New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-29
CARBOHYDRATES ROBIN
Whitman Finds Reluctant but
important Witness in Banker.
AGREED TO CARNEGIE LOAN
Threats to Withdraw the City 8
Deposits Forced Action,
Affidavit States.

Further confederation of the evidence
given by Joseph G. Robin in the Carnegie
Trust case came yesterday from director
OF the Northern Bank who attended the
meeting OF the banks executive committee
at which the loan OF $4,000 to the Car
negie Trust Company was determined upon.
This director. an influential BANKER ana
mer- hant. whose name Is withheld. mace
an affidavit before the District Attorney
which IL is supposed will later he pro-
duced before the grand jury. II rs con-
sidered an important link In the chain or
evidence being forged by the people IN
their case against Charles II. Hyde
This latest informant gave up with
struggle For two hours and hair ne
was closeted with Mr.. Whitman. who ola
everything 10 refresh his memory but use
the third degree
Robin and his counsel, Samuel j. Cold
smith, had told the District Attorney that
this director was one Of the men who had
attended that executive committee meet
ing in the Times Building on August a.
1910 the day after Hyde and Robin met IN
the CITY Chamberlain Wall street office
Robin has testified that he told his fellow
directors on lIls Ottd~ioh Ah'S
at least $4,000 to the Carnegie Trust Com
pany or lose their city deposits
Anthony Stumpf. another director OF the
Northern Bank who was present az tue
time has told the grand jury that the
money was lent under duress. Yesterday
affidavit confirms both.
Thanks 10 Robin, the District Attorney
held all the cards during the strenuous
examination Robin had persuaded Her
man Joseph. OF House. Grossman and Vor-
haus. counsel for the director in question:
to get from his client the details OF his
recollection Of the meeting and. knowing
these beforehand, Mr.. Whitman was hnaliy
able to get the affidavit This document
recites that the signer was called by teie-
phone on the morning OF August "A TO leave
his place Of business and repair al once 10
the Times Building, where a number OF
Robins companies had their offices. There
IN the presence of five or six other wit
nesses. the director heard Robin say. In
substance:
Gentlemen. the Carnegie Trust COM
pany IL in a very bad way. I was In con-
sultation last night with William j. Cum
Minis and Joseph B. Reichmann. who in
sisted that lend their company money. L
told them I couldn't. that the Northern
Bank was not in a position TO make them
a loan OF $4,000. Then they took me 10
Charles H. Hyde's Office at No. 81 Wall
street
Would Lose City Deposits.
"I was assured that II l didn't give the
money I'D the city deposits in the Northern
I,,k hnt
did our city deposits would be doubled.
Therefore I advise you gentlemen to au-
thorize the loan"
The loan was authorized forthwith, az
cording TO the affidavit. and furthermore.
II was agreed. the affidavit says. that the
loan should appear on the books Of the
Carnegie Trust Company as a participation
in a purchase OF city bonds.
Thomas Murphy assistant postmaster.
who was with Robin when he received the
telephone message on August q from Cum
minis and Reichmann, will be called before
the grand jury. It was learned. Robin is
supposed to have remarked to Mr.. Murphy
after answering the telephone:
The life OF a banker is hard. Here I've
got dinner engagement with you. but
have to go downtown. These chaps want
money, I suppose. but don't want to lend
IL TO them, for I know won't get II back"
Murphy accompanied Robin TO the Car
negie Trust Company. at No. l1o Broadway.
where he waited for him in what is known
as the Southern Room
City Employees Before Grand Jury.
The grand jury heard yesterday from
Deputy Controller Fisher and Deputy
Chamberlain Walsh. Mr. Fisher testified
concerning Prendergast's efforts to safe
guard city money in Hyde's absence. and
Walsh said he acted always under Hyde's
orders in deposting city money, Cum
Minis was not called again, and departed for
Nashville
At hearing in the bankruptcy proceed
ings against Robin il developed yesterday
that Mortimer L. Schiff. of the banking
firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co, had been asso-
cisted with James G. Cannon president OF
the Fourth National Bank. in the latter's
efforts TO get hold Of Robins Northern