The morning call., 1893-05-04
UNDER A CROSS FIRE.
The Grand Jury Starts a Royce In
VeStigation.

The Grand Jury Starts a. Royce In
VeStigation.
The Grad Jury has taken up the Royce
case and soon the Chief of Police will cut
figure in the Veterans Home defalcation.
The action of the directors of the as socia-
ton in their unconeealed leniency to the
embezzier of the old soldiers money has
stirred up Grand Army men, and there is a
loud howl among them that not only the
proper steps be taken to recover the stolen
property, but that the culpyit be brought
before the bar of justice.
The result of this cry on the part of the
Grand Army men, which was loudly heard
at the recent joint meeting, culmn ated yes
tefday In two important steps. The first
WAS the bringing OF a civil suit in the
Superior Court against Royce to recover
the beginning of an investigation of the
embezzlers' case by the Grand Jury, which
is only the prelude to an Indictment
When the Grand jury met in the after
noon, tile waiting-room and corridors were
crowded with throngs OF witnesses. 1t was
easily apparent, alter some of them were
seen, that the Grand Jury was about to
investigate Royce. Among those in the
wating--oom were w. c. Burnett, Score
taTy Rock well of the Veterans Home. j. c,
Ruddick, Major Merriman. Expert Horton
and Others.
Secretary Rockwell stated that they had
not been 5ubpenaed, but had been requested
. by Counsel w. Ii. Jordan to testify before
the Grand jury. 1t was late when the
Grand Jury reached the Royce case, and
before it was reached w. c. Burnett, presl-
dent Of the Veterans Home, left, saying he
was going down to the office of the Chief of
Police. He returned before. the Grand Jury
adjourned.
The first witness called was Secretary
Rockwell. who went into the jury-rooin with
great bundle of papers: After rem aiming
within about fifteen minutes, Expert Hor-
ton. who examined the books Of the as So
citation, was summoned. II was nearly
O'Clock when he emerged.
1t was learned that the object of the
Grand Jury in examining these witnesses
first was to get at the. exact amount of
Royce's defalcation, which the District At
tOrney had advised the jury was necessary
before an Indictment could be found. The
jury did not get the exact figures, and it
was found that the reason is because the ex-
pert has not finished experting all the
books. 1t was claimed by President Burnett
that the defalcations have all been diseov-
cred as far as the large sums are coneer ed
and all that remains is the establishment Of
few small amounts which were EN- bezzed.
After the adjournment of the jury Fore
man Firth held a consultation with Presi-
dent Burnett on the subject Of getting at the
exact amount stolen.
. Further hearing OF the case-was continued
till Friday aftefnoonas the hour was late.
The committee appointed to investigate
the affairs of the Veterans Home will COM
mpnce work lin earnest on Sunday at Yount-
vile. An expert has been employer. and
the COMMITTEES will be- aided by w. II. Jor-
dan. 1t IS proposed to subpoena all the men
who have charged that the home has been
run by ring in the Directorate investigate
every contract made, and 1t is prophesied
that something will drop with duh thnd
upon several -ex-directors and Ulcers before
the Investigation ends.
AT any rae leuse-cleaniug has CON-