The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-22

Der of witnesses from Utah appeared
today before the committee of the
house of representatives which is in
y~estigating the case Of Mr.. Roberts, Of
Utah. They included Mrs. DIR. Luella
Miles, a practicing physician of Salt
Lake City, Mrs. McDougall, Mr.. E. l..
Mcdaniel and Rev. E. S. Wishard, all
Of Salt Lake City Mr.. Roberts was
present, unaccompanied, and sat along
side the witnesses, conducting the
cross examination.
Mrs. DR.. Miles was the first witness.
She gave the details of a call she made
at the house of Mrs. Maggie Shipp-
Roberts on April II, 1897, relative to
some medical society affairs. She ad-
dressed Mrs. Shipp-Roberts as DIR.
Shipp," whereupon the witness said
she was interrupted with the request:
Doctor, you can call me DR.. Rob
erts."
Mrs Roberts went on to explain, the
witness said, hat she had been mar
ried to Mr.. Roberts for seven years.
She asked that the medical society
Illdh I'll hSl III AoLuIC OC dIuIc 0Seu
as DIR. Roberts not Or. Shipp." Sub
Sequently, the witness called at the
house and during the visit Mr.. Rob-
erts came in and was introduced.
When Mr.. Roberts c~ross-examined
the witness she repeated the story.
Was the Introduction as h~usband?"
he asked, but the witness could not
remember.
After the witness had stepped aside,
Hr. Roberts submitted an objection to
the effect that this testimony related
to 1897, whereas the committee had no
jurisdiction over him prior to his be-
coming a member of congress.
Then you contend" said Chairman
Tayler, that the testimony should be
confined to polygamous practices sub
sequent to March 4, 1892"
Il do" answered Mr.. Roberts.
THE objection will be noted" re-
sponded the chairman.
Rev. S. E. Wishard was the next
witness. He was in clerical garb and
gave his business as that of superin-
tendent of the home missionary work
of the Presbyterian synod embracing
Utah. He knew both Mr.. Roberts and
Mrs. DR.. Roberts,, and related his first
meeting with the latter in September,
1897. This occurred, he said, on the
train at Manti, Utah. He was in the
car with Mr.. Roberts and spoke with
him. A lad sat beside him and he
beckoned to her and then introduced
her, saying: Mrs. Roberts, Mr.. Wish
ard" Whether Mr.. Roberts said MY
wife" in making the introduction or
simply said Mrs. Roberts," the wit
ness was not sure. But he was posi-
tive the introduction was as wife. Sub
sequently Mr.. Wishard said he called
on Mrs. Roberts at her home to make
sure he had made no mistake. The
sign in the front of he house read:
DR.. Margaret G.. Roberts, In the
parlor he saw on the wall a large por-
trait of Mr.. Roberts and on a table a
small picture of him. He saw Mrs.
Roberts, recalled to her the introduce
ton on the train and she said she re-
membered it.
Mrs. Maria McDougall testified to an
incident occurring July %, 1898, when
she was on the train from Butte, Mon,
to Salt Lake City. Mr.. Roberts and
Mrs. DR.. Roberts Travelled on the same
car as far as Pocatello. "Once [ heard
Mr.. Roberts introduce his companion
as My wife," testified Mrs. McDou-
gaH. land repeatedly as Mrs. Rob
ertS.'"
Edwin McDaniels, former manager of
The Salt Lake Herald, was examined
at considerable length, mainly on the
uOlitics and convention pertaining to
Roberts nomination to congress. In
1896 while managing The Herald he
had a conversation With Roberts, in
the course of which Roberts told him
he had three families.
Three" inquired Representative Lit
tlefield, of the committee.
Yes, three responded the witness.
At the afternoon session, L. j. Bran
don and Ray Brandon, his son were
heard. Mr.. T. J. Brandon testified to
being a resident of C~enterville, Utah,
where he had been postmaster ana
probate judge. He had known b. II.
Roberts for years, also Louisa Smith
Roberts and Celia Dibble Roberts. He
knew the children Of Louisa smith
Roberts, five or six in umber. Celia
Dibble Roberts also has six children,
if he remembered correctly. He knew
that on the morning Of August IL, 1897,
it was currently reported ABOUT Cen
terviIle that B. H. Roberts had a PAIR
of twins born to him by Celia DloDie
Roberts. He had seen them frequently
since then. The children occasionally
called for mail for B. H. Roberts.
Ray Brandon gave evidence tendlns
to support substantially the same al
legations as those made by MS Iatner'
subsequently, Mr.. Brandon, ST., tes-
titled that the general repute was mat
Louisa Roberts is Roberts hrst "lle;
Celia Dibble Roberts his second anu
Margaret Shipp Roberts his thlrd.
Mr.. Schroeder stated that this closed
the evidence on hand n would De all
unless the committee wished further
testimony. Their were two other gen
tlemen who could testify, and IL tne
committee desired more direct tesl-
mony il could be a only by
ing the women reputed to be wives Oh
Roberts.
Chairman Tayler asked Mr.. Roberts
what line he desired to follow. he sdlu
he had no witnesses, but he had some
documentary evidence he wished to
present. and hoped it would arrive TO-
morrow. -e
DO you expect to place yourselr
ON the stand as a witness?" asked MI
Niers, a member Of the commltIee'
ct do not" replied Mr.. Roberts.
At 4 O'Clock the committee went INTO
executive session and decided 10 near
arguments on January 4th.
SENATOR MARTIN RE-ELECTED.