The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-20
ROBERTS AND HIS WIVES.
WITNESSES FROM UTIH TELL or MS
TRIPLE FAMILY LIFE

Were Known as His wives and That
He Was Regarded rs tho Father Of
Their Children He Files Protest.
WASHINGTON Dec. ia number Of Wit
nesses from Utah appeared to-day before the
Roberts Committee to testify concerning the
alleged polyRamous practices OF Mr.. Roberts.
The latter did not cross-exnmine the witnesses
with the bitterness he displayed at previous
sessions He offered protest declaring that
no testimony should be taken concerning acts
now beyond the period fixed by the statutes OF
limitations Furthermore the protest seid:
As the authority Of this committee over tho
nom Der from Utah. even II given tho utmost
stretch NJ It's latitude. only extends to the
time OF his embershir. viz: from March 4.
1899. he asks that tho inquiry as to evidence
before this comm ittee shall be limited to that
time"
Mrs DR.. Luclla Mills. Of Salt Lake. was the
first witness She testified that she called on
Margaret Ship on April IL, 1893. and addressed
her az Mrs. Ship Thereupon Mrs. Ship
sald that her name had been changed to
Roberts and that she had been married to
Mr.. Roberta for seven years. About this time
Mr.. Roberts came In and was introduced to
her. MIR. Roberts objected to the testimony as
relating to conditions before March 4. 1899.
The Rev. DR.. 4. Z. wlshard, superintendent
Of the Presbyterian Mission in Salt Lake. said
ne had known Roberts for seven years. He
was introduced by Roberts to Mrs. Maggie
Bhipp Roberts on train In September. 1897.
To satisfy himself there could be no mistake
he called on her last Friday. During his call
he observed two pictures OF Mr.. Roberts on the
wall. She acknowledged she was Mrs. Rob-
erts. On being cross-luestioned by Mr.. Rob-
erts DR.. Wishard admitted he was opposed to
Mormonism Mr.. Roberts wanted to know II
he was drunk or insane OH the train Us other
wise he would not have given himself away
in that manner" DR.. Wishard replied that he
thought that Mr.. Roberts was In a normal
condition.
Mrs. Maria McDougall testified that on July
%. 1909. she was on a train with Mr.. Roberts
and Mrs. Ship. and tho latter was introduced
by Roberts TO her as Mrs. Roberts.
Mr.. +. W. McDaniels. formerly manager OF
the Salt Lake Herald. testified as to conversa-
lions with Mr. Roberts. In which the latter said
he did not think the American people would
oppose his being seated because he had
plural wives Several women delegates to
the convention opposed hio nomination
on the ground OF his polyRamy. One
OF the delegates. Mrs. Jakem"an.
referred to a statement by Mr., Roberts 20 the
effect ihnt women ha' enough domestic duties
that Roberts with his growing domestic uties
HI enough TO sren him at hgm". IN rrpyto
"
cunv-r-ation 10 which lIr. Roberts had said:
i am not guilty OF the crime pnlygamy. be-
Court as the act Of tsS Ing VIE when p iormar
wife was lynR. The CRIME Of living with
plural wives e unlawful habitqt,on -, There.
zoe my citations wi b my plural families can
Thomas J, BIandGu Of Centervile. Utah,
said he had llve'l IN Centervill" since 1874 aud
had been constable. ros'nRstsr AMI probate
Judge He snid Loui-a : Roberts has Ave or
he M I
,he rlrr,nt report about the village I'M Mr.
Ron"F,S had hna S 7St OF twins bon TO him
chI,d In az" was g,rl. torl. about 1875 Tns
chI'aren az rYGogpnizsd in CGenter ne a. tho,o
ma, er the chill! Il Celia, plbhle Roberts
bed 10 call for pas" mail. Ne Ind seen Sir.
r1s as we'll as those OF "uss Smith s
The witness said h. hnd been Mormon. but
had ou,GroWn T.. On r.txamippation by 4; 7,
one OF Celia DhRie Rohers's children ~ the
SUMNER OF ls.e'. On the toni -tnne was an in
Roberts, Cheirman Tay ar elicited the inior.
ma Top that, the two women lived In houses
m IL srart. When Lonlsa Z. ,onert s' sf, her
M. RoGert.. Celia DItjie Roberts novel into
o Ray F BT$n@ kS,, ,ss,iasa tina. he wa, ac
nas Of oD Gf" a sass t iSsSn ta
1 ths We were reported ,T be Ronerts's chidren
re ldl Dlttn seen MT. hterts hhDut iella
Di6bles house ana barn In his. shirt sleeves
and making himself at home. In reply to
question by Chairman Tayer. he said tho
children of Louisa called Celia Roberts aunt"
which In the common form Of designating the
plural wives. Replying 20 questions by Mr..
nboyt Celia Dlb6le's house during the summer
Of lS'7 and 1891. Asked by Mr. Roberts II he
was not gambler IN Aspen. Colo, the witness
said no was not. Mr.. Roberts then ATTEMPTED
20 show that Brandon was frequently before
the. courts. especially for assault. and that he
be"n fnei twice FOR assaults, He hal never
henrl any onc question thai Roberts was the
father Of he children Of Celia Dibhe Roberts.
I Schroeder said hat this closed tn. tes-
tlmony for the present, Other witnesses
then asked II he had anything 10 say In regard
to the testimony. He said he had no Witnesses
and would not go on the stand himself. He
asked Tor TWO or three days to prepare his case
" the committee were tn Ait during the recess.
Dbble Roberts was SIR. Roberts's second wife
and hal good standn ny In society as Robertss
vile. LOUISA Roberts was treated as his first
wife. AZ the funeral OF Lena Ro erts the Bishop
Of ths s, Mormon q fhnrch eondosd wi h 'Brother
daughter" He had seen Maggie Shipp nj Gem
Etrsville: he thought she atten led the funeral.
II the House to-day. Mr. TayIe,r, Chairman
OF the Robcrts Committee, offered resolut on
providing for the payment OF the expenses Of
the House. II was agreed TO. Mr.. Tayler said
that the Committee hopei to be able To con-
clndc Us lahors without visiting Utah. but al
m!tted that In that u might he disappointed
Mr.. Lentz ~ Ohi wan,ed TO introduce res
Investigation tn" eases of the postmastcrs In
Utah charged with polygamous PRACTICES hut