The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-12-14
Mr.. Roberts Argues at length Be
fore the House InveSti-
eating Committee.
UTAH DELEGATION IS DENOUNCED
Says Member Schroeder, OF the Utah
Gentle Delegation Is a Common
SwindIer Unworthy Of Belief.
Roberts Pleads Not Guilty TO the
Charge That lie IL a Poiygnmist
and Dcmurrs From the
Committees JorisdictIon.

Washington, Dec. 10.-Ihe consider
alton of the case of Mr.. Roberts, of
Utah, was resumed at 10 o'clock Sat
urday morning by the house investi-
eating committee, Mr.. Roberts being
present to plead to certain specific
interrogations which had been
framed. The proceedings continued
TO be behind closed doors. Mr.. Rob-
erts was first asked il he conceded
the existence of :he court record
wherein he pleaded guilty in 1899 un-
der the Edmunds-Tucker law. This he
conceded. lie was next asked wheth-
er about 1870 or since 1890 he had
married plural wives, and had lived
with tlsem since that time as wives.
To the whole of this charge Rob-
erts pleaded not guilty, and then de-
INJURED to the jurisdiction of the
committee for the following reasons:
First--On the ground of violation
of constitutional rights, in that it at
tempted to try him for n crime with
out presentment of Indictment by
grand jury. and without trial before a
jury and due process OF law.
Second-That it was an attempt to
deprive him of vested property that
he held in the emolumcnts OF an Office
for the full term.
Third-That the only evidence that
could rightfully be considered in the
committee was court record estab-
fishing the guilt, confessed or prov
en-, of the representative-elect, and
that the committee has no right to
consider any other evidence.
Fourth-That the crime alleged
namely that of unlawful cohabitation
sufficient crime to bar a member or
deprive him of his seat, because in
nocence Of polygamy or unlawful CO.
habitation is no where enumerated
in the constitution as n qualification
for Office of member of congress, nor
is it named in any United States law
applicable to Utah or any other state.
Mr.. Roberts argued on these
points for nearly two hours, referring
to law books and answering queries.
1t was legal controversy through
out, the facts not being gone into
at length. Mr.. Roberts concluded by
asking that his prima facie right to n
seat be at once considered, as the
present status denied to sovereign
state representation in the house at
n time when injurious legislation af-
fecting that state might take place.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Roberts
statement the committee held an ex-
ecutive session, and then ADJOURNED
until p. IN. The chairman announced
that subsequent meetings would be
open and publicity also would be Civ
en- to the official stenographers re-
ports of the morning session.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Rob-
erts created a sensation by denounc-
ing a. Il. Schroeder, one of the gentle
delegation from Utah. Mr.. Schroeder
was about to address the committee,
when Roberts, waving his hand in pro-
test, said: II object. 1 object to
this witness If he comes here as an at
torney. l object TO him il he comes
as n witness, on the ground that he
is unworthy of confidence, and be-
cause he is n common swindler. And
/ propose to establish by the records
of the supreme court of Utah that he
is utterly unworthy. Of belief"
After some explanations Mr..
Schroeder was permitted to proceed.
lie declared that Il could be estab-
lished that Roberts now is maintain
ing the status of polygamist; that
children had been born recently to
his polygamous wives, among them
being twins born to Celia Diblle Rob-
erts on August II, 1897. 1t could also
be shown, he said, that he had been
holding out DIR. Maggie Shipp Rob-
erts as q wife, while he had living n
lawful wife in the person of Louisa
Smith Roberts. These statements,
Mr.. Schroeder said, could be estab-
lished by witnesses in Utah.
After Mr. Roberts had demanded
from the committee ruling on his
demurrer, and an opportunity to pre-
sent authorities, the public hearing
adjourned. until 10 o'clock next Tues
day morning.