The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-14
ROBERTS AND HIS WIVES
OPEN HEARING OF THE UTAH REP
REsENTATIvE's CASE.
Testimony Tending to show the Nor
mon Has Practiced Polygamy
Since His Election.
WASHINGTON, Dec. la.--The committee

WASHINGTON, Dec. B.--The committee
of the House of Representatives which Is
investigating the case of Mr.. Roberts, OF
Utah. at 1870 to-day began the public ex-
animation of witnesses. A large number OF
spectators were on hand. including several
ladies. Mr.. Roberts occupied a seat at the
foot of the table. while thanking
him was the delegation of g~entiles. Rev.
DIR. Tiff. Mr.. Schroeder and others, here to
direct the case against the Utah member
elect.
When Chairman Tayler, of Ohio, called
the committee to order and asked what
witnesses would be heard, Mr.. Roberts
arose and asked 10 be informed as to his
status before the committee. He made a
short statement in line with his brief,
which has already been published.
Mr.. TayIer responded that all of Mr..
Roberts's 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.
Does this man appear as attorney"
asked Mr.. Roberts.
III will examine witnesses" exclaimed
Mr.. Tayler.
Then / wish to introduce the court rec
ord relating to him. said Mr.. Roberts.
Mr.. Tayler said this had already been
passed on Saturday. and Mr.. Schroeder
had been recognized.
Charles Austin Owen was then called. He
gave his residence as Salt Lake City. In
response to questions by Mr.. Schroeder he
said he knew the general reputation in
Salt Lake City of the status of DIR. Mag
gle C. schipp Roberts" The witness said
the general reputation of the status Of.
Roberts and DR.. Maggie c. Schipp Roberts
was that they maintained the relations of
husband and wife.
While the questions were being put as
to Maggie Roberts. Roberts interrupted
with the objection: What this lady nay
have lone is immaterial." he said, I'm the
absence of any showing that 1t was at the
direction Of b. II. Roberts.
Mr.. Schroeder said later testimony would
bring out the Materially of the questions,
and Mr.. Tayler ruled that the competency
of the questions could be judged by the
subsequent
Mr.. Roberts then c-ross-exaInined the
witness. His 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 informa-
IlOn. he SdIQ, was OA 90ANAoi c
common report. 40.
~ want to know" asked Mr.. Roberts, IF
the general reputation you have been tes-
tifying to obtains since March 4, 1899
ut does"
And what is that reputation
THAT Maggie c. Schipp Roberts is the
plural or polygamous wife OF Brigham ID.
Roberts
o what acts is this general reputation
based?' inquired Roberts.
mo specific acts. but generally accepted
reputation" responded Mr.. owen
There was also considerable testimony on
court prosecutions throughout the State on
which the witness had Information As his
evidence closed Mr.. Roberts asked TO have
all his testimony struck from the record,
as the witness was unable TO testify as to
his own knowledge.
Mr.. McEwen of the Philadelphia North
American. was examined as TO a recent in
terview with Roberts, signed by him NC
EwenD In this Roberts spoke OF his
wives" referring TO them as GOOD and
true women" toward whom obligations
had been incurred prior to the enactment
of the polygamy law.
Was not this conversation in reference
20 general conditions! asked Mr.. ROBERTS.
witness. directly addressing his interroga-
tor. You spoke Of general conditions and
used your own case 10 Illustrate
Capt. Elias Parson5, OF the quarter
masters department., United States volun-
tecrs. testified to an incident occurring in
1856, while he was in Salt Lake City. About
s a. m. some one asked him TO call on his
telephone DIR. Maggie Ship Roberts. On
going to the telephone and calling up the
house a mans voice answered.
Who is this?' Captain Parsons asked
over the telephone.
'B. III. Roberts," was the reply, Captain
Parsons teSt1fed.
On cross-examination Mr.. Roberts asked:
do you know b. III. Roberts?"
Il do not
Did the answer over the telephone say
Brigham II. Roberts
mo Simply b. III. Roberts,
lis there not a Bolivar Roberts in Salt
Lake city,"
"Yes, PIT i would know Bolivar Roberts,
voice at any time. ana IL was not his"
Mr.. Roberts said he would later ask to
have his testimony stricken out as irrele-
want.
Rev. DR.. Tiff. a Methodist missionary of
Utah. testified that the general reputation
as to the status Of Celia Dibble Roberts
ham HI. Roberts.
On cross-examination Mr.. Roberts sought
70 show that DIT. Hin was hostile to the
the witness stating that this
hostility was to the polygamous feature OF
Mormonism-
DIR. Tiff went into the historical features
OF the contest against polygamy. the Utal
constitutional convention, the attitude q
Governor Wells and the Wells-Roberts dis
cussion on polygamy. DIR. lift denied that
there had been an intentional withholding
or prosecution In Utah In order 10 get UP {
propaganda In the East and thus ~lncreasf
the contributions for missionary work.
Kew W. c. Martin. a Presbyterian min
lister. OF Manti. Utah. testified as TO III.
reputation OF the p~olygamous status q
Celia Dlbble Roberts and Margaret q
shipp Roberts toward Brigham n. Rob
erts. He saw statements 10 this effect in
the Salt Lake City newspapers. and hear
OF no denials. The polygamous status o.
Mr.. Roberts was a matter OF common re
pure ~ was also reported that twins had
been born to Celia Dibble Roberts.
MT. Schroeder stated that this was ali