Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-29
Jury |ND|CTS ROBIN
Charges Bank President With
Larceny of $50, 900.
ELECTED FROM ASYLUM
Financier Taken Away in Automo.
bile by His Sister.
AT APARTMENTS IN NEW YORK
Engages Former District Attorney
Jerome to Defend Him-Experts
Go Over Books.

NEW YORK, December 29.-The grand
jury this afternoon handed down an in
dictment against Joseph G. Robin. whose
financial transactions are alleged to be
responsible for the closing of the North
ern Bank of New York last Tuesday. The
indictment specifically charges Robin
with the larceny of $4,000 from the
Northern Bank
Robin formerly Robinowitz) was turned
out of private asylum yesterday.
whittier he was taken when officials
closed the Bank of Northern New York,
of which he was president. and started
an investigation of a score of other con-
Germs he is said to control
Millions of dollars of deposits are tied
up by the actions Of the state and city
officials. and there Is revealed re-
markable story of high finance Of a
man born in Russia thirty-five years ago,
who had risen from bootblack to an i'm
portant interest in chain of financial
corporations.
Changed His Name.
Robin has been in America only twenty
years, changing his name eighteen years
ago. 1t has been claimed for him that
he Is related to Russian royalty.
Officials at DR.. Carlos F. MacDonalds
clined to discuss their refusal to give
Robin refuge. except to refer to mis-
statements, presumably as to his mental
condition. Robin was whisked away at
once in an automobile with his sister. DR..
Louise Robinovitch. and eluded pursuit.
Last night he was reported to be in
seclusfon in New York. Detectives had
watched his apartments and the home of
his sister until District Attorney Whit
man received word from William Travers
Robin had retained him as counsel.
Robin is in this city," said Mr.. Whit
man. after hearing from Mr.. Jerome.
and Mr.. Jerome has assured me that he
VIII produce Robin when the district at
torney wants him."
1t is rumOred that Robins attack of
paranoia did not develop its alarmingly
acute stage until Friday, when, coinci-
IDENTITY, 1t is said. Robins friends learned
OF the official investigation into the af-
fairs Of the Northern Bank
Started Inquiry December II.
The discovery Of something new in the
way of what Supt Hotchkiss calls end
iess-chain finance came as long ago as
December IA, when he began an investi-
CATION into the affairs of the Aetna In
demnity Company Of Hartford Conn.
Robin owned 81 per cent of the stock of
the Aetna Indemnity Company, and
through that institution he had obtained
control Of the Rochester Title and Guar
antee Company. He was interested in
many other companies and banks, and
as chairman of the executive committee
OF the Northern Bank Of New York prac-
tically controlled that institution's policy.
among other concerns in which he was
interested were the Fidelity DEVELOPMENT
Company, which owns the Morris Park
race track property: the Bankers Realty
ana security Company, the South Shore
traction Company and the Babylon Rail-
road Company. He was also president
and trustee of the Washington Savings
Bank in the city of New York
Financial Tangle.
The whole case is extremely compli-
Gated by the tangle of relations between
the various banks, companies and insur-
ance institutions in which Robin was in
terested or which he controlled. Supt
Hotchkiss has taken possession of the
assets of the Rochester Title and Guar
antee Company, and Supt. Cheney has
large staff of expert accountants at
work upon the books of the Northern
Bank of New York and it's nine branches,
with deposits of nearly $7,OOO,OOO.
When patrons of the Washington Saw
ings Bank entered the bank yesterday
they found the following notice posted
near the receiving teller's window:
'Depositors will be required to give
sixty days notice previous to making
Withdraw walls from their accounts"
Secretary Cheneys name was signed to
the notice.
This notice." said the secretary, lis
simply a precautionary measure. The
bank is safe, and this is designed to avert
a run on it, which might be started by
the present excitement"