El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-27

! THESE enterprises, ana giving nOInlnS III
return except worthless collateral. The
grand jury investigation showed that
he had obtained thousands Of dollars
from his banks without depositing any
collateral. Sensations in the Robin
case. however, did not end with the
| arrest Of financier.
Makes Suicide Efforts.
On December 80 he was taken to
court to plead to the indictment which
charged him with the theft Of $4,000,
/ and while in the courtroom, attempt
ed suicide by swallowing poison. The
dose however, was not sufficient to
Kill, and after few days in the hospi-
/ tai he was taken to the Tombs prison,
no worse for the attempt. It became
evident at this time that his defence
would be based on an insanity plea,
! and whether his attempt to take his
/ life was the part of a clever ruse to
| bolster up this plea, or the act Of
! desperate man, is question which is
a difference of opinion
Denies His Parents.
Another interesting incident in the
Robin case. and one which increased
the public resentment against the
wrecked banker, occurred a few days
later when he and his sister, DR.. Louise
Rabinovitch, denied their parents.
This pathetic scene occurred in the
office Of the district attorney, where
Mr.. and Mrs. Herman Rabinovitch,
aged couple, who lived in Brooklyn,
presented evidence showing that they
were the parents of the banker. Robin.
While admitting that they had brought
him from the old country, said that
they were no relation to him, and that
his parents were in Siberia.
The following days seven more in
dictments were returned against Robin
charging him with the theft of s2O7,-
600 from the Washington Savings
bank. In the meantime Robins sister
had requested the supreme court to
appoint commission TO look after
her brothers estate, stating that she
was the only living relative This re-
quest was denied on January Z, and
three days later DR.. Rabinovitch was
indicted on the charge Of perjury. In
making her application she claimed
to be Robins only relative, but the
district attorney presented the testi-
mony of the aged Brooklyn couple
and an Indictment followed. Her trial
has not as yet come up.
AS an indirect result OF Robins
methods the Carnegie Trust company
closed its doors on January Z, and
at present is in the hands of the state
banking department.
Arrzigned; Refuses to Plead.
and as he would not enter any plea
to the Indictment, the court ordered
that one OF not guilty be presented.
This caused another interesting fight
Former district attorney Jerome, coun-
sci for Robin had contended all along
that his client was isane, and and
should not be compelled to stand trial
On January Is, upon motion OK dis
trict attorney Whitman, judge Swami
f1%a
Dr.. Pearce Bailey as a commission to
determine the prisoners mental. con-
dltion. The case came up on February
] before u jury and evidence was pre-
sented by five noted alienists to the
effect that Robin was insane and IN
able to confer nationally with his
counsel
Tells Rambling Story.
Robin was also placed on the stand
and told a rambling story to the ef
feet that he vas the victir Of the
Standard Oil company and J. P. Nor
gan, and that someone was attempting
to poison him in the Tombs Despite
this evidence. however, the jury re-
turned a verdict TO the effect that
Robin was sane and should stand trial.
Judge Swami complimented them on
their verdict and as a result was Sc
verely criticised by NJ Jerome and
trial The jurors all said that they
were Of the opinion that Robin was
feigning insanity and Judge Swami
backed them up.
All Of Robins concerns are in the
hands of receivers and bankruptcy
proceedings against Robin are at pres
ent being conducted before a commits
sioner appointed by the United States
commission court. AS the result Of
Ia
Charles K. LexelI, William P. Youngs
and Thomas F. Murphy, trustees of
the Washington Savings bank, are I'M
der Indictment on the charge of per
jury, while William L Browls, the vice
president of the Northern bank. IS also |
under indictment on the same charge, |
and Frank L. Grant, the former presI- I
dent of that institution, has been in
dicted for misdemeanor.
Summary of Robin Case.
December 27, 191O-Northern Bank |
Of New York closes its doors, reveal |
ing the daring financial methods OF |
Joseph G. Robin. who is clapped into |
a private sanitarium before the crash |
comes.
December %, 1s1O-Robin is turned |
out of sanitarium. and, in o-apany |
with his sister. DR.. Louise 3a Dino-
witch, goes to Jersey.
December %. 1910-Robin is indict
ed on the charge of the theft of $780,
600 from the Washington Savings bank.
and is placed under arrest at his sis
ter's home in New York. Washington
Savings bank closes its doors.
December 80, 1910-Robin takes poi
son in the courtroom, as he is ABOUT
to be arraigned, but the dose does
not prove fatal.
January 3, 1s11-Robin and his sis
ter de0y aged OarenfS
January 6, 1911-Seven more indict
ments returned against Robin, charg-
ing him with theft of 100000 from
the Washington Savings bank.
January Z, 1911-Sister's request for
lunacy commission denied by New York |
supreme court
January Carnegie Trust company |
closes as an indirect result of Robins |
financial methods.
January 10.-Dr. Louise RabinOvitch. |
Robins sister, indicted on charge of !
perjury. A plea Of not guilty to the /
grand larceny charge is entered for |
Robin.
January 14-Several trustees Of
Washington Savings bank indicted on
charges of perjury growing out of the