The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-28

Defaulter Royce's Affairs
Discussed.
The Board Will Prosecute Him-He
Was Deeply in Debt When lie
Began His Stealing.

The directors of the Veterans Home
Association decided last night TO commence
at once criminal prosecution against c. E.
X. Royce. the defaulting treasurer Of the
association, and also decided that it was
about as well for the directors to make up
their minds to suffer the loss occasioned by
ROyce's defalcAtion, amounting to SIS COO.
The meeting was long and wOrdy one.
To simmer it down it was ascertained that
Royce had long ago assigned not only all
his interest in the Steen-Hendy case 30 other
parties but had, as well, mOrtgaged even
beyond its value every foot of real prop
erty he owns, and that when elected
treasurer Of the association he was not hun
dreds but thousands of dollars worse off than
nothing
What makes his old comrades so angry is
the fact that Royce evidently took the
Office of treasurer with the intention of
recoupiUg his finances without any possible
hope Of being able to make good his steal
ings from the scaatY funds of the old SOL
diers. AS was shown by the reports last
night, when Royce took the management Of
the finances of the Veterans Home Asso-
citation he had but two anchors TO the
windward," on both of which he had cut the
cables His interest in the en-Hendy
case he had assigned to John Rothgeb of
Alameda TO secure note OF SO, 81 50. and
in addition had given Rolhgeb deeds to his
Plumas County lands. The decision in the
Steen- Hendy case was only for $50, GOO, Of
which, as is proven by his contract, Royce
was to receive one half Of the judgment and
such costs and expenses as he had legiti-
mately incurred.
Ii would take judgment of far beyond
100000 in the case TO pu. Royce even with
the mcn TO whom he has given claims upon
his contingent fee, let alone leave any bal
ance Tor the association he has robbed.
The Plumas County lands Royce Is sup
posed to own are in as deplUraOie condition,
so far as chance Of recovery By the assOcia-
ton is concerned. as his tabled judgment in
the Steen-Hendy lawsuit. BY doubtful
title ne owns 1880 acres OF land in PIumas
County, located fifteen miles from Beck
with Pass, mOrtgaGed for 5000, and re-
mortgaged to Rothgeb to secure him for
money due
1t is needless to go through the itemzed
defalcations OF Royce as presented by the
expert last night. His peculations COM
menced Immediately upon his elevation to
an office which he earnestly sought and he
spared nothing and no one to help himself.
The action of the board Of directors last
night was as follows:
The executive committee was instructed
to employ w. Ii. Jordan as an attorney.
and to take any and all assignments that
Royce might offer the attorney thought
could be taken. The secretary was directed
10 at once notify officially tina Chief of Po-
lice of Royce's defalcation, and the execu-
tive committee was instructed to proceed to
punish the man who had abused the trust
of his comrades.
Royce is still director of the association,
and can only be removed bv the Governor
should he refuse 10 resign. 1t is said he is
willing 10 resign, and one of the directors
will call upon him to-day TO secure the
resignation.
Another difficulty coDfronts the asset
alton in that they have no treasurer The
newly elected treasurer has not filed his
bond of $4,000 and cannot do so until
some stipend is made a contingent upol his
office. The bond is ready for acceptance,
but the bylaws of the society forbid the
payment of salary to the treasurer In
the meantime 5000 worth of taxes has been
delinquent for sixty days and there is no
one To pay it, although there is money in
the bank. On Monday night the directors
meet again and it is hoped a way out of the
wilderness will have been found, but they
have evidently lost all hope of recovering
any OF the stolen money