Evening star., 1934-10-29
ROBINSON
FREED AT HEARING
U. S. Commissioner Directs
Discharge After Denying
Extraditi0n Plea.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, october 29.-
United States Commissioner Julian
Campbell ruled today that Thomas
H. Robinson, ST., may not be removed
to Louisville for trial on charges
linking him with the kidnapping Of
Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll.
From all the facts before me-"
Commissioner Campbell said in q
prepared opinion, II find not only
that there is no probable cause to be-
lieve Thomas Henry Robinson, ST..
guilty, but no fact to reasonably be-
lieve a suspicion of his guilt"
The opinion added:
THE Government admits that this
defendant is only sought for trial at
Louisville, KY, on what he did or
might have done before the actual
kidnapping as conspirator.
Discharges Defendant.
EFT results that 1t is my duty to
refuse to order defendant Thomas
H. Robinson, sr., held for removal
Let the defendant be discharged
The elder Robinson, a 6l-year-old
engineer, listened intently as Camp
bell read his decision and smiled
when the commissioner announced he
would be freed Robinson had been
held under $25,0o0 bond pending de-
cision on his removal.
After the verdict was rendered
Robinson commented that Justice
has been DONE" while the defense
attorney, M. S. Ross, said, I'VE are
very much gratified."
After the opinion was read Maj
Horace Frierson, jr., United States
district attorney, said he contemplated
taking no further action in the re-
moval case at Nashville.
ANY other move in the case" he
declared, must originate at Louis
Vile"
Citing legal authorities to support
his opinion, Commissioner Campbell
defined probable cause" Of believing
Robinson guilty and listed evidence
submitted by the Government in its
plea for Robinson's removal.
Besides the indictment, warrant
and other legal papers, Commissioner
Campbell stated, "the Government
offered testimony of H. C. Douglas
and M. c. Faulkner Department of
Justice agents., who testified as to
photostatic copies of letters, men,
orandum and rough plat Of the
apartment in indianapolis, Ind"
Minimizes Evidence.
Commissioner Campbell referred to
the apartment, where Mrs. Stoll was
released October l6, after being held
by kidnaper. who, the Government
charges, was Thomas H. Robinson, jr.,
son of the man whose removal to
Louisville was sought.
Outlining this evidence, the COM
missioner said:
"One letter was dated in 1881. This
and the other letters and memoran-
dunn do not remotely indicate q con-
spiracy to violate any law.
THE rough plat of the apartment
drawn by the defendant, Thomas
Henry Robinson, sr., from an oral
description of the apartment by his
daughter r-in-law, at a time defendant
might have to 60 to indianapolis to
aid in securing tk. release of Mrs.
Stoll, appeared enLirely reasonable,
especially when considered with the
testimony Of Attorney General j.
Carlton Loser, j. G. Lackey, Ferriss
G. Bailey, Ted Vaughan and Joe
Williams"
Mrs. Thomas H. Robinson, ST.,
mother OF the indicted kidnaper, today
described herself and Robinson,s s
father. also indicted in the crime, as
still in q daze" over the KIDNAPPING
When we were first convinced that
ne (young Robinson) had dcne this
thing We were Frustrated with grief,
she said. I'VE are still in daze."
She reiterated the affection that
she and her husband held for young
Robinson, their only child, and said
that trouble in which he became in
volved in 1929 was the first We ever
knew of any criminal tendency"
She said they had sacrificed their
home to make restitution and that
they still were grateful to c. c. Stoll
for employing young Robinson at one
time, getting another chance fol
him"
mo one" said Mrs. Robinson, "feels
deeper, keener sympathy for Mrs
Stoll and for all her family and
friends than my husband and I feel.
The restitution reference was with
respect to Robinson's early difficulties
OF the kidnapping, Mrs. Robinson
said:
I'VE have tried to help the Stol
family and the guardians of the Law
the best we knew"
CTnHK CXNuAMHE