Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-11
FORCES OWN NAME;
JURY ACCOUNTS HIM
VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR GOES
FREE
Comrade Proves Match for Prosecutor
and Laugh Is Against Assist
ant District Attorney
Blair

was on trial yesterday in the superior
court and he proved to the satisfaction
Of the jury that he did not do any
criminal act when he signed his name
to a draft that came to him through
the mail, although the draft was not
intended for him.
Incidentally, one of Robinson's COM
rades turned out to be something Of q
novelty as q witness, and gave Assis-
tant District Attorney Blair plenty to
think about.
The case was a peculiar one. Robin
son, while living at Santa Monica, Feb
ruary II, received a draft for 1924 en-
closed In an envelope bearing his name.
He kept the paper and on February
20 Endorsed it and deposited 1t with the
First National bank at Ocean Park.
He was arrested shortly afterward on
a charge of forgery.
The old veteran took the stand in his
own behalf and testified that he re-
ceived the draft, duly addressed to
himself. He said there was no letter
accompanying 1t and that he was UNI
acquainted with the persons by whom
the instrument was issued. He de-
clared he wrote three letters addressed
to number of Robinsons of the same
initial as his own and endeavored to
locate the rightful owner of the paper.
He also stated he made trip to Los
Angeles and visited the postofice and
attempted to trace any person bearing
the same name as his own. His search
was unsuccessful.
Then, he said, he went to the bank.
signed his name on the back OF the
draft and deposited 1t at the First Ma
tional bank at Ocean Park.
Owns Farm In North
Robinson testified he had lived in
California but six months, coming here
from the state of Washington, where
he owns an eighty-acre farm In Lin
coin county. He said he had leased
his farm, for which he received year.
ly rental of $500.
The draft was issued by Logans-
port Qnd.) bank.
The farm which Robinson testified
he owns became his by means of land
office patent.
The attorney for the prosecution en-
deavored to show that the accused was
financially embarrassed and that Rob-
inson had sold poetry on the streets
of the beach town in order to raise
enough money to pay his fare to his
home In Washington; that because of
his need of money he had taken the
draft to the bank for the purpose of
cashing it. regardless of the fact that
he knew 1t did not belong to him.
Robinson admitted he sold poetry,
which he wrote in 1851, but stated he
0du TAKEN Inc paper u Lllt Ddilk III
the purpose of protecting the rightful
owner as soon as that person could be
located.
why did you sign your name on the
back of the draft?' asked Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Blair.
z ST did 1t to protect myself, as well
as the true owner of the instrument"
Robinson replied 1.-The banks OF your
state are crooked and / wanted to pro-
tect myself"
did you not know you were COM
hitting a forgery when You Endorsed
that draft?"
Signed His Own Name
81 signed my own name; that was
not forgery"
street, testified she had known the de-
PENDANT for three or four months and
was considering a deal whereby she
was to trade her house and lot in this
city for Robinson's farm in Washing
ton.
Robinson had clear title to the prop
erty she replied she had seen the
patent and was sure 1t was all right.
Are you sure it was q genuine
patent?" she W as asked.
~ am" she answered.
How do you know 1t was not a
bogus one?"
signed py nooScteN
81 know it was not bogus, for 1t was
signed by President Roosevelt.
"You are positive 1t was signed by
him?"
Eyes, 1 am certain that it was"
The spectators were unable to con-
troll themselves and ripple of laugh
ter ran around the court room.
c. M Baum, an old soldier, who oc-
cupied a room adjoining that of Rob-
inson at the Sunshine apartments, fol-
lowed Mrs. Hams on the stand. He is
a small man with snowy beard and
walks with a cane. He Immediately
seemed to take umbrage at the ques--
lions of the prosecuting attorney and
answered the questions put to him in a
thin, sharp tone. After having testi-
fed as to his acquaintance with Rob-
inson, he was questioned regarding his
knowledge of the draft and of the de-
PENDANTS arrest.
asked. ~
Eyes, I saw the draft" he snapped.
He then testified Robinson had taken
the paper from an envelope and told
him that it was a draft and that he
proposed to deposit it in bank until
it's rightful owner could be found.
Baum made a number Of witty remarks
at Blair's expense and the prosecutor
was noticeably embarrassed on several
occasions.
where did you see the draft?" asked
Attorney Blair.
II saw it between Robinson's fingers
when he held the paper" Baum re-
piled.
Everyone in the court room smiled
and Blair flushed and hesitated before
asking the question.
you say 1t was draft; how do
you know 1t was a draft?"
IT know it was draft because the
word draft was written on It,"
Match for Blair
ION which side of the paper was 1t
written?"
TT was written on the outside"
Blair was uncomfortable and
showed 1t.
When asked if he knew when Robin
son was arrested the witness replied
he did not remember the day.
About when was he arrested?"
asked Blair.
HE was arrested after dinner he
caustically replied.
When Baum was excused he said to
Blair: "Than1k you for your courtesy.
/ Will meet you some other time
The jury remained out but short
time and brought In a verdict OF not
guilty.
The window Of the bartlett Music CONF
pnny displays The HeraId's auto-piano.