Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-14
THE ROBERTS CASE.
HOUSE COMMITTEE BEGINS THE
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES.
MORMON'S DEMURRER OYERRULED.
Committee Asked tn Define HIS
status-Repiy IL That All HIS
Examination of witnesses.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. December b
The committee Of the House OF Represen-
tatves, which is investigating the case OF
Mr.. Roberts, OF Utah, opened Its doors
at 1890 to-day to begin the examination
Of witnesses. a large number Of specta-
tors were on hand, including several
ladies'
Mr.. Roberts occupied seat at the foot
OF tho committee table. while fanking
him was the delegation OF Gentiles-Rev.
DR.. InT, Mr.. Schroeder and others-here
to direct the case against the Utah mem
ber-elect.
When Chairman Tayler. Of Ohio. called
the committee to order, and asked what
witnesses would be heard, llr. Roberts
arose and said:
Il respectfully ask to be Informed as
TO my status before this committee. Am
/ regarded as a member Of the House OF
| Representatives?
IF you answer this question i'm the at-
frmative. then l ask that the committee
confne itself to the consideration Of my
election the returns Of my election, and
the qualifications Of a member Of Con-
gress, as defined in the Constitution Of
the United States. If this committee shall
| find that my election is beyond question,
then / ask that 1 be permitted TO take the
oath of office, as this is the only consti-
tutlonal power which the House or this
committee can exercise over me until
am sworn I'm.
III the committee shall answer no to
this inquiry, then it has no jurisdiction
whatever over me, as the Constitution
gives 10 the House power over its mem
| bers only, and 1 ask that the proceedings
before the committee be discontinued"
Mr.. Tayler, of Ohio, responded that all
of Mr.. Robertss rights had been fully
looked after and protected, and at the
very threshold OF the inquiry there was no
proper question which had not been
raised.
THE TESTIMONY.
Charles Austin owen, Of Salt Lake
| City, was then called. The witness said
that the general reputation Of the status
of Roberts and DR.. Maggie G. Ship Ro-
! berts was that they maintained the rela-
| ton Of husband and wife.
witness The questions were asked rapid
] ly, sometimes savagely They brought out
/ that the witness had no personal know
| ledge as TO Mrs Maggie Roberts or Mr..
/ Roberts. based on talks with them, but
/ that what no knew was based on gene
raj information and common ropute.
Mr. MoEwen. Of the Philadelphia North
/ American, was examined as TO a recent
interview with Roberts, signed by him
/ (McEwen). IN this interview Roberts
/ spoke Of his wives" referring to them
as good and true women" toward
whom obligations had boon incurred prior
10 the enactment Of the polygamy law.
Captain Elias III. Parsons, OF the quar-
termaster's department, United State.
| Volunteers, testified to an incident oc
! curing in 1896. while he was I'm Salt Lake
| City. About A. NJ some one asked hin
TO call up on his telephone Dr. Maggie
| Ship Roberts. On going 10 the telephone
and calling up the house, a mans voice
answered. "Who IS this?' Captain Par
sons asked over the telephone. "B. II
! Roberts" was the reply, Captain Par
sons testified. On examination RO
berts asked: do you know b. III. Ro
ber,e's voice" Il do mott was the an
swer.
Rev. Or. Iliff q Methodist missionary
| Of Utah, testified that the general reputa
ton as TO the status of Celia Dibble RO
| berts was that she was the plural WIFI
Of Brigham II. Roberts. On crOss-exami
nation, Mr. Roberts sought TO show tina
! Dr. Ilff was hostile 10 the MOrmons, the
witness stating that his hostility was 4
the polygamous feature Of Mormonlsm.
Rev. G.. W. Martin. a Presbyterian min
lister Of Manu. Utah. testified 49, 20 the
reputation Of the polygamous status %
/ Celia Dibble Roberts and Margaret ship
Roberts towards Brigham II. Roberts
lie saw statements TO this effect IN the
Salt Lake city newspapers. and heard %
no denlas. The polygamous status OF Mr.
/ Roberts was matter OF common repute
DEMURRER OVERRULED.
I'm the course Of the hearing Nr. Tayle
stated 20 Roberts that The latter's demur
rer had been overruled. all questions be
ing taken into consideration for determi
nation later on.