New-York tribune., 1911-03-02
ROBIN PLEADS GUILTY
Continued from first page.

his conscience in the matter before SEN
fencing the prisoner.
Robin was induced to consent TO
plea Of guilty. it was said, partly TO avoid
the possibility he most dreaded of being
confined at Matteawan, or some other
state institution for the insane. IN the
event Of his acquittal on the only
grounds left open to the jury-that OF
insanity. If the court now institutes an
inquiry into the prisoners mental condi-
ton and should become convinced that
he was insane at the present urne
Robin would probably be committed 10
Matteawan after all. Otherwise. he may
be sentenced. as penalty for his crime
70 not less than five nor more than ten
years in state prison.
Mr.. Jerome predicted. after court au-
iourned. that If Robin lived he wouiu
eventually be transferred from sing sing
10 Matteawan asylum.
Il have all along believed. from the
first time I saw him" said Mr.. Jerome
that Robin was OF unsound mind. his
own letters and utterances 70 me WouIu
have convinced me Of his unsoundness
of mind even II I had not the evidence
of thirteen Of the leading alienists or
America. all agreeing that he was not
mentally competent"
Robin had expressed Willingness 10
make a clean breast TO the District Al
tornev of all he had 10 do with the va
rious transactions upon which the eight
indictments pending against him were
based. Mr. Goldsmith said yesterday
though no clamency had been promised
him from the District Attorneys once.
Robin would go further than that' MI
Goldsmith said. and furnish the plstrlCt
Attorney with valuable information as
10 the rart that others had taken IN the
Robin ventures and in other question:
able transactions involving INSTITUTIONS
wholly apart from the Northern Bank
and the savings bank mentioned IN tHe
charges brought against the defendant.
The decision to place Robins tate en-
t;relv within the discretion and mercy OF
the court in so far as plea OF guli'E
would accomplish that end was reached
ar a conference in Justice Seabury
cham hers at the close Of court on Tues
day. District Attorney Whitman MI
Jerome. Mr.. Goldsmith and DR.. Louise
Robinovitch, Robins sister. were pres
ert ar the conference Robin was de-
tained in court and later was called INTO
The iudge's chambers and his consent
obtained in the matter. II is UNDERSTOOD
that DR. Robinovitch had for some time
urged her brother 10 plead guilty as the
best way our Of his present difi1culty'
Mr.. Goldsmith supported her contention
II was said. and for that reason ne was
suddenly called into the criminal end OF
the case 10 act in place OF Mr.. jerome.
Denies Robin Had Slammed.
Mr. Goldsmith denied Yesterday that
Robin had been shanming insanity at
any time. Robin had always main
tanned. in the face Of the opinion OF the
we'll known alienists who examined him.
that he was perfectly sane, Mr.. Cold
smith said. He had obstinately fought
from the beginning the beliei ot MI
Jerome that he was insane. and had con-
sietontly objected to the latter's deter
nination 10 make insanity the defence
at his trial, his present lawyer said. Mr..
Goldsmith was inclined TO think that
there would have been fairly good de-
fence to the indictments on the facts
which might have been presented to the
furv nv the defence.
But the best thing left for Robin to
do was to plead guilty" said Mr.. Gold
smith. He would not be any better off
with a trial under the conditions which
existed. He could only hope for ac-
ouittal on the ground of insanity and
that would necessitate an indefinite con
fnement i'm Matteawan or some other
state asylum. If he had been convicted
after long trial it is more than likely
that he would have received a long SEN
tence."
There was nothing Of the imbecile
smile and the listless attitude which
kept Robin company during the TWO
davs occupied in selecting the jury
when ne stood up before Justice Seabury
10 plead guilty yesterday. He appeared
fairIv chipper and cheerful, as If his de-
,ision TO admit his guilt had lifted
burden from his mind. He was eager to
make a statement 10 the court but the
nrivilege was denied TO him by Justice
seabury upon objection by District At
tornev Whitman. The prisoner gave his
,edirree TO Clerk Brophy without any
hesitation or apparent mental fogginess
He said he was thlrty-six years DID,
single. and gave his occupation as real
astate" He had never had any religious
instruction. he said. was temperate and
rad never been convicted before Asked
about his parents. Robin again denied
Tho, be knew whether they were living
mr. dead. lie did not know "here ms
mother and father were born. he said.
hut he had come into the world AT
Odessa. Russia. He had become a prop
erIv naturalized citizen Of this country
he said
Robins sister appeared in court early
and was much wrought up over the ac-
counts Of some or the morning papers
that her brother had said he had been