The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-11-22
ROBIN INS|SNANT
HYDE THREATENED
TO CRIPPLE BANK
Sticks to Stry Under Cruel
ling Crss-Exami.
nation.

NEW YORK, Nov. 22-Under .ru.,
Ing cross-examination, Joseph a. RnhS.
banker. stuck to his story TODAY ,hs,
Charles II. Hyde had threatened to t.La
all OF the funds out Of the de,,ne,
Northern Bank, of which Robin was az
head. IL he did not lend to the Csrnao
gle Trust Company $4,000. Robin va.
on the stand for further cross-oues.
tioning by Max d. Steuer, counsel To-
the defendant. when the trial on ~.
former city chamberlain, charged with
bribery. was resumed. wa"
steuer's rapid-fire questions put Rob,r
through severe test. First he was Gu
amined as to his former financial ex-
ploits, then as TO his sanity, and an,ii,,
as to his assumption Of the name Robin
Inc witness refused to tell his real
name. saying that 1t might incrimInsta
him in another country"
Robin On Stand.
Joseph G. Robin, the convicted bank.
er, told with great precision and a nil.
Ieeling for word values yesterday. the
story OF his conference IN the sum .rer
the Northern Bank. lent the Carneyi.
Trust Company $4,000 His direct cross.
noon. ''i
spent an evening with Hyde and viii.
IAN j. Cummins, chief stockholdcr Of
the Carnegie Trust Company and Io.
seph b. Reichmann, its president al tina,
t unn' IN HYDE private Wall Street Of
nee, so the witness said. 1t was ex.
plalned to him. he testified, that the
boys, as Hyde was quoted as calling
thefn, were In trouble; that is. thar
Cummins and Reichmann and the other
members OF the Cummins crowd who
controlled the Carnegie Trust Company
needed money the next day to keen The
state Banking Department from clos
ing the trust company's doors.
Hyde said to me-" said Robin
We'll. we seem to be up against some
proposition; But you can help these
boys out "
When Robin demurred. Hyde said TO
him, according to his testimony: We'll
you're the only one who can help these
boys ou!. 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 that"
Robin said this shed different light
on the situation, and he began 10 see
how he could lend the money, after all,
especially as Hyde said further, 80 he
I'm 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 II balance
Increased by as much as you loan to
Reichmann and Cummins."
n.
said to Hyde" said he: I don't see
how we can increase the city deposit
in the Northern Bank. We have a bond
for only $4,000. and we've got deposit
there already of 100000
Hyde said to me. To hell with the
bond! III give you back your bond
soon. II 1t hadn't been for Prendergast
You wouldn't have had to have a bond
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 bride.
In Cross-examining the prosecutions
star witness. Max D. Steuer, for Mr..
Hyde, attacked first Robins record as
a 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. regard
less OF any inducement or threat alleged
to have been uttered by Hyde.
Significant Story.
A significant bit Of Robins testimony,
useful as an opening for the testimony
OF all those bankers who told the grand
Jury that they had lent Cummins and
the Carnegie Trust Company money
following the receipt OF city deposits.
was this quotation from his converse
ton with Hyde on that summer even
inc in wall Street:
HYDE said TO me-" said Robin. "If
YOU loan this money I'll give you as
much and more. Leave It TO me. II
YOU lend the boys half million I'll
give you half a million. II you have
any friends in the banking business
who will lend them any money III give
hem as much as they loan and % or 80
per cent more. Anything YOU do for
these boys I want you to feel you're
doing for me. I want you to do all you
can for them.
The defense will argue that Hyde. on
the strength of his private fortune
could at any time have got s22 900 from
any bank In the city. and without COL
lateral or guarantee other than his own
signature.