The morning call., 1895-01-11
An ATTORNEY INDICTED.
Charges Against G. ?. Robinson
Revived.
He Is Accused Of Perjury and Embezzle.
ment by Mrs. haxwell-Bail
Set at $4,000.

Somewhat of surprise was created
around the new City Hall yesterday when
it was learned that ON the preceding night
the Grand Jury had reported to Judge
Sanderson and presented an Indictment
against c. P. Robinson. an attorney-at-
law. In the Indictment Robinson is
charged with embezzement and perjury.
On the first charge there ars two counts.
The fact of the Indictment having been
filed was kept profound secret until yes
terday morning. when it leaked out
According to all accounts the alleged
embeZzlement was committed against the
estate of Clarisse Bernard. She died on
the Sd day of June. 1893. and few days
thereafter Helene 81. Maxwell. daugh-
ter. applied for letters of administration.
She stated In the petition that the value
OF the estate was unknown. but that 1t
consisted of real estate in this city and in
San Mateo County.
Last April Mrs. Maxwell applied to
Judge Coffey to have Attorney Robinson
appear and show cause why he should no
account for certain moneys which she
said he had received from the sale OF her
mothers property.
To this Robinson filed an answer, In
which he denied the charges. and filed an
temZed account showing that he had had
$4778 "a belonging to Mrs. Bernard. There
was no statement TO show what had be-
come of the money. The matter has not
been settled in the Scourt, and so Mrs.
Maxwell took 1t before the Grand Jury.
The amount she claims was embeZZled is
$11.380 Bail was fixed at $4,000 on the
ENLIGHTENMENT charge and $4,000 on the
perjury charge. Warrants were at once
placed in the hands of the police for ser
vice.
The warrants were placed in the hands
of Detective Cody to serve. About half
Belcher's court. Attorney Robinson. ac-
c0mpanied by Attorney McPike entered.
and the warrants were served upon him.
His two bonGsmen, Edward Coleman.
president of the Pacific Rolling Mills and
Louis P. Drexer, president of the Cali
fornia Jute Mil Company. were waiting
outside the courtroom. They were called
in and Immediately qualified on the two
bonds of $500 and $4,000 for Robinson's
release. The detective took the two orders
of release to the City Prison and the two
charges were entered on the register
against Robinson.
Mr.. Robinson, speaking about his in
dctment last night. said: "Tbe charges
grow out OF certain business matters eX-
tending over some fourteen years. and the
difference is one which can only right
fully be decided by a thorough investlga-
ton of a long account embracing hundreds
of different transac ions.
There is balance Que the estate of
Mrs. Bernardo of some $500, which sum
has been rendered TO the contestant and
has been at her disposal at all times.
The action of the Grand Jury is cause
OF the keenest surprise 10 me and my
friends" he continued. in the first place
/ am unconscious of having committed
any violation of the law. Besides. these
same charges have been patiently and
carefully investigated by the last Grand
Jury, which, after hearing the statements
of both parties, PROMPTLY ignored and dis
missed them. | was under the impression
that the matter would rest there-at least
as far as criminal accusation was con-
cerned, and my first intimation of any
new movement was derived from the pub
LEGATION in some of the dalies of Saturday
last that the Grand Jury had been inves-
tigating charges against myself in con-
nection with the Bernardo estate. but on
the motion of the District Attorney had
concluded TO ignore them.
ITO any one possessed of any familiarity
with the relations existing between Mrs.
Bernardo and myself and the details of
the transactions in question, it will be ap-
parent that had the Grand Jury given me
the same opportunity as their predecessors
did to state my position and explain my
side of the case there would have been no
indictments
1.-THE matter of these charges was under
inyestie alton in the Probate Court in May
last" continued Mr.. Robinson. sit came
up under the order Of examinat 10 COM
pei me to turn over moneys in my posses
sion belonging to the estate then in dis
pute l then made the fullest statement
of my accounts, explaining them in detail
to Judge Coffey, and the proceeding ended
there"