SKY ROCKET FINANCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 115, 29 April 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

SKY ROCKET FINANCE

BOOTBLACK BANKER’S TRIAL* Mr. Joseph G. Robin, the American “sky rocket financier,” who rose from the position of a bootblack to control a chain of New* York banks, was presented before the court in New York recently, and pleaded guilty to stealiDg £5400 from the Washington Savings. Bank. He is charged with stealing r.-nch more by means of his endless chain, system of frienaied finance, ami the £5400 related only to one indictment. _ This plea came as an amazing, revelation. because Robin, who was onco a bootblack named Robinovitch. boldly admitted that he had shammed insanity, and deluded thirteen distinguished: aliens in order to escape punishment at the hands of the court. Robin con-* s’dered other financiers “higher up” have not befriended him as they ought, and threatens to prove they are as bad as himself. Robin will turn State’s evidence. It was on this account that Public Prosecutor 'Whitman asked Justice Seaburj* to. defe>* passing sentrnc.“in the interests of justice.” Robin's ultimate sentence will depend on how far he goes in disclosing matters tliaa Mr. Whitman is anxious to learn. '. “You can fool alienists, you* can fool lawyers, but you cannot fool the people of common sense.” said Robin to his lawyer Comment .in court was to the efiecr* that Robin’s change of attitude will put an end to expert testimony in the New York courts. Thirteen of the most eminent alienists in the country hvM,’ with unanimity that ho was insane. Lnt tho jury in -Judge Swjmn’q Iwurt- refused to accept ,th?ir judgment, and declared tb.<. man of sufficiently squm! mind to be legally placed on trial. ' had succeeded in shamming with such skill as to deceive pefts, but the jury declined to/ fluenced by his report 6f bright lig«t3' and queer voices, preferring ■to IJart. their belief in his mental soundness' upon the character of his acts up to thb time-of- his indictment and arrest. * Mr. Jerome withdrew from-the case in court, declaring his opinion unaltered that his client was in.-aue. -He came, in for a good deal of good patured joking by his legal friends. In court- RoDrtv sat with his head in his hands. He wair very, nervous. His sister, Dr. Louis Roninovitch, and his former secretary. Miss Eckardt, tried to comfort him. When he rose to enter his plea of guilt it. was seen that he had been crying: His head jerked to and fro, and he was obviously almost unable to sit still, but he did not wear the silly grin which he persisted in on the other days of his; irinl.