The Anaconda standard., 1899-12-14
THEY'RE AFTER ROBERTS
Hearsay Evidence Goes With the
Committee.
WITNESSES ARE HEARD
Schroeder Permitted to Examine Wit.
nesses-Ilif Denied He Was Trying
to Increase Contributions to
the Missionary Fund


Washington, Dec. 13-The committee
of the house of representatives which
is investigating the case of Mr. Rob-
erts of Utah began the examination of
witnesses at 1890 to-day. large
number of spectators were present. in
Guiding many ladies. Mr.. Roberts oc-
cupied a seat at the foot Of the COM
mittee table, while tianking him was
the delegation of Gentiles, Rev. DIR.
1liff, Mr.. Schroeder and others, here
to direct the attention of congress to
the member-elect.
When Chairman Tayler of Ohio called
the committee to order and asked what
witnesses would be heard Mr.. Roberts
arose and asked to be informed as to
his status before the committee. He
made a short statement in line with
his brief, which has already been pub
| lished.
Mr.. Tayler responded that all of Mr..
Roberts rights had been fully looked
| after and protected, and there was no
| proper question which had not been
raised. Mr.. Tayler then asked Mr..
| Schroeder what witnesses he would
| call.
|
asked Roberts.
| "He will examine Witnesses ex-
planned the chairman.
Then l wish to introduce the court
| record relating to him" said Roberts.
Mr. Tayler said this had already
been passed on Saturday and schroe
| der had been recognized.
Charles M. Owen was then called.
He gave his residence as Salt Lake
City. In response to questions by Mr..
| Ey.1,r In lYr, MOI
reputation in Salt Lake City of the
status of DIR. Maggie Q, thipp Rob-
erts."
The witness said that he general
| reputation of the status of Roberts and
! DR. Maggie G. Shipp Rob. IS was that
| they maintained the rela on of hus-
| band and wife. While questions
\ were being put as to Mrs. .aggie Rob
erts. Roberts Interrupted ith the oh
| lection:
what this lady may ! We done is
| imma aterial in the absence any show
! ing that 1t was at the dii ction Of B.
| H. Roberts"
| Mr.. Schroeder said late estimony
would bring out the mater,dllty or ne
question, and Mr.. Tayler ruled that
the competency Of the questions could
! be Judged by subsequent testimony.
The witness was then cross-examined
by Mr.. Roberts. whose questions
brought out that the witness had no
personal knowledge as to Mrs. Maggie
Roberts or Mr.. Roberts based on talks
with them. but his information was
general and of common repute. m
81 want to know" said Roberts. II
the general reputation you have been
testifying to obtains since March 4,
1S99."
ut does"
And what Is that reputation"
THAT Maggie c. Shipp Roberts is
the plural or polygamous wife of Brig
ham H. Roberts,
| ION what acts is this general reputa-
ton based?" inquired Roberts.
mo specific acts, but generally ac-
cepted reputation, responded MT.
Owen.
There was also considerable testi-
mony on court prosecutions through
out the state in which the witness had
information.
AS his evidence closed Mr. Roberts
asked to have all this testimony strick-
on from the records, as the witness
was unable to testify to his own
knowledge.
The chairman permitted the testi-
mony to stand.
Mr.. McEwan of the Phlladelphia
North American was examined as to
a recent interview with Roberts, signed
by him (McEwan). In this Roberts
spoke of his wives" referring to them
as good and true women" toward
whom obligations had been incurred
was not this conversation in refer
ence to general conditions?" asked Mr..
Roberts.
''Oh, no. Mr., Roberts" answered the
witness, directly addressing his inter
rosator "You spoke of general condl-
tions, and used your own case to IL
lustrate."
Capt. Elias H. Parsons of the quar-
termaster's department, U. 5. A, test. aa.
- ipni
while he was in Salt Lake City. About
s a. m. some one asked him to call
up on his telephone DR.. Maggie Shlpp
Roberts On going to the telephone
and calling up the house man canfai,, nofs
Parsons asked over the telephone b
H. Roberts" was the reply, Captain
| Parsons testified
On cross-examination Roberts asked:
do you know B. H. Roberts voice.
| Il do not"
saw Brigham Fl. Roberts?
fNo, simply b. H. Roberts.
rs there not Bolivar Roberts in
Salt Lake City,
erts' voice at any time, and it was not
Mr. Roberts said he would later ask
to have this testimony stricken out as
irrelevant and not of personal khoWl-
edge.
Rev. Dr. Tiff. a Methodist mission,
ary of, Utah, testified that the general
reputation as to the status of Celia
Dibble Roberts was that she was the
plural wife of Brigham H. Roberts.
On cross-examination Mr.. Roberts
sought to show that DR.. 1lif was hos
file TO the Mormons, the witness stat
ing that his hostility was to the poly
gamous feature of Mormonism.
DR.. Tiff went into the historical feat
ures of the contest against polygamy,
the Utah constitutional convention, the
| attitude of Governor Wells and the
Wells Roberts discussion on polygamy
Dr.. Tiff denied that there had been
any Intentional withholding of prose
cution in Utah in order to get up a