The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-09
CRIME CHARGED TO ROBERTS.
COMMITTEE FROM UTAH ANSWERS
HIS RECENT ADDRESS.

Sentimental People Have Been Mis-
led, This Committee says-Roberts
Charged With "a Felony, hut Not
PrOsecuted-lt Is Said Charges
Were PigeOn-HoIcd-- utah's Agree
ment Has Been ViOInted-Many
PoIygnmous Households in That
State.
Washington, Dec. S-An answer to MIR.
Brigham Roberts address to the Ameri-
can people. was issued to-day by dele
cation representing the Gentle element
in Utah, who are here TO oppose Mr.. Rob
erts. The answer Is as follows:
I'm this mornings papers Mr. Roberts
makes an appeal for sympathy, in which
are many statements needing correction,
while many facts are suppressed.
''AIr. Roberts says he has not been con-
vlcted since statehood. 1t does not fol-
low that he is innocent. He is now a
fugitive from justice in Salt Lake county,
on a charge of unlawful oohabltation and
in Davis county, Utah, where resides one
Of his polygamous wives with her nleglt-
mate twins, born Aug. II, 1897. A charge
of adultery "a felony under the laws of
Utah), has been for two months pigeon
holed by a Mormon prosecuting attorney.
Mr. Roberts, in his attempt to belittle
his crimes, insists he Is only charged with
misdemeanor. He knows better. He
knows that he has been, under oath aud
before the proper prosecuting officers,
charged with the felony of adultery as
we'll as the misdemeanor of unlawful CO..
habitation.
MisIed by Roberts.
Many sentimental people are being mis-
led by Mr.. Roberts very ingenious sug-
gestions from which some people infer that
he took his polygamous wives when It was
lawful to do so. This is mistake. Adult
terry was crime in Utah when Mr.. Rob-
erts was born and at the time of the pass
ing of the Culom anti-polygamy act Mr..
Roberts was only 6 years old His plea
for sympathy, therefore, amounts only 10
this-that he should be allowed to con-
tinue his criminal practice, notwithstand-
ing he took his polygamous wives in de-
iance of the law
I'VE demand that he should support his
families, but also demand he shall cease
the begetting of further illegitimate Off
spring. and this is our only bone of con-
tention, the only thing demanded which
he refuses to yield. In this matter we dis
claim any desire to have him declared In
eligible because he is a Mormon, but solely
because he is violating and defying the
laws of our state, of the United States
and of common decency.
"Ex-Congressman w. II. King was and
is Mormon, and no claim Of ineligibility
was ever made against him. We point to
this fact as showing that we oppose Mr.
Roberts not on the ground of any religious
opinions entertained by him. but because
of his criminal practices. Neither is this
a matter Of religious or political persecu-
tion or prejudice. The undersigned include
men of different churches and men who
belong to no church, those who are Re-
publicans and those who are Democrats
Compact Has Been Violated.
"Afr. Roberts denies, and we assert that
the compact between Utah and the other
states has been violated.
"As evidence that this compact has been
broken, we point to the following:
First. That in Utah 1890 llegitimate
children have been born to polygamous
wives since statehood.
Second. That about 1000 polygamous
households now exist in Utah and that
the attempt TO secure a punishment OF
these offenders is denounced by the ma
jority, as we believe, Of Utah's citizens.
Third. That the circumstantial evil
dence unmistakably points to the exist
ence Of new wives in polygamous house,
hold, the most conspicuous examples of
which are the cases of Apostles Abraham
Fl Cannon, John w. Taylor and Apostle
Teusdale, in at least the first Of which
the church organ of the dominant church
refuses to deny the marriage and the new
polygamous wife is employed as a teacher
in church academy
a Change of Views.
Fourth. That the very men who inter-
preted the manifesto of 1880, TO prohibit
unlawful cohabitation with prior acquired
wives, now publicly justify It's continu-
ance.
"Ffth. That most Of the same men who,
in a petition for amnesty, pledged their
sacred honor for the obedience of the law
by their people, are now, by example ana
precept. encouraging the commission Of
the crime of unlawful cohabitation.
sixth. As a further evidence of this bad
faith, we call attention to the fact that
men holding high church office, have
plead guilty to the crime Of unlawrul Co
habitation before In the state courts with
out having their church standing affected,
even in some cases having their fines paid
by sympathetic friends.
Seventh. All this IS by neces-
sary implication indorsed by a
majority of Utah's people in the
election Of Brigham II. Roberts,
who, during his campaign for election, was
publicly charged with being a violator or
the laws, as evidenced by his illegitimate
progeny, and in spite Of these undenled
charges he was elected by an overwhelm-
ing majority.
"That Mr.. Roberts himself understood
that compact TO mean the dlscontnuance
Of unlawful cohabitation, we point to his
registration, path Of 1895, ia which he swore
Tito be his intention to obey the law pro-
hibiting unlawful cohabitation.
"T c. Ilin. Salt Lake.
&c. w. Martin, Mant, Utah.
"G M. owen. Salt Lake.
-. NJ. coombs, Brigham City, Utah.
"A. Il. Schroeder, Salt Lake"
HE WANTS OPEN SESSIONS.