The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-02
ROYCE A SUICIDE AT LAST.
KILLED HIMSELF WITH Gas At THE
CRANE UNION HOTEL.

Hts Third Counting or Death-He was = San
Frnncisco LAWYER who was Once Accused OF
EmbtsriinE 500. 900 from n soldiers Home
He Served with Honor In the CIvnl war.
Clark E. X. Royce, a lawyer, of San Fran
cisco, committed suicide some time Thursday
night by inhaling Illuminating gas at the Grand
Union Hotel. Mr.. Royce arrived at the hotel
on Tuesday and was assigned to room 63S by
the clerk. Royce had been a guest at the Grand
Union Hotel two or three times before and his
figure was familiar to the clerks. He appeared
to be in the best OF spirits, and chatted pleasantly
with the hotel employees whenever he met
them.
Royce was last seen alive on Thursday after.
noon, when one of the guests met him in tho
corridor. Yesterday morning about o o'clock
tho odor of gas was noticed coming from his
room. One Of tho chambermaids gavo tho
alarm and the door Of the room was forced.
Royce was found dead on the bed. A rubber
tube attached to q gas jet was In his mouth,
and he had evidently been dead for several
hours.
There was nothing found to indicate why he
had committed suicide. No money was in his
pocketbook, the only article IL contained being
a collar button.
A. X. Royce, q carpenter and builder, OF 663
East l7sth street, identified the suicide last
night as his brother, Clark E. K. Royce Of San
Francisco. Mr.. Royce had received 4 letter
yesterday afternoon from his brother telling
him that he was going to commit suicide. He
hurried ms, rapidly, as possible to get to tho
Grand Union Hotel, but he was too late, his
lowing is ii" letter which Mr.. Royce received.
L. was written at the Grand Union Hotel and
DEAR BRoTnER: The bladder trouble is re-
turning again with unbearable pain and annoy
anee, and ! have determined to put an cnd to
On receipt of this, come. to tho hotel and
look after my corpse. 1t viii probably be In
crcmated, as have expressed myself to you
ths o this i !, , the only only proper way Of disposins of
Wire Harry, and keen the ashes at tho
Solnmsarium for his disposal. Truly your
MIR. Royce said that his brother had been suf.
ferinE from kidney trouble for years. and Ind
S0me si ESft some nt t aRs s age for Est5 Pca .,r"s3 ,n HG
ehseT fSr s GSs ON that GS T dsPs, AND aMHSSi r. H HSy SSS tSink 8
1t strange that all his money should be gone.
The body will DO crematcd today at tho
Fresh Pond Crematory, according to the wishes
san FRANCIsCo. Oct. CLARKE Royce came
to California in 1872. He began the practice Of
law and 5000 hecamea prominent figure in San
Francisco life. His honorable army record drow
all old soldiers to him and his business pros:
pered. In an evil hour he obtained the post Of
Treasurer in the California Veterans Home at
Iountville.. Much money passed through his
hands. but he SO conducted himself TINT there
| was never the least suspicion OF his honesty.
In April. 1898. Royce was found one morning in
the Burlington Hotel apparently suffering from
a fractured skull. 1t was some days before 1t
the head. As soon as the suicide theory WAS ad-
vanced Royee's accounts at the homo were ex-
$4,000.
1t appeared that ROYCE had been for some time
specializing unsucccssfully in stocks. Tho
crime that Royce committed was the worst CON
nected WITH a public institution In the history
OF ff perSGn.. TIL i" air ss "a" Of The he in iPEGiTs@
developed disinclination to prosecute. 1t was
shown that they knew something about Royco's
taught them never to give any rein 10 Royce in
things financial.
cloud, having embezzlcd $50. 900 OF school funds.
The scranton matter WAS settled by Napier. who
IL the husband of the sister OF Mrs. Royce.
Royce's California populations were committed
with some art
The trusted Treasurer bought supplies above
the market value and deposited the difference
to his own ere lit. He wouli probably not have
beer brought to book for a long time had not his
orother.in-law, Napier, who had waited long for
the restitution money advanced by him. come
to California in order to press his claims. This
Royce was twice tried ana finally got Off on q
technicality., 1t was proved that the directors
through this ioophoie justice. was dc.
feated. But Royce never again held up
to- Practice nsAf N law snf In s"@ smaIl way ne but tF' Ss
was thoroushly dtscreiitcd and no one would
rpegio a, t nin Grand an dpHfS ofsi and turned tnye; H "n t h,ee sas a
AS he waited until morning, the escaping gas
was smelled, and Royce was dragged out before
he was even unconscious.
He went East two months ago and wrote reg
ularly to his family, In his last letter he said he
would not write again and implied that he would
start at once for home. His old comrades said
that his plan for rescue must have miscarried,
as he could never have really intended to take
his own life.
Royce's military career was honorable. He
was born Mt Lebanon Springs. y. y. in 1887.
He entered Williams College, and after being
graduated studied law. He was admitted to
practice in Albany In 1851. Two months
later he enlisted as a private In the
Forty-fourth New York Volunteers. These
were the famous Ellsworth avengers selected
civil war, and was always in the TIL k Of the
fight. Several times he won the public approval
OF his commanders for gallantry in battle,
and no WAS mentioned In dispatches. He
was put in command OF a negro regiment
and was mustered out Colonel IN 1858. He went
with his regiment 10 Texas. He then resumed
the practice OF law. spending two years at Sag
Harbor and five at Scranton, Pa.