The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-20
TESTIMONY ALL IN.
Argument In Roberts Case to Begin
January e.

Argument In Roberts Case to Begin
January 4
Washington, Dec 2O.-At the after
noon session of the Roberts commission
yesterday, T. J. Brandon, a resident of
Centerville, Utah, where he had been
postmaster and probate judge, testified
that he had known B. H. Roberts for
years, also Louisa Smith Roberts and
Celia Dibble Roberts. He knew the
children of Louisa Smith Roberts, five
or six in number. Celia Dibble Roberts
also has six children, if he remembered
correctly. He knew that on the morn
ing of August IL, 1897, it was currently
reported about Centerville that B. H.
Roberts had a pair Of twins born to
him by Celia Dibble Roberts. He had
seen them frequently since then. He
also gave -circumStantial details of
other children of Celia Dibble Roberts,
who, he said, were recognized in the
town as the children of B. H Roberts
and called for the mail of Celia Dibble
Roberts and occasionally for B. H.
Roberts while the witness was post
master.
On cross examination the witness
said he knew nothing beyond general
repute, had not been introduced to Ce-
liza Dibble Roberts and had never called
at the house He said he attended a
town meeting and made a speech say
ing he would vote for Roberts, as he
was the whitest man of the two sides.
He had voluntarily separated himself
from the Mormon faith.
On redirect examination, Mr. Bran
don told of a funeral in the family of
Celia D1bble Roberts. 3. H Roberts
was present at the funeral. AfterWard
he saw the tombstone at the grave of
this child, which read:
Lena, daughter of Celia and Brig
ham H. Roberts"
In reply to Chairman Tayler, Mr..
Brandon said Celia Dibble Roberts now
occupied the house formerly occupied
moved into a new house built by B. H.
Roberts. B. H. Roberts owned both
buildings, according to general repute-
While postmaster, when one of the
children called for mail for father
he delivered the mail of B. H. Roberts.
Mr.. Ray Brandon, son of the former
witness, knew Roberts, Louisa Smith
Roberts, Celia Dibble Roberts and
most if not all of the children. He
said it was generally reported that the
twins were born to Celia and B. H.
Roberts and he had seen them and
talked with them. He had seen Roberts
about the Celia Roberts house just as
a husband and father would be about,
working around the house and barn A
short time ago, the witness said, he
was passing the Celia Roberts house,
when one of Roberts nieceS presented
the twins and said they were the twins
of 3. H. Roberts. He had seen Rob-
erts with his coat off around the Celia
Dibble house. He was personally ac-
quainted with the 11-year-old boy of
Celia Dibble Roberts and had talked
with him as to the birth of the twins.
The children of Louisa Roberts called
Celia DibbIe Roberts "aunt." The
usual custom when such relations ex-
listed was for the children of one wife
to call the other wife aunt"
On cross examination Roberts
brought that the witness was absent at
school for considerable periods includ-
ing the summer of last year, and his OBJ
servation did not cover those periods
He no personal knowledge of the
marital relations existing, beyond COM
mon repute. When Roberts asked if
the witness was not a gambler, he an
swered in the negative The witness
in response to questions said he had
been fined twice for minor assaults.
Mr.. Schroeder stated that this closed
the evidence on hand, and would be all
unless the committee wished further
testimony. There were two other gen.
tlemen who could testify and If the
committee desired more direct testinO-
ny it could be had only by summoning
the women reputed to be wives of Rob
erts.
Chairman TayIer asked Mr. Roberts
what line he desired to follow. He said
he had no witnesses, but he had some
documentary evidence he wished to
present and he hoped it would arrive
do you expect to place yourself on
the stand as a witness % asked Mr..
Myers, a member of the committee.
Il do not" replied Roberts
At the request of Representative
Page Morris, Mr.. Brandon ST., returned
to the stand and was asked by MI. Nor
ris as to the marital repute of Mr.. Rob-
erts and Celia and Louisa Roberts.
There is such a general repute," the
witness replied. 1T is that Celia Dib-
BILE Roberts is recognized by the entire
community as B. H Roberts second
wife. She is dealt with by the Mormon
church as his second wife"
How about Louise ROberts2'
"She is recognized as his first wife"
Mr.. Brandon said the third reputed
wife, Margaret Shipp Roberts had
come there once to attend the funeral
already referred to-
The records of these marriages, the
witness said were in the temple, which
was the only depository Of plural mar
riages He said it was generally under
stood that Roberts was in the employ
and paid by the church
This brought about quite a sharp ex-
change between the witness and Rob
erts.
do you not know asked Roberts,
that the Mormon church does not pay
those ministering for it?''
Il know replied Mr.. Brandon, 'fthat
the rank and file are not paid, but the
higher ones are paid..,'
"And is not B. H. Roberts in the rank
and fle?"