Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-31
PREFERS
DEATH TO
DISGRACE
INDICTED BANKER
SWALLOWS POISON
Carried Unconscious Fro m
Court Where He Was About
TO be Arraigned on Charge
of Wrecking Institution,

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased WireI
New York, Dec. 30.--With head
erect, shoulders squared, and eyes
trained on him Joseph O. Robin. the
indicted banker, stepped from his sis
ter's home this morning to face ar
raignment. calm in the knowledge
that he had swallowed dose Of hyo-
seine. the deadly alkaloid. with which
DR.. cripen Killed his Wife. Belle FL
more He collapsed before he could
be taken into court. with the excla-
nation
y am a dead man; I've taken poi
son tablets"
The case was postponed i'm the
creates excitement n stomach pump
was hurriedly brought into play and
the sick man was carried first to the
prison hspital and later to Bellevue,
where he lies tonight in the prison
ward. No charge of attempted sui
eide IL entered against him. and II is
thought he viii recover, although the
action OF hyoscine Is slow and much
will depend on his vitality
The time at which Robin took the
drug is approximately fixed BY the
testimony Of DR. Austin Flint. retain
ed for Robin by William Travers
Jerome his counsel, Dr. Louise Roh-
inovitch, his sister and the two de-
tectives who rode with him from his
sisters house to the criminal court
building.
Or Flint told the court that as
nearly as he could Judge, the poison
had been in Robins system about
three quarters Of an hour, when he
collapsed The two detectives were
positive their prisoner swallowed moth
ing on the way 10 court
Dr Robinovtch said her brother
was ia the habit Of taking hyoscine IN
small doses 10 countcract the effects
of morphine. which he used to deaden
the stabbing pains by which gall
stones make themselves known. She
kept the drug In her house and she
thought her brother swallowed twelve
tablets. AZ Bellevue tonight. the eN-
surgeons estimated that Rob-
IN had taken about one-tenth of q
grain.
Robin seemed in good health this
than at any time
since his troubles hegan--and he
made no esfosl 20 screen his face from
The cameIlls AZ hitherto. The first
sign Of Illness Was when he stagger-
"a stepping from his automobile
TO the criminal court building,
III the elevator he weakened SO
rapidly that the detectives had to lilt
him to couch There he sank into
and was not revived
until the stomach pump had been
worked vigorously. Its prompt use
saved his lite
Outside. the corridors OF the crtni-
nal court building fairly hummed with
excitement. but I'm the court of gem
.I.r. 4 f.stit 20 q
business as usual when |
Jerome stepped rapidly down the |
aisle
Your honor he began hurriedly, !
Il am here IN the Robin ease. 1t ap- |
pears that the defendant has taken
lrug. lie cannot be stimulated. An
ambulance has been summoned and
surgeons are now pumping his stom-
leh. The delay Is unavoidable
Dir. Austin Flint, retained by Jerome |
ras called The assistant district at |
orncy asked him what Robin had |
mid.
"He said,' answered Or. Flint
= I am a dead man; I've taken poisog |
ahlcts. | found his face flushed |
he pupils OF his eyes dllated, his pulse |
so. and feeble He told me he had |
waliow.d the poison quarters |
II an hour previously
The case was postponed until the |
eceipt of further advices as TO Rob- |
MS condition.
Robins frustrated attempt today |
eaVes the question OF his sanity still |
,pen. Dr. william Mahie for the
tate and Dr. Austin Flint for his
examined him last night and
ound him physically able 10 appear
n court today, but they did not pass
m his mental condition
Ina the AFFIDAVIT submitted by his
lister. when she applied for his com
nitment TO an asylum. she swore he
ttempted suicide last Saturday and |
ave that as one of the evidences OF
There were nc further develop
nents today in connection with either
he Northern Bank of New York or
he washington Savings Bank. both
Il which are in The hands of the state
ankins department, but the state
experiment. of insurance took over the
ffairs OF the Title a Guarantee COM
any Of Rochester, \. Y. A large force
i accountants is AZ work on the
sdgers OF the MANY interviewer com
anies which Robin promoted.
Hunter Incidentally shot.
H.N "a