Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-20
Hearsay Evidence Collected Yester-
day Afternoon.
WHAT THE WITNESSES SAID
Statements by tho Braudons- Conn
rnittee VIII Hear Arguments
on January Z.

dent OF centorvillc. Utah. where he had
been postmaster and probate judge. tes-
tlncd that he had known Il. II. Roberts
for years. also Louisa Smith Roberts
and Celia Dibble Roberts. lie knew the
children Of Louisa Celia Dlbble Roberts.
five or six In number. Celia Dibble Rob-
crts also had six children. II he remcm-
bcred correctly.
He knew that on the morning OF Au-
gus, II, 1897. 1t was currently reported
about Ccnterviiic that d. II. Roberts
liza Dlbbie Roberts. lie had seen them
frequently since then. lie also gave
circumstantial details OF other children
OF Celia Dlbble Roberts. who. he said,
were recognized In the town as tho
children OF ID. II. Roberts, and called
for the mail OF Celia Roberts and oc-
caslonally for ~. IL. Roberts while the
witness was postmaster.
on REORGANIZATION. the witness
said he knew nothing beyond general
tcpute, had not been introduced to ce-
liza Roberts and had never called at the
house. lie said he had attended a town
meeting and made "A speech saying he
would vote for Roberts as he was the
whltest man OF the two sides. He had
voluntarily separated himself from the
Mormon" faith.
on redirect examination. Mr.. Bran
don told OF funeral In the family Of
Celia Dlhble Roberts. II. ~. Roberts
was present at the funeral. After
wards he saw the tombstone at the
grave Of this child. which read: Lena,
Daught,r OF Celia and Brigham III.
Roberts"
In reply to Chairman Tayier. Mr..
Brandon said Celia Dibblc Roberts now
occupied the house formerly coupled
by Louisa Smith Roberts. who had
moved into a new house built by II. III.
Roberts Il. II. Roberts owned both
buildings according TO general repute.
While postmaster. when one OF the
Roberts children called for mall for
father" he delivered the mall OF II.
II. Roberts.
Mr.. Ray Brandon, son Of the former
witness. knew Roberts. Louisa Smith
Roberts. Celia Dlbble Roberts and most
II not all OF the children. He said II
was generally reported that the twins
were born to Celia and H. IL. Roberts.
and he had teen them and talked with
them. He had seen Roberts about the
Celia Roberts house Just as 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 nieecs
presented the twins and said they were
the twins OF II. II. Roberts. lie had
seen Roberts with his coat on around
the Celia Dlbble house. He was per-
sonnlly acquainted with the eleven
ycar-old boy OF Celia Dibble Roberts,
and had talked with him ms to the birth
OF the twins.
The children OF Louisa Roberts called
Celia Dlbble Roberts aunt" The usual
custom when such relations existed
was for the children OF one wife to call
the other wife aunt"
on crosH-examinatlon. Roberts
brought out that the witness was alb
sent ut school for considerable periods,
including the summer OF last year. and
his observations did not cover those
| periods lie had no personal knowl-
| edge OF the marital relations existing
| beyond common reputc. When Roberts
asked II the witness was not gambler
| he answered IN the negative. The witt
ness. In response to questions, said he
had been .ined twice for minor as
| saults.
MIR. Schroeder stated that this closed
the evidence on hand. and would DO
all unless the committee wished fur
Their testimony. There We're two other
gentlemen who could testify. and II the
committee dcsierd more direct testi-
mony II could be had only by summon
Ing the women reputed to be wives OF
| Roberts.
Chairman Tayler asked Mr.. ROBBERS
| 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
| tomorrow.
do you expect to place yourself on
the stand as a witness?" asked Mr..
| Meyers, "A member OF the committee.
| II do not" replied Roberts.
| At the request OF Representative
/ Page Morris, Mr.. Brandon Sr. re-
turned TO the stand and was asked by
MIR. Morris as to the marital rcpute Of
MIR. Roberts and Celia and Louisa Rob-
| erts.
There IL such general repute." the
witness replied; 1T IL that Celia Dlbble
Y Roberts N recognized by the entire
| community ms u. IL. Roberts, second
wife. She Is dealt with by the Mormon
| Church as his second wife"
| How about Louisa Roberts,"
"She IN recognized as his first wife"
| Mr. Brandon said the third reputed
| wife. Margaret Shlpp Roberts. had
come there once. to attend the funeral
| already referred 10.
| Tho records OF these marriages, the
witness said. were In the Temple. which
| was the only depository OF plural mar
riagcs. lie said II was generally I'M
| dcrstood that Roberts was In the en-
ploy and paid by the Church. This
| brought about n sharp exchange be-
| tween the witness and Roberts.
do you know" asked Roberts. that
the Mormon Church does not pay those
mlrlsterng for it9'
II know" replied Mr.. Brandon. "that
the rank ana file are not paid, but the
| higher ones are paid"
"And is not II, II. Roberts In the
rank and hleY'
mo, sir; you are considered as one
| OF the influential ones, ana at the time
| you were called down II was stated
that you received 500 per month from
| the Church"
"Dii not Roberts deny it2'
II know" said the witness. that
the bishop says he sends part OF the
tthlng up there (centerville) to pay
| you"
30 you not Know that none OF the
| tlthing IL sent there?"
~ only know what the Bishop says"
Mr.. Ray Brandon was recalled to
give evidence Of general repute along
the same lines as his father,
The committee decided TO hear argu-
| ments IN the case ON January 9TH. In
the meantime during the holiday re-
cess, n subcommittee, consisting OF all
those in the city, VIII hear other wit
nesscs who may come on from Utah,
Their coming II indefinite and no time
Is fixed for the hearing.
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