New-York tribune., 1911-02-28
GETTING JURY FOR ROBIN
Six Men Already Selected, and
Two Panels May End Task.
MANY SHOW PREJUDICE
Jerome Indicates Insanity De-
fence, Which Several Talesmen
Treat with Contumely.


Northern Bank of New York and the Wash
ington Savings Bank last December, was
brought to trial yesterday on a charge OF
grand larceny before Justice Seabury in the
criminal branch Of the Supreme Court de-
spite the renewed contention Of his counsel.
former District Attorney Jerome. that his
client was insane Fifty taesmen were ex-
amned and six were chosen jurors at yes
terday's session. Two new panels OF one
hundred talesmen each were summoned for
to-day from which it Is hopeI that the jury
will he completed
Robin Is being tried on one of eight in
dictments found against him accusing him
of stealing an aggregate sum Of &OIOW
from the Washington Savings Bank. Dis
trict Attorney Whitman. who Is personally
prosecuting the case. elected tc try him on
the specific charge of purloining $4,000 from
the savings bank on August Il.
A curious crowd gathered in the corridor
outside the courtroom before the opening Of
court yesterday, desrous of look at the
banker who has been declared insane by
several we'll known alienists and afterward
adjudgcd legally sane by a jury in General
Sessions. No one was allowed in the court
tion with the case. Robin was brought
down from the Tombs closely guarded by
detectives from the District Attorneys Of
flee. Every precaution was taken TO avoid
a repetition Of his sensational attempt 10
commit suicide at the time Of his arraign
ment Immediately after mis- arrest.
The defendant sat throughout the pro-
ceedings Yesterday with q General demean-
or of Indifference When Mr.. Jerome was
vigorously urging upon the court that the
trial should not be allowed 10 go on because
his client. was insane Robin kept blandly
smiling at his counsel and Justice Seabury
in turn. lie smiled into vacancy when he
WAS forced 10 stand up and confront each
juror AS he was accepted. Dr Louise G..
Rohinovtch. sister of :hc defendant, and
Robins former secretary. Mrs. Dorland.
sat near him at the counsel table through
out the day. His sister wore a heavy black
veil, which she did not raise in court
Many Show Their Prejudice.
Many Of the talesmen examined ycster-
day were found TO have "A tenacious prciu-
dice against the defendant based on what
they had read about his financial exploits
In the newspapers. Some Of them were
particularly prejudiced because they had
read that Robin had repudiated his parents.
Or. Rohinoyitch + at present under indict-
mont for perjury for denying her self
sly led parents i'm an affidavit Other tales
men had been depositors in the Northern
Bank when the crash came \ number
were prejudiced to insanity as a defence,
MI jerome making it clear that the de-
fence would follow that line They would
give little weight 10 the testimony OF alien |
lists or insanity experts. several talesmen !
said, In answer TO Mr.. Jeromcs questions
one man frankly declared that he would
consider that such testimony had been
bought.
Mr.. Jerome objected TO the examination
of each talosman. on tho grounds that
Robin was insane and unable TO consult !
with his counsel. but the objections were |
overruled III each instance by Justice Sea
bury with the same hnality with which |
he had denied the motion Of counsel for the |
defence. earlier in the day, to dismiss the !
case because Robin had recently been de- |
clarcd insane by alienists.
From Mr.. Jeromes questions To the pros |
pective jurors il appeared that the defence |
Intended to call twelve or thirteen aliersts, !
who had examined the defendant at vari- |
Gus times, 10 attempt to show not only that !
Robin was insane at the present time, but |
was insane when he committed the acts |
which gave rise 10 the indictments.
The prosecution will cndeavor TO prove, |
II is under stood. that while Robin was |
president Of the Washington Savings Bank |
he was also interested in and controlled the |
Northern Bank. the Title and Guarantee !
Company. Of Rochester and the Bankers |
Realty and Security Company. all of which |
were closely allied in the transactions thai |
fol med the basis of the indictment
Plans OF the Prosecution.
About August 16. the prosecution will |
seek to show. Robin was In need Of money |
10 meet certain personal obligations, and |
appropriated $27.CJJ from the Washington
Bank for that purpose. The amount was
drawn out in TWO checks Of $1,000 and S5,- I
GO respectively, and these checks were |
transferred from one branch Of the North
ern Bank to another and to the account OF |
the guarantee and realty companies, in or
der to cover up the alleged theft. the peo-
pie will try TO show.
The prosecution expects to call about
soclates cf Robin in his numerous business
ventures and the officers of the Northern
and Washington banks. Some of the Off
GERS of the Carnegie Trust Company may
be called as witnesses for the people, it was
said
Robin has been lodged I'm the Tombs in
default Of $4,000 bail since his arrest last
December. Robin was committed 70 Dr.
Carlos f. MacDonald's sanatorium at Cen
tral Valley, y. Y, on December q, two /
days before the collapse OF the two banks,
on an application TO Justice Amend, Of the
Supreme Court by his sister, DIR. Rabno-
witch Or. Macdonald refused to receive
the patient. and he allowed TO stay
only overnight. Then followed a hunt
for the banker by the authorities for sew
cral days. until he appeared at the home
OF his sister i'm West l26th street and sur
rendered himself TO the District Attorney,
through his counsel, Mr.. Jerome.
The day Robin was brought i'm an auto
mobile 10 tho criminal courts TO plead to
the indictments found against him it was
learned that he had swallowed a dozen
tablets Of hyosCyamn just before leaving
his sisters house. lie tainted in the Dis
trict Attorneys office, and physicians
worked over him for some time until he
was removed 10 the prison ward Of Belle
vue Hospital, where he subsequently re-
covered. Mr.. jerome later desired TO with
draw from the case, but Judge Swami, in
General Sessions, before whom Robin was
declared sane ~ jury. assigned Mr.. Jc-
rome as counsel for the defendant
The six jurors selected Yesterday were
J. Goodwin Mcdonald. an accountant, OF
No 1909 Lexington avenue. Robert f. FL