The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-01
ROBIN MUST STAND
TRIAL IN NEW YORK
Indicted Banker Is Pronounced
Sane BY Jury
CHARGE OF BRIBERY
Robin Declares That He Bribed a State
Examiner to Pass Upon Certain
Securities in His Bank
In 1907
CHARGE OF BRIBERY

New York, January 31.-Joseph G. Rob
in alleged wrecker of banks, must stand
trial on eight indictments charging lar
ceny in the first degree. Although five
aienists testified that in their opinion
he is crazy, jury before Judge Swami
in the court of general sessions thought
otherwise and returned a verdict OF
sane late this afternoon. William Ira
vers Jerome, unwillingly acting as coun-
sci for Robin under court appointment
said there had been a great miscarriage
of justice Judge Swami, on the other
Rand, congratulated the jury for the YER
diet contrary to expert opinion.
Robin himself spent more than an hour
on the stand today, and gave a rambling
account of his affairs and beliefs, ranging
from alleged attempts on his life to a
declaration that he had bribed NJ. w.
Hutchins, chief examiner of the state
banking department, to pass upon secur-
tiles covering loans held in 1907 by the
Riverside branch of the Northern Bank
of New York. one of Robins institutions.
AS proof of his statements he has ex-
hitited a check for $4,000 dated May 1,
1907 made payable to Mr.. Hutchins and
indorsed with what purported to be
Hutchins signature.
Mr.. Hutchins tonight issued a state
ment saying that in 1907 Frederick D.
Kilburn, then state superintendent of
banks, suggested that he could obtain
stock in the Fidelity Development COM
pany, a newly organized real estate con-
Germ, of which Mr.. Kiburn was to be-
come president after leaving the banking
department On this advice he said he
raised $4,000 partly among relative and
purchased 45 shares of the preferred
stock.
after owning this stock for about
three months the statement says. Il
learned for the first time that Robin
was dominant In the affairs of the COM
pany'
With this knowledge, Mr.. Hutchins said
he decided to sell out and so informed
Mr.. Kilburn. "Afterward," says his
statement, "Robin said. 4 learn from
Mr.. l<ilburn that you want to sell your
Fidelity Development company stock.
Upon my replying in the affirmative, he
asked me what l would take for it, and
| told him $4,000. The next morning my
son Claude took the certificates to the
office of the compar- and received a
check for 5000
Robins version of the affair early in
his testimony today was surprise TO
everybody.
Drs. Allan McLane Hamilton, Smith D.
Jolliffe, Charles D. Dana, Austin Flint
end Pearce Bailey testified that in their
belief Robin was insane and unfit to con-
fer with counsel. In the face of this tes-
timony Mr.. Jerome was almost swept off
his feet by the verdict
This thing is a farce" he exclaimed
II say this man is not in state of mind
to advise his counsel and decline to en-
ter a plea"
1.-The verdict vindicates the jury sys-
tenn over the expert" the court said. II
this man is not to be tried we may as
well turn out every one in the city prison
l direct that-the defendant enter a plea :
At this stage it was discovered that
Judge Swami could not hear pleas in the
department where he is sitting and the
case was adjourned until Thursday morn
ing.