The San Francisco call., 1910-12-31
BANKER WOULD
CHEATLAW With
Death POTION
Joseph g. Robin Takes Poison
as He Leaves House for
Arraignment
Stomach Pump Saves Indicted
Financier's Life as He Coll
Iapses at Court Door

NEW YORK. Dec 30.-With head
erect, shoulders squared and eyes
1eveled at the battery of cameras
trained on him. Joseph G. Robin, the
indicted banker. stepped from his sis
ter's home this morning to face ar
rsignment calm in the knowledge that
he had swallowed dose of hyoscine,
the deadly akaloid with which Doctor
Crippen killed his wife, Belle Elmore.
He collapsed before he could be taken
into court with the exclamation, I
am a dead man; I have taken poison
tablets.
The case was postponed in the great
est excitement. a stomach pump was
hurriedly brought into play and the
sick man was carried first TO the prison
hospital and later to Bellevue. where
he lies tonight in the prison ward. No
charge Of attempted suicide is entered
against him. and it is thought he viii
recover. although the action of the
hTosctne is slow. and much viii depend
on his vitality.
HAD TAKEN 1T BEFORE
The time at which Robin took the
drug is approximately fixed by the tes-
timonv OF DR.. Austin Flint retained for
Robin by William Travers Jerome, his
counsel; DR.. Louise Robinovitch, his
sister, and two detectives who rode
with him from his sisters house to the
criminal court building
Doctos Flint told the court that as
nearly as he could judge the poison had
been ia Robins system about three
quarters OF an hour when be collapsed.
The two detectives were positive their
prisoner swallowed nothing on the way
TO court.
DR.. Bobinovitch said her brother was
in the habit Of taking hyoscine in small
doses to counteract the effects Of NOR
phine- which he used to deaden the
stabbiDg pains by which gallstones
made themselves known. She kent the
drug Ia her house, and she thought her
brother swallowed 10 tablets. At Belle
We tonight the examining surgeons
estimated that Robin had taken about
one-tenth of a grain.
Robin seemed in good health this
morning-better than at any time since
his troubles began-and he made no
effort TO screen his face from the cam
era as hitherto. The first sign Of i'll
ness was when he staggered. stepping
from his automobile to the criminal
courts building
In the elevator he weakened so rapid
" that the detectives had to lift him TO
a couch There he sank into uncon-
sciousness, and was not revived until
the stomach pump had been worked
vigorously It's prompt use saved his
life
Outside the corridors Of the criminal
courts building fairly hummed with ex-
citement, but in the court of general
sessions itself Judge Grain was trans
acting business as usual awhen At
torney Jerome stepped rapidly down the
aisle.
JEROME INTERRUPTS COURT
Your honor" he began, hurriedly.
II am here in the Robin case It ap-
pears that the defendant has taken a
drug. He can not be stimulated. An
ambulance has been summoned and
surgeons are now pumping his stOm-
sch. The delay is unavoidable
Dr. Austin Flint, retained by Jerome,
was called. The assistant district at
torney asked him what Robin had said.
He said. answered Doctor Flint. Il
am dead man; I've taken poison tab
lets~ found his face flushed, the pu-
pills OF his eyes dilated, his pulse $50
and feeble. He told me he had Swal-
lowed the poison three-quarters OF an
hour previously"
The case was postponed until the re-
ceipt Of further advices as to Robins
condition.
ROBINS frustrated attempt on ms Ire
today leaves the question Of his sanity
still open. DR.. William Mabie for the
state and Dr. Austin Flint for his coun-
sci examined him last night and found
him physically able to appear in court
TO-DAY. but they did not pass on his
mental condition
In the affidavit submitted by his sis
ter. when she applied for his commit
ment TO an asylum, she swore he at
-are,rzf sa6 suicide last = fFIrdax- and We
that as one evidence Of insanity.
There were no further developments
today in connection with either the
Bank Of Northern New York or the
Washington savings bank. both Of
which are in the hands of the state
banking department. but the state de-
partment Of insurance took over the
affairs Of the Title and Guarantee COM
psny Of Rochester. \. Y. A large force
Of accountants is at work on the ledg-
ers Of the many interviewer companies
which Robin promoted