Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1906 — Harry Royse Under Indictment. [ARTICLE]

Harry Royse Under Indictment.

Harry E. Royse, member of the Indianapolis common council from the Tenth wards, was indicted by the November grand jury on the eharge of directly end indirectly haring an interest in public con tracts while serving as a member of the city council, in violation of section 4f6 of the cities and towns statutes, passed by the legislature of 190 S. Royse was informed of his indictment by friends an hour after the presentment had been returned to the criminal court. He,, went to the offiee of the sheriff in the .court house and gave bond in the sum of $1,900.

The section under which Royse was indicted provides that any person found guilty of violating its provisions shall [not “may”J le fined not more than;sl,ooo and imprisoned in the state prison not less than one year nor more than ten years. Royse is charged with acting as “publicity agent” for the Republic Oreosoting company and the National Bitumen company paving concarns, of which P. G. Reilly is ihe head, which have bid for and accepted eity contracts during Royse’s incumbency as councilman.

Recently, since the grand jury, on the initative of Judge Alford, of the criminal court, began an 'investigation of Royse’s conduct as a councilman, Boyse, according to his own statement, has resigned bis positions with the companies named. Royse was elected to the common council at the municipal election in November 1905. His activ ity as an ageut lor the Reilly paving interests has been particularly commented on because of the fact that he is chairman of the finance committee of the council, one of itß most important committees. Royse is said to have pleaded in defense of his alleged violation of the cities and towns statute that be had been informed by an attorney that his connection with the com panies as “publicity man” could not be construed as the violation oi the law in question. It is the general unnerstanding here that this Harry Royse is a brother of Rev. O. D. Royse, a former very popular pastor of Trinity M. E. church here.