New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
NOT THEIR PARENTS,
SAY ROBIN AND SISTER
Aued Williamsburg Couple Weep
as Indicted Man RepulSes
Their Fond Embraces.
WITH THEM FROM RUSSIA
But His Own Father and Mother,
Says Promoter, Are Exiles
Somewhere at Home, Per-
haps in Siberia.
WILLIAM A. PRENDERGAST.
Controller Of the City.

Joseph !. Robin, who is under indict-
ment for the larceny OF $4,000 from the
Washington Savings Bank. and his SIS
ter DR.. Louise G.. Robinovitch, were
brought face to face yesterday In the
District Attorneys office with the ageo
Williamsburg couple who have claimed
tl1e indicted man and his sister as their
children.
Robin and his sister fatty denied the
relationship. despite the old couples
fearful assertions
Robin and his sister did not know be-
forehand that they were to meet their
self-styled parents. They were suddenly
brought before them !. turn as Herman
Rabinovitch and his wife. both OF whom
are seventy five years old. waited In Mr'
Whitman's Office.
Grand Jury subpenas had been Issued
for the Rabinovitches, and were served
on them by detectives from the Dis'ric'
Attorneys office yesterday afternoon at
their home. at No. 361 Bushwick avenue
Williamsburg. They were ostensioly
wanted as witnesses to identity Rooin
snd his sister. and thereby controVert
certain statements made by Dr. Rooiho-
witch IN her affidavit TO the Supreme
Court in asking for the appointment ol
q commission for her brothers person
and property. DR.. RobnoWitch set lorti
therein that her parents were SUN III
pussia and that she was the only helr
ond next Of kin of her brother. The de-
termination of this question Will nave
an important bearing on the issue OF IN
sanity which has been injected into the
Robin case. :,
The old couple had previously declined
+o como to the District Attorneys ohics
unless Robin sent them note saying ne
wanted them to do so. Robin retuseu u
do that. so the subp9nas were used'
RabInowitch and his wife were not
taken before the grand jury yesterday
Thev will probably be called to TESTIFY
later on, when the investigation OF thls
new angle OF the case Is continued.
Robin eaIks at Interview.
Detectiyes Fogarty and Boyle arrived
., tho Criminal Courts Building with the
old couple about 2 o'clock They were
taken 10 a small room adjoining Mr.
yybitman's office. Robin was brought
over from the Tombs soon afterward'
s,,nnosedly that his examination by Drs.
Hamilton and Jelliffe, the alienists re-
,t,t,t
tanned by the District Attorney, might
be continued.
Robin was about to enter the District
Attornev's Office when some one told him
,be old couple were there to see him. he
halked and refused TO go In until one
~ the detectives who accompanied him
ossured him that his so-called parents
ha5 gone away District Attorney
yyb,tman. his assistants. Messrs. Clark
ond Muskowitz, former District Attorney
Jerome. Robins counsel; DR.. Austin
Flint. who has been retained for Ropih'
and the other alienists were present when
Robin was brought in.
The alienists had picked up their ex-
q animation Of Robin where they lett OH
on wednesday when Mrs. RabinoWitch
suddenly walked into the room. She
looked at Robin closely for moment
and then started toward him with out
stretched arms, calling him her son. The
nrisoner turned abruptly toward her and
with a scowl exclaimed: What In hell
ia the matter now?"
"Is this man your SOM" District At
,orney Whitman asked her.
Eyes. yes: he IS my boy" she replied
The old woman was apparently much
overcome by Robins abrupt denial and
sank into chair and began weeping.
In answer to the District Attorneys
questions Robin said that she was not
his mother and insisted that his parents
were still in Russia and political exiles.
He thought they were In Siberia, he said,
but wasn't sure what part of the coun-
FRY they were In. He said he had not
seen them since he was six years old
He hardly glanced at the old woman
while he was being examined, and when
he did he wore a cynical smile and
shook his head.
At that point Rablnovitch was
Continued on third page.