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Gainesville Bank Cashier Is Held for Embezzlement Alleged That Harvey P. Robinson Has Confessed to Misappropriating $41,117.48 of Florida Bond & Trust Co. Funds During Period of Thirteen Years. Arrest Follows Audits of Books After Bank Had Closed Oct. 8. (Special to The Tribune) GAINESVILLE, Nov. 1.—Harvey P. Robinson, cashier of the Florida Bank and Trust company of this city which closed its doors on Oct. 8, was arrested Thursday on the charge of embezzlement following the report of Chief State Bank Examiner E. M. Porter of a shortage of $41,117.48 in the bank saving ledger. Robinson is alleged to have confessed to have appropriated the amount of the shortage over a period of thirteen years and is out on a $5,000 bond. The former cashier is said to have appeared voluntarily before a meeting of the board of directors of the bank and testified that he made false entries in the saving ledger since 1910 despite the warning by Col. J. C. Adkins, state attorney, that such statements could be used against him. He also waived preliminary hearing and was held to wait the action of the grand jury which meets in January. The warrant sworn out by J. Jennings Cone, president of the Florida Bank and Trust Company and acting upon vote of the directors was served by Sheriff P. G. Ramsey Thursday afternoon. Bank officials declare that the shortage was not the cause of the bank's suspension of business. According to state bank examiner Porter the shortage was discovered several days ago and immediately reported to Tallahassee. The probe then became more intense and all in the bank with the exception of Robinson and another employe were absolved from guilt. Robinson is said to have remained quiet until several nights ago when his first alleged self condemnation was made to a bank official who visited the cashier at his home. The shortage is said to have been effected over such a long period of time, despite the fact that the bank has twice changed hands and undergone alteration in form, by a series of false entries and the removal of pages listings accounts in the savings department from the ledger upon the occasion of visits by national and state bank examiners. A $10,000 surety bond for Robinson which was supposed to have been entrusted to Dr. J. H. Hodges, a director, has not been located, the examiner said, but the bond is not valid. Robinson declined to talk Thursday night but verified statements that the deficiency ran over thirteen years. He would not state what disposition he had made of the money.
