Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-28
EXPERTS EMANO
NEW PROBE into
ROBINS SANITY
DepOsitOrs of Wrecked Bank
Will Be Paid in FulI-StOck=
holders Lose Heavily.

: NEW YORK, Dec. ga staff of ex-
perts, under the direction Of Bank Su-
p~erintendent Cheney, is investigating
today the affairs of the Northern Bank
of New York, whose suspension yes
terday brought to light the news that
Joseph G.. Robin. who held control OF
the bank, had been committed the
night before to a s~anatorium. Robin
not only controlled the Northern Bank,
but. according to State Superintendent
of Insurance Hotchkiss, largely con-
trolled several other companies.
The real condition of the Northern
Bank probably will not be known for
at least three weeks, and in the mean
time the State bank and insurance
officials indicate that they will insist
that Robin undergo another examina-
ton as to his mental condition. He will
be brought back to the city If he is
found to be shamming insanity.
Depositors of the Northern Bank and
its branches probably will be paid in
full, but how the stockholders will fare
a only be surmised.
HOW Robin started Career.
That a Russian youth, with no knowl-
edge Of the English language and less
of the ways of this country, could
COME to New York penniless, practical
ly friendless, and in sixteen years build
up a fortune of $4,000, 900, become a
financial power in the East, a ruler of
men and affairs, has developed in the
remarkable history of Joseph 6. Robin,
formerly Joseph G. Rabinowitz.
The rise Of this young Robin-he is
only SO now-is without equal. For
daring this Russian could be compared
to Charles w. Morse, Edward R.
Thomas, Fritz Augustus Heinze and
others whose manipulations before the
panic Of 1907 drove many to ruin and
Morse to the p~enitentiary.
It vas with such men as these that
Robin associated. He a no time for
small fry. Men of millions were his
associates in business hours. At night
the f~requenters of Broadway cafes and
expensive restaurants were his COM
panions. Along Broadway Robin, a
lavish spender, a cheerful companion,
was regarded as a Frenchman. His
accent was decidedly more French than
Russian. Man Of large affairs though
he was, Robin-who preferred his name
pronounced Ro-ban-was a good deal of
a rounder.
He loved luxury and the things his
could buy, and he bought what
he liked. His apartments in the Stuy-
vesant Chambers, 10 Gramercy Park,
are most lavish.
Rabinowitz was about 90 years old
when he landed at Ellis Island. He
followed his sister, Miss Louise Rabino-
WITT, now DR.. Rabinowitz, to this coun-
try. Their parents had beer driven
from Russia for political agitation.
Miss Rabinowitz was then a nurse in
the Manhattan State Hospital for In
sane, on Wards Island. Rabinowitz
was not long in getting work. The Re-
corder needed a Russian reporter for
the lower east side, and Rabinowitz
got the job. He began learning Eng
fish rapidly, and he saved every cent
he could.
One day Louise Rabinowitz told her
brother of scandalous conditions in the
insane asylum. Rabinowitz grabbed.
the opportunity quickly. He made a
deal with the Herald by which $500 and
a job were given him for the story.
Rabinowitz had saved about $500. He
lasted a month or so on the Herald and
then branched out to make money hand
over fist.
It was learned at the district attor-
ney's Office shortly before noon today
that Robin had left the sanitarium at
Central Valley. N. Y, to which he went
early this week, and was nov said to
be at his home In this city. The sani-
tarium authorities, it was said, refused
to receive him as a patient.