Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-17
Firm |s'Fined
For Refusing
S&L Records
Robinson Declines
To Answer Many
Queries at HEARING
BY ROBERT GRUENBERG
81 Star Staff Writer

A $1,000 fine was levied by
Federal Judge r. Dorsey Wat
kins in Baltimore yesterday
against the Illinois Mortgage
Corp. of Chicago for its failure
to produce records in a savings
and loan investigation. i,
The fine-which must be
paid or the judges decision ap-
pealed by February 26-was
imposed after an all-day hear
ing. At the hearing William
L. Robinson, Miami attorney,
refused to answer approximate
ly a score of questions saying
that he might be incriminated,
if he did.
The questioning was con-
Quoted by Special Assistant
United States Attorney Arnold
M. Weiner. He is also con-
Quoting the grand jury investi-
cation into the operation of
the First Continental Savings
& Loan Association of Chevy
Chase.
The firm is now in receiver
ship, and it's part in a $19.3
million dollar land deal in
Southern Maryland and nearby
Virginia is repeatedly part of
the inquiry.
Mr.. Robinson, who is vice
president Of First Continental,
is listed in Illinois State rec
ords as president of the Illinois
Mortgage Corp.
Edlins Listed
Earlier records show that j.
Kenneth Edlin, SO, Miami and
Chicago promoter, and his wife
were officers of the latter firm.
Edlin, who is awaiting sent
ence on a "no-contest" plea to
mail fraud in Baltimore Fed
eral Court, has been identified
by Mr.. Weiner as the principal
figure behind First Continental
and the First Colony Savings &
Loan Association of Prince
Frederick, Md, which also fig
ures in the land deal.
Illinois Mortgage Corp. en-
tered the picture when, two
grand jury witnesses said, ap-
proximately Sc million in cash
and stock involved in the land
deals was assigned" to the
Chicago firm.
In levying the fine Judge
Watkins said Illinois Mortgage
completely ignored" the sub
poena issued January 26 for a
January 80 hearing before the
jury.
Invokes Amendment
Mr.. Robinson invoked the
Fifth Amendments protection,
saying that Mr.. Weiner had
informed him he was under
investigation.
Mr.. Robinson appeared be-
fore the jurors on February 6
with a minute book of Illinois
Mortgage.
He refused to detail the
circumstances under which
he received the book except
that it was waiting for him in
a room in Miami after he talked
to certain persons whom he
would not name.
! Mr.. Robinson also refused to
answer whether he had met one
"Nicole Deslongchamps," or
whether such a person exists.
Mr.. Weiner brought out that
this name had been listed in
the minute book as the sole
owner of Illinois Mortgage
stock. The firms registered
agent, Charles N. Salzman of
Chicago, testified he had never
heard of "Mr. Deslongchamps."
j Queries Unanswered
Mr.. Robinson also refused to
say whether any of the follow
ing were officers or directors of
Illinois Mortgage: Edward
Rasnek, of 1871 S street Sc,
James W. Bridges, Edmund M.
Powell and Arthur M. Levin
Mr.. Weiner pointed out that
all had been identified earlier
with Edlin enterprises.
Mr.. Rasnek is Washing
ton real estate man who said
earlier that he had hoped to
earn commissions and other
compensation selling homes in
connection with the real es-
tate developments with which
Mr.. Edlin became identified.
Mr.. Weiner also pointed out
that an account of Illinois
Mortgage was opened in Chi
cago bank on December 10,
about the time the $19.3 mil
lion deal was announced, with
a deposit of $4,000. Mr.. Rob-
inson refused to say who pre-
sented the resolution on behalf