The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-22
LAWYERS CALL ROBIN
SUIT "BLACKMAIL"
Clifford. Hobbs 4 Beard Demand
Public Hearing on Con-
spiracy Charge.
OFFER TO PAY ALL COST
Accusations Against Firm and
Van Tuyl Arc Branded
Wickedly False.

An unusual challenge 20 n plaintiff TO
show that Il suit asking for s2,75o.0oo
damages was started in good faith was
OadC before Justice Gieserich In the
Supreme Court yesterday when CHORD.
hobbs 4 Beard. lawyers at Nassau
street. stipulated that all questions in
VOWED in the suit against them brought
on behalf Of Joseph q. Robin and other
creditors OF tn. defunct Northern Bank
~ New York be referred Immediately
to any referee the justice might appoint
with power TO hear. try and determine
TIE issues.
Furthermore the firm agreed to pay
all the fees of the reference and in
sisted that the hearings should proceed
from day to DAY until completed and
that representatives of the press should
be kermitted to attend
Breed. Abbott a Morgan. attorneys for
George Van Tuyl Jr. Superintendent of
Banks OF the state of New York. CO.
defendant with clifford. Hobbs a Beard
in the suit. consented to- the stipulation
on behalf Of their client
The offer was mate when u motion
came up tn dismiss the complaint ON "a
demurrer on the ground that the COM
plant states no facts sufficient to con-
0tltute cause of action.
William Duncan Cameron, attorney for
Frank Demarcst. In whose name the suit
Vas brought, said he was not ready To
argue the demurrer and asked for an
adjournment until to-day. which was
granted.
The stipulations were not accepted by
the plaintiff but Mr. Cameron said the
offer would be taken upder advisemen,
Calls IL n strike suit.
al.
PENDANTS who presented the written stipu-
lafions In court. said last night:
THE suit IL nothing but a blackmail-
ing case. II is a strike suit II there
was anything in their accusations they
must be ready 10 proceed now. they
have had three years In which To- prepare
their case.
I'VE have paved the way for an imms-
diate trial of the case on its merits. We
want the depositors OF the bank to get
their money as soon as possible. If they
are entitled to any. The state Superin-
tendent of Banks has the same object
in mind We want to go ahead right
away. We do not want the outrageous
charges made against US to be permitted
to drag through the courts for years.
I'VE want the public 10 know soon
Us possible that the accuse tions are wick
eddy false. and this will be proven by an
Immediate trial of all the issues such ~
We have proposed. II the plaintiff Is act
ing in good faith and has the interests
Of the creditors of the bank Mt heart he
cannot refuse to accept our proposal"
Among the charges in the complaint
- the allegation of II conspiracy between
the defendants and the interests" sup
.poeedly referring to the large financial in
terests to eliminate Joseph u. Robin from
the business and financial world because
he was an important competitor.
The defendants declare that all the al
legations are on information and belief
and no facts whatever are stated In sup
port of the alleged conspiracy charge.
"HaiIucinntion of Robins"
They also point out that the complaint
sets forth the same pretended hallucina'
ton" with which Robin fooled seven OF
eight insanity experts when he was frs
arrested In the early part of 1911.
The only difference between that hal
lucination" and the allegations In hi
complaint, the defendants say, IL tina
Robin In 1911 did not mention the defen
dants az part of the alleged conspiracy.
Having failed to state a single fact II
support OF malicious conspracies." thu
defendants say, II goes without saying
that the plaintiff cannot prove single
fact.
The complaint also charged conspirac
between the law firm defendants and tn
Interests to cause the Superintendent
Of Banks to take possession of the North
ern Bark. The defendants declare n
statement OF facts again Is offered to sup
port II or to indicate that the bank ha
been injured because the Banking Depar,
ment took charge of IT,
The claim for sa.75o.0o0 damages. az
cording to the complaint, IL based on a
allegation that the defendants James y
CHORD, Charles n. Hobbs. Arson Nc
Cook Beard and John -. Fcarhake. In
dividual members of the firm. conspirc
"to cheat, defraud and financially wreck
the Northern Bank Of New York. to d,
stroy its franchise and good will and -
divert, misarpropriate and fraudulent
convert to their own use It's valuabl
property
The defendants contend that facts show
ing all these conspiracies and plots mu'
be alleged or no cause or action
stated.
In their analysis of the complaint the
said:
"On the whole the viciousness OF tn
complaint the wldness of its assertion
its allegations OF everything on informs
ton and belief its total failure to allies
any facts In support of the vicious an
scandalous charges stamps the whole con
plaint as nothing short of backmail
a vicious attempt to injurc the reput;
tions of the defendants"
Superintendent of Banks Van Tuyl r
fused TO start such a suit as was brougl
nv Denarest, whose identity has not be'
Aieclos,d