New-York tribune., 1911-03-01
ROBIN TO PLEAD GUILTY
TO-DAY, It IS SAID
Indicted Banker Reported To Be
Ready to Give Up Fight
for Freedom.
TAKES PART IN CONFERENCE
Insanity Defence Abandoned, 1t
Is Alleged, with Admission
That 1t Was Simply
Means of Escape.


Joseph c. Robin, who is being tried IN
the Criminal Branch Of the Supreme
Court on an Indictment charging grand
larceny. will plead guilty to-day. 1t was
said last night. if the arrangements
made at a conference yesterday after
noon Of his counsel. the District At
torney and Justice Seabury are carried
out The proposed pleading was agreed
upon, 1t was learned, after several over
| lures by both Robin and his sister, DR..
| Louise G. Robinovtch. in which the pris-
oner said he was ready to throw up the
sponge" and his sister declared, ut is all
! over: have done my best to save him.
! These statements are said to have been
made IN the presence of both Justice
Seabury and the District Attorney. IT
! is practically certain that the case will
end to-day.
| Not the least amazing feature of the
whole affair is that Robin. who was
adjudged insane by thirteen eminent
alenists. now says II is said. that he is
absolutely sane and that he has been
sane all the time. but that he was sham
ming in order to beat the case"
Chance in Robins Manner.
| At Yesterdays conference. which took
place in Justice Seabury's chambers, i'm
mediatelv after adjournment Of court
and after two DAYS had been spent In
selecting a jury 10 try him, Robin threw
off all pretence Of insanity. it is SAID
The idotic grin which he wore every
time he has appeared in court disap-
peared. lie became again the shreWd,
calculating business man who rose from
humble station TO be a power In finance.
He explained in detail just how re
had obtained the $4,000 which the IN
dictmcnt charged him with stealing from
the Washington Savings Bank, one or
institutions which was closed as an al
legged result OF his operations.
He discussed. it Is alleged, the men
who had been involved with him in that
bank and i'm the Northern Bank whlch
also went down when he could no longer
float his undertakings. Some of them
he acknowledged. according to the story
we're his tools. while others, he SAID
were no better than himself.
All of this took place. it is said after
he had accepted the inevitable, and after
rronositions made by him in the pres
crce Of former District Attorney Je-
rcrne and Henry j. Goldsmith. his law
yers. and Justice Seabury' had heen re-
iected by District Attorney Whltmah n
with the ultimatum that the only plea
no would consider was one OF guilty.
without any conditions, to the indict-
mont on which he was beng tred charS-
inc the larceny of s27 900 from the Wash
ington Savings Bank, the same being
oulv part Of the total of 100000 with
the larceny of which Robin is charged
in eight indictments.
"Tl tell ali" Robin is said To- have
exclaimed. I'm substance then, Il thro"
nm the sponge" ani DIR. Robbinovitch
who had been waiting outside the con-
ference room for the outcome received
the news as has been told.
Mr.. Jerome Also Surprised.
Mr. Jerome. who, backed up by the
ontnions of thirteen well known alien
ie,e that Robin was insane, has fought
against his trial on the ground mat he
couId not advise with counsel, was ap-
: parentlv as much surprised as any one
= In the circumstances he urged Robin &c
plead guilty to the indictment II was
said.
, In the hope that he might obtain
I leniency in his sentence, which may
under the statute defining grand larceny
in the first degree be not less than fvt
nor more than teI. years in state prison
Robin intimated. It is said, that he wal
ready to tell all he knew about the In
, side affairs Of the various financial III
. stitutions with which his name has beer
connected.
/ The same suggestions had been con
veved to District Attorney Whitman, !
t was learned, by DR.. Robinovitch' OF
! Monday night. when she called at tn
home of District Attorney Whitman IL
the Hotel Iroquois and said her brothe
WAS ready to plead. The District Attor
new told her he would not discuss tn
matter with either her or the defendan
excepting N the presence Of the latter
counsel
L Then d.. Robinovitch tried 10 get IN
ear Of Justice Seabury, succeedil'
l. finally yesterday in reaching him whil
he was on the bench Briefly she com
. rnunicated the fact that Robin wa
g ready 10 plead guilty and Justice Sea
= bury called the conference in his cham
10 bcrs after the adjournment of court.
= II cannot be blamed for trying |
& make the best OF my position and ascap
e a. lightly as possible were Robin
/. final words. as he was take back TO M
Il cell in the Tombs, ii was learned. bu
I cannot 20 any further. If ! can onl
= get a little clean ar for couple Q
y. weeks. I will be ready To go away an
pay the penalty"
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