Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-12-09
INVESTIGATING ROBERTS
Utah Congressman on Trial for Poiygsm
Before House Committee

Utah Congressman on Trial for Polygam ,
Before House Committee
Washington. Dec. 9.-Consideration oI
o'clock this morning by the house inves
tigsting COMMITTEES, Roberts being pres.
ent 10 plead TO certain interrOgatOries
which had been framed. Proceedings
continued behind closed doors. Roberts
was first asked II he conceded the exis
tence OF the court record, wherein he
pleaded guilty In 1889 under the Ed
munds law. This he cOnoeded. He was
next asked whether about 1890, or since
1890, he had married plural wives and
lived with them since that time a. wives.
To the whole OF this charge Roberts
pleaded not guilty. and then demurred
TO the jurisdiction OF the committee for
following reasons.
First-On the ground of violation OF
constitutions 81 rights In that IL attempted
to try him for crime without the pre-
sentiment OF an indictment by q grand
jury and without trial before jury and
due process Of law.
Second-Thst II was an attempt to de-
prive him Of ves.s ed property that he held
In the emOlum ,nts OF the office for the
full term.
Third-That the only evidence that
could righL'ully confront the committee
was the court record and establishing
guilt confessed or proven OF the repre-.
sentative elect, and the committee has no
right TO consider any other evidence.
Fourth The crime alleged, namely,
that OF unlawful cohabitatiOn, even II
proven, would not constitute q sufficient
crime to bar member or deprive him OF
his seat.
Roberts argued these points near ly
two hours. IL was legal controversy
throughout, facts not being gone into at
length. Boberts concluded by asking his
prima facle right TO seat be at once con.
sidered. rs the present status denied to q
sovereign state representation In the
house at time when injurious legislation
affecting that state might take place.
At the conclusion OF Roberts state
ment the committee held an executive
session and then adjourned until 2 p. m.
The chairman announced that subse.
qusnt meetings will be opsn and public
ity was given TO official stenOgrsphers OF
reports OF the session.
At the afternoon session A. r. Schroe-
der, one Of the GENTLE delegation from
Utah, was about to address the commit
tee, when Roberts. waving his hand In
protest, said: IL object to this witness II
he comes here as al attorney, | object
TO MIN IL he comes a. witness on the
ground that he Is unworthy OF confidence
and because he Ia q common swindlsr.
And propose to establish by the records
OF the supreme court OF Utah that he In
utterly unworthy OF belief" After some
explanations Schroeder was permitted to
proceed.
Schroeder declared that II could be es.
tablished that Roberts was now main
tanning the status OF a polygamist: that
children had been born recently to his
p0lygam0us wives, among them being
twins born 10 Celia Dlbble Roberts,
August /, 1897. II could also be shown,
he said, that he had been holding out
that DR.. Maggie Shipp Roberts was
his wife, while he had been living with
a lawful wife In the person OF Louisa
Smith Roberts. After Roberts had de-
mandet from the committee ruling on
his demurrer and opp0rtu ity TO present
authorities in public hearing. the com
miltee adjourned until next Tuesday.