Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-12-10
Roberts Hears Charges Made
Against Him in Committee.
OFFERS PLEA OF NOT GUILTY
He Nemurs to tho Jurisd1ctaon OF the In,
vestIgatlne Body. Delegation OF Gem
tiles from Utah Present at this
Pablo Hearing OF Case.
(By Telegraph.)

! (By Telegraph)
| WASHINGTON, Dec a-The consid-
| GRAFTON of the case of Mr.. Roberts was
resumed at 10 O'Clock this morning by
the investigating committee, MIR. Rob
cris being present to plead his own
| case. The proceedings continued to be
behind closed doors. Mr.. Roberts was
! first asked if he conceded the existence
| Of the court record wherein he plead
| ed guilty in 1899 under the EdnundS-
Tucker law This ne conceded. He
| was next asked whether. about 1889 or
| since 1890. he had married plural wives
and hud lived in polyEanouS relations
| in violation of law.
PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
| To the whsle OF this charge Roberts
pleaded not guilty and then demurreu
| To the jurisdiction Of the committee for
| the following reasons:
First. on the ground of the violation
| Of tn, constitutional rights in that 1t
attempted to try him for a crime with
| out presentment of indictment by grand
jury an:i without Trial before a jury
and due process of law.
Second. that 1T was an attempt 20 de-
pliv. bin of his vested property and
| that M. held in the emoluments Of an
office for the full term.
| Third, that the only evidence that
could be rightfully considered was a
|
guilt. confessed or proven, of the rep
| rrsentaiive elect and that the commit
! tee mas no right to consider any other
| evidences.
J Fourth. that the crime alleged. name
| ~, that Of unlawful Coi1abitauiGn, even
| it proven. would not constitute 4 suf-
| tiSient crime to bar d member or de-
lNive him Of his seat, because limo
cence Of polyGamy or unlawful cohab-
| itation is nowhere enumerated in the
l ~ Far
| flee ~ member of Congress, nor is 1t
| named in any United States law APP
pi.cable to Utah or any other state.
URGES PRENIA FFACIE RIGHT.
! Mr. Roberts concluded by asking that
| his priml facie right to "a seat be at
once considered as the present status
denies to a sovereign state representa-
ton in the House at a, time when inju-
,'icus legislation affecting that state
might take place.
! The first Of the public hearings in the
case began ait o'clock AT that hour
the committee room was crowded with
members representative of the press
and q delega ton representing the Gen
| tile element Of Utah. Mr.. Roberts sat
at the foot of tn. long committee table
With documents piled uD before him.
| HIS secretary was near at hand. bring
| ing him books and other data of refer
lence. Chairman Tayler announced that
persons who had participated in franz
ing the charges were present and asked
that they be heard.
! Mr.. a. T. Schroeder, one OF the Cen
tile delegation from Utah. said 1t could
be established that Mr.. Roberts had
maintained and is now maintaining the
status of a Tolygamist; that in 1889 he
| pleaded guilty Of unlawful cohablta-
ti.n and had since that time continued
! in that relation.
| CHARGES CAN BE PROVEN
Specifically, Mr.. Schroeder said it
could be established that there had
Recently been born children to his po-
| lyganrous wives. among then, being
! twins born to Celia Dihble Roberts, the
reputed second Wife of the Cong- ess-
| man elect. These children were re-
ported to be born, he said. August Ii.
1897. and until this morning, he had un-
| derstcod were acknowledged by Rob
crts as his. 1T could also be shown that
Re has been holding out DR.. Maggie
ShiDp Roberts us a wife and is now
| maintaining the status of husband to-
ward her: that during all of these times
| he had living 4 lawful Wife, Louisa
Smith Roberts. Who also has borne him
children.
Ii is understood that the opposition
! to Roberts has suggested that the wives
with whom he IS alleged to have main
tained polyga.nlous relations be sum-
lnoned US witnesses. The first wife. 1t
! is said. would be exempt from resty-
flying as she has a legal status as wife.
but this exemption would not extend
beyond the first wife
| t'B-COMM[TTEE APPOINTED. e
| a subcommittee. consisting of
Messrs. Morris. Littlefield and Miers
| has been appointed to get up forms of
subpnenas. etc. in connection with the
summarizing of witnesses.
The public hearing went over until
|,Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock and the
committee held private session.
| Mr.. Tayer said, after the executive
session. that the committee was consid
elins whether it should go TO Utah or
| nave the witnesses come here and that
no decision had been reached
| HARPER OUT ON BAIL.