New-York tribune., 1922-05-26
COnfesses Fake
Gem Hold-U p i'm
Robertson Trial
Alleged Fellow Plotter of
Widow Turns States Evil
dencc as $55.OOO Fraud
Case Opens in Jersey
W Woman Decked i'm Jewels
Appears in Court Wearing
Diamonds and Pearls and
Surrounded by Friends

Mrs. Sarah l.. Robertson. the wealthy
stock speculator who is alleged TO have
staged fake $4,000 jewel robbery in
her home at Deal Beach, n. j.. in Feb
ruary, was placed on trial in the Court
OF Common Pleas in Freehold. \. j.,
yesterday to answer an indictment
charging her with conspiracy to de
fraud Lloyd's Insurance Company, of
London. She appeared in court sur
rounded by relatives and friends and
covered with enough diamonds and
pearls to indicate that the robbery,
whether fake or genuine, had had little
effect upon her finances. She wore a
large diamond horseshoe brooch. dia-
mond earrings, a diamond cluster ring.
a pearl ring and diamond lavalierc.
State Witness Confesses
AT the outset of the trial the defense
suffered serious setback when Samuel
Gasn, one of Mrs. Robertsons two al
'eged fellow conspirators, unexpect ed Y
Wlthdrew his plea of not guilty, con-
tossed and entered a plea of non vult
He was placed on the stand in the after
noon, shortly fter the jury had been
selected, as witness for the prosecu-
tion and testified that as far back as
last October Mrs. Robertson had told
him of her need for money and had
suggested to him that he stage a fake
jewel robbery in her home He as
serted that before the actual hold-up in
February Mrs. Robertson had told him
Of her scheme of leaving small black
bag containing the gems on the mantel-
piece within easy reach Of the robber,
and said that this was the plan which
finally was carried out.
Gasn denied that he was paid for his
share in the alleged conspiracy and
declared that he acted merely as mes
senger boy.
John Bailey, who has confessed to
having been the robber in coIuson
with the woman, WAS in court, but will
not be placed on the stand until to day.
Another witness called Yesterday was
Gerard Luisi, of the Luis Investigation
Company, who had charge of the in
surance company's investigation into
the case. He testified to obtaining a
confession, later retracted, from Mrs.
Robertson, and to finding some of the
jewels in the home Of Mrs. Olive Pelle-
treau, at 225 West Eighty sixth Street.
inns second woman was called later in
the afternoon and declared that she
had no knowledge Of the presence Of
the valuabes in her house until the
detectives came to look for them.
Call Gems Overvalued
Other witnesses were called to tes-
tify that some OF the gems found in
the Pelletreau apartment were either
not genuine or far overvalued
Joseph Morgan, of Maltbe & MORGAN.
Maiden Lane insurance brokers. tes-
tilted TO writing S73, 900 policy, which
is believed to have covered the Jewels
on which the defendant sought to col
lect: He said that the premiums we're
paid only nine days before the alleged
holdup. During his examination he
was warned several times by Prosecutor
Sexton for talking too much
The alleged fake robbery occurred
at Mrs. Robertson home February 2S,
after she had left -four guests at the
dinner table and gone to answer the
doorbell. A minute later she reap-
peared in the dining room, with her
hands UP, followed by Bailey. who had
gun leveled at her. AS she came in
she snatched a small black bag from
the mantelpece and concealed it in her
bosom. The robber INN mediately COM
PEELED her to produce it, held up the
guests and fed