Evening journal., 1897-11-10
TIE ROBINSON CASES
Ten Appeals That Will Be
Shortly Heard at Albany.
MORE THAN Si,5OO,OOO IS INVOLVED.
Colonel David G. Kobinsoh CIaima That
the Mutual Life Insurance Company
Desranded Him - He. In Turn,
Accused Of Embezzlement.

ALBANY, Nov. 1O.-Upon the calen-
dar OF the third appellate division
which has begun its November term
here. are ten cases involving over ST.
900, and which develop sensational
charges and counter charges. In five
OF the cases the Mutual Life Insurance
company Of New York is plaintiff and
the charges are that Colonel David G.
Robinson, a son OF former Governor
Robinson, is an embezzler and default
er. In the other five cases Colonel Rob-
inson sues to recover money claimed TO
have been fraudulently taken from him
and his family, and charges that the in
surance company wrecked the Elmira
National bank and the Elmira Munich
pal Improvement company. In five Of
the suits the insurance company brings
suit against David c. Robinson and
Emma A. Robinson Of Elmira and 9TH
ers to foreclose mortgages aggregating
nearly $500, 900.
The defendant Robinson put in coun-
ter claims to the mortgage OF $l.OOO.OOO
so that the total amount involved is
about 81 100000 In each of the five ac-
tions a referee dismissed the counter
claims Of the defendants upon the mer-
it's and awarded Judgments of fore
closure, hence the appeals. While the
suits were pending in the court below,
the insurance company had Robinson
indicted by New York grand jury for
alleged embezzlement Of 500. 900 in 1898,
David c. Robinson inherited from his
father fortune estimated at nearly ST.
900 900 and was president or director in
many important enterprises. He was
his fathers private secretary when Mr..
Robinson was governor, was mayor oi
Elmira In 1892 and was an alderman
before that. When the crash OF 1893
came, Mr.. Robinson made an assign
ment for the benefit of his creditors.
Since that time he has been involved in
much litigation over his property.
This litigation grew out of the failure
of the Elmira National bank, of which
he was a heavy stockholder and di-
rector. 1t was alleged that the bank
had loaned him more than the amount
allowed by law. and Comptroller Of the
Currency Eckels endeavOred to have
him indicted, but was not successful.
Mr. Robinson's connection with the
Mutual Life Insurance company is an
inherited one. His father for 30 years
was trustee Of the company. and when
he died his son succeeded him. In ad-
Il
ditlon. he was the attorney OF adviser
to the company in Elmira.
Mr.. Robinson in his defense claims
that the Improvement company was
put in the charge Of clerks, employees
OF the insurance company, who were
negligent as well as inexperienced IN
/ such management. This mismanage-
mcnt resulted in the depreciation of tho
assets Of the company-that is, Of Its
stocks and bonds. which formed the
bulk of the Robinson estate. The Ell
mira Municipal Improvement compan.
in reality was a consolidation of 6
number Of local companies. IT had Z
capital of S1,S0O.0OO. Colonel Robinson
was president of the principal company
as we'll as Of the subsidiary companies
and when his property was thus tieC
up and mismanaged it left him helpless
and his inability to pay the bank als'
wrecked that institution.