New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-22
Threatened to Withdraw City
Money from Northern Bank, He
Declares, Unless Carnegie
Trust Got $4,000.
DEFENCE ASSAILS WITNESS
Emphasizes Alleged Expert
ences as Lunatic and Denial of
Parents-Will Prove, Says
Whitman, Profit in
Using City Cash.

| Joseph G.. Robin, the convicted bank
err told with great precision and a nice
feeling for word values yesterday, the
story Of his conference In the summer
OF 1910 with Charles II. Hyde, who was
! then City Chamberlain, on the night
| before his bank the Northern Bank.
! lent the Carnegie Trust Company
! $4,000. He provided the major en-
| tertainment at the Hyde trial before
| J1stice Goff and jury in the Criminal
Branch OF the Supreme Court, his di-
rect and cross-examination taking up
the entire afternoon.
1t was on August %. 1910 that
Robin spent an evening with Hyde and
William J. Cummins chief stockholder
of the Carnegie Trust Company, and
Joseph b. Reichmann. its president at
that time. in Hyde's private Wall
street office, so the witness said. IL
was explained TO him, he testified. that
"the boys" as Hyde was quoted as
calling them, were in trouble; that is.
that CumminJ and Reichmann and the
other members OF the Cummins crowd
who controlled the Carnegie Trust
Company needed money the next day
10 keep the State Banking Department
from closing the trust company's doors
Hyde said 10 me-" said Robin,
Well we seem to be up against some
proposition. But you can help these
boys OUT"
Said Hydo Threatened Him.
When Robin demurred. Hyde said to
him. according to his testimony: We'll,
you're the only one who can help these
boys out. and you've got to. II you
don't help them I'll have a check up
there tomorrow morning for every
damn cent Of city money you have.
How DO YOU like that7"
Robin said this shed different light
on the situation. and he began To see
how he could lend the money. after ALL
especially as Hyde said further so he
testified
'I'n tell YOU what I'll do II you will
give these boys what they need I'll
stop Withdrawing money from your
bank and will leave in It balance
Increased by as much as you loan to
Reichmann and Cummins."
But another doubt assailed Robin.
Il said 10 Hyde" said he: "I don't
see how we can increase the city de-
post In the Northern Bank. We have
a bond for only $4,000. and we've got
a deposit there already Of $1,000
Hyde said to me. TO hell with the
bond! III give you back your bond
soon. II il hadn't been for Prendergast
Won wouldn't have had TO have a bond
at all
So the deal was put through, Robin
testified. This is the transaction which
forms the basis for the indictment of
HYDE on four counts charging him with
soliciting and accepting bribe.
In cross-e examining the prosecutions
star witness, Max d. Steuer, for Mr.
HYDE, attacked first Robins record as
n banker and promoter. Then he
brought out testimony to prove that
Robin and the Northern Bank had a
direct pecuniary interest in the welfare
of the Carnegie Trust Company, re-
gardless OF any inducement or threat
alleged TO have been uttered by Hyde.
No Evidence Of Insanity.
Next he attempted to dip into that
hysterical CHAPTER of Robins life when.
following the failure OF the Northern
Bank at Christmas time. 1910, THE
banker fled or was hurried to an insane
asylum and later appeared before
commission In lunacy. But Justice Goff
sustained the objections OF Assistant
District Attorney Frank Moss to testi-
mony of this sort, on the ground that
II constituted no legal evidence Of In
sanity.
Finally Steuer touched upon the rela-
tiOnS between 1toDHi anu hio aBou hoo-
ter parents from Williamsburg, who
occupied seats In the courtroom and
will later appear as witnesses for the
defence. He asked him the name of
his father. of his mother. to both Of
which questions Moss's objections were
sustained. He started to ask him
about his Reputation OF this humble
couple when they appeared to claim the
relationship shortly after the Northern
Bank failure. But Justice Gof inter-
rupted him. saying;
THE witness may be asked II the
name he is under on the stand Is his
true name"
Steuer asked him the question and
the witness answered NO"
What is your true name?"
What do you call a true name?"
fenced Robin, after a perceptible pause,
spacing his words as II he were con-
trolling some great emotion with diff
ficulty.
DO you mean to tell me that you
don't know what your true name is?"
"Well. there may be different con-
ception I'm your mind from that In mine
Of what constitutes a true name"
Never mind what's in NY mind.
co,,I,.sd an fourth page, fourth column.