The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10

wav regular Of tsnable or sufficient 70
denrive me 81 my prima facie right to take
the oath Of office and occupy the seat III
the house OF representatives TO wnicn
have been duly and legally elected ana
which election and right is not contestea.
Ambiguous, uninteiligibe and incompetent.
and Of such a character as to make the
xama not worthy to be considered by tho
COMMITTEES, and I AK that my prima facia
right to my seat be now considered.
washington, December e.--The first Of
the public hearings in the Roberts case
began at O'Clock. At that hour the com
niftee room was crowded with meniucrs.
representatives Of the press and a io'oga.
fion representing the Gentle element oil
Utah. Roberts sat az the foot OF the IONS
committee table with documents piled up
before him. His secretary was near bt
hand, bringing him books and otner data
OF reference. Chairman Taylor an,
nounced that persons who had participated
In framing the charges were present ana
he asked that they be heard.
MIR. a. Il. Schroeder, one OF the Gentiles
from Utah then stepped forward and was
about 10 proceed wnen MIR. Roberts rose
hastily and raised his hand In waving
protest. 80
Il object" he said. IL Object 70 tots
witness Ii he comes here as an attor-
ney. | object to him IL ne comes Is
witness on The ground that he Is lnworthy
of confidence, and because ne rs com
mon swindler. And ] propose 20 estaL-
lisn that he is utterly unworthy CT De-
lief" Roberts said he would present the
tenth titan supreme court record III sup
port OF his allegation
Mr.. Taylor answered that Mr.. Sehrseeer
was not present IS witness or az ccun-
sci. but merely to give the committee as
much Information as he could, and that
the committee would treat the matter as
1t saw lit.
Mr.. schroeder remarked that he did not
understand he was on trial.
Alr. Rooerts did uot press his objection
further and Mr. Schroeder proceeded He
said 1t could be established that Mr. Rob
erts had maintained aud Is u0w maintains
ing the status OF polygamisti that IN
1859 no pleaded guilty oil unlawful cohabi-
tation ami has since chat time continued
In that relation Specially Mr Schroeder
said It could be established that there had
recently been born children 10 his poiyga-
nous wives. among Thorn being twins born
70 Celia Dihbe Roberts. the reputed second
wife OF the congressnan-elsct. These
children were reported to be born, he said.
August II. 1897, and until this morning
he had understood were acknowledged by
Roberts as HE. II could also be shown
that he had been holding out DR.. Maggie
maintaining the status of husband toward
her; that during all nf these times he has
living a lawful Wife Louisa Smith Roberts,
who also has borne him children. Mr.,
Schroeder said the witnesses were in Utah,
reaGily accessible II the committee de-
sired to summon them. He suggested that
Miss Adah Roberts. the daughter OF Mr..
Roberts. was now in the city and might
be available as u witness.
Rev. Dr.. lift OF Utah was asked II he
desired to add anything but stated that
Mr. Schroeder had covered the general
question sufficiently, and that the detailed
evidence would be ready II the committee
desired
AT this point Mr.. Mcpherson, Iowal, q
member of the committee, stated that hf
thought that there was misunderstand-
ing as to the status OF Mr.. Roberts. Sons
thought he had made his statement In
order to frame an issue; others though
he had appeared as a witness AMI shoult
be subjected to cross examination He salt
he feared the committee vas gradual,
drifting to the point where II would hav
TO go $500 miles 10 Utah to hear witnesses
or else bring witnesses 2500 miles to Wash
ington.
Chairman Taylor stated that Mr. Robert
had not been summoned as witness an
was not under oath. Mr. Roberts sail hi
statement was for the purpose of ioinin
issue. He desired ruling on his demuri 9
and time TO present authorities on his do
murrer for, he said, he was not through
with 1t. He states also that as witness
he would hardly be expected to aivo evil
dence against himself
The public hearing then went ever Until
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock and tn.
committee held private session Mr.
TAYLOR said after the executive session
tart tha committee was consideriul
whether it should go to Ctah or have tn,
Witnesses come here and that no decision
had been reached.
Mr. Schroeder. against whom Roberts
made his protests, said after the meeting,
Mr.. Roberts refers n a civil suit brough
10 set aside an execution sale made by The
sheriff OF salt Lake county. ! was ht
attorney for the judgment creditors and
ut the sberif's sale became the pur.
chaser In my own name with tho oonsen
of my client 1t is a long story. but sui,
fee it TO say that Judge Bartch, now or
the supreme bench. who tried the case
In rendering his oral decision expressl.
exonerated me from all imputation of &C
tual fraud"
1t Is understood the opposition TO Rob
erts has suggested that the wives will
whom he Is alleged to have maintaine,
poygamous relations be summoned a
witnesses. The first wife would be eXemp
from testimony against her husband bu
this exemption would not extend beyon
the first wife.