Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-02-01
Five AGenists Declare the
New Yorker Insane
But Jury Decides Otherwise
Nj. Jerome Much Disguised.
Robin Charges Having Paid
Graft 10 Slate Official.

New York. Jan. 31.--Joseph q. Robin
alleged wrecker of banks, must stand
trial on eight indictments charging
larceny in the first degree. Although
five alienists testified that i'll their
opinion he is crazy, jury before Judge
Swan in the court of general sessions
thought otherwise and today returned
verdict of sane"
Robin spent more than an hour on
the stand and gave Il rambling account
Of his affairs and beliefs, ranging from
alleged attempts on his life to d dec
laration that lie had bribed NJ. w.
Hutchins, chief examiner of the state
banking department, to pass upon Sc
curities covering loans held in 1907.
Robin spoke almost inaudiblN at
times and was requested repeatedly by
Justice Swain to raise his voice. The
indicted banker said that he came to
this country In 1885 and had engaged
in various ventures until 1906. when he
participated in the merger of finan-
cal institution of which he was patt
owner. with the Northern Bank.
Robin said he understood, all right.
that the proceedings today were 10 de-
termine his present mental condition
MI Hutchins tonight, in a statement
giving his side Of the case, said that
in 1907. Frederick d. kilburn, then
state superintendent OF banks. sug.
gesteG that he could obtain stock in
the Fidelity Development Co, of which
Mr. Kilburn was to become president
when he left the banking department,
and that he raised $4,000 among himself
lot 1, ciia
of the proffeTed stock.
After owning this stock for about
three months" continued the Hutchins
statement. Il learned for the first time
that Joseph G.. Robin was dominant in
the affairs of the company
With this knowledge. Mr.. Hutchins
goes on pc decided to sell out and so
informed Mr.. kilburn.
afterwards" says his statement,
Robin came to me and said: 1 learn
from Mr.. kilburn that you want TO sell
Your Fidelity Development Co. stock.
Upon my replying in the affirmative
he asked me what | would take for it
and told him $4,000. The next morning
my son Claude took the certificates to
the Office of the company and received
Il checx for $4,000
Robins version of the affair came
early in his testimony today and was
Il surprise to everybody.
Il bought the Riverside Bank. Robin
testified. THE banking department
that had been allowing this bank to
go along this way suddenly jumped
on me. In connection with this, I'll
give you an illustration of how the
banking department is working.
"How about this Fidelity Develop
ment Company NJ. w. Hutchins, the
chief examiner of banks, asked me.
said bought it for s75 but it was now
worth par. He said 1 don't think it is
worth d.
why do you say that I asked.
Because l bought 46 shares and /
have not been able to get a bid on it,
How much did you pay for it? l
asked.
$4,000" he answered. I paid him
$4,000 by check and Hutchins passed
our bank. This is the way the bank
ing department does business. They
don't allow themselves to be put on
record. They usually require cash.
This believe Is the only proof, guess.
i'm the city
Doctors Allen McLain Hamilton.
Smith ID. Jelliffe, Charles D. Dana, Aus
tin F1ynt and Pearce Bailey all testi-
fled that to their belief Robin was in
sane. DR.. Bailey admitted on cross
examination that the prisoners mem
ory was reasonably clear and that 1t
is possible to feign insanity, but the
other alienists were emphatic i'll their
statements that Robin was unfit to con-
fer with counsel.
In the face of this testimony Mr..
jerome was almost swept off his feet
by the verdict
Il say this man is not in a state of
mind to advise his counsel and | de-
cline to enter a plea"
The verdict vindicates the jury sys-
tenn over the expert" said the court
smilingly. IF this man is not to be
tried. we may as well turn out every
one In the city prisons
MIR. Jerome continued his protests
and remarked that the execution of
Giteau. Garfield's assassin, was "cruel.
judicial murder" and that the tkial of
Czolgosz was a disgrace to the bar Of
: this state"
Il direct that the defendant enter
plea, said the court At this stage
it was discovered that Judge Swan
could not hear pleas in the department
where he is sitting and the case was
adjourned until Thursday morning.