection OF officers for a prominent beneyu-
lent institution, as the welfare CT the recipi-
ents of charity is at stake and not that OF
the body Of directors appointed To manage
the homes affairs.