The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-14
WANTED TO KNOW HIS STATUS.
ROBERTS TOLD THAT HIS RIGHTS
HAD BEEN PROTECTED.

He Claimed the Committee Had No
Right to Investigate Him Unless
asa Member of Congress, and Then
only as to His Observation-Disclosures
nv Taken as to His POIygamOus
Wives-Roberts' Demurrer Was
OverruIed.
washington, Dec. 13.-The committee of
t,e House of Representatives which is
INVESTIGATING the case OF Mr. Roberts of
Utah opened its doors at 1880 o'clock to-
day to begin the examination of witnesses.
A large number of spectators were on
hand, including several ladies.
M Roberts occupied a seat at the foot
Of the committee table, while thanking
MIN was the delegation of Gentile-Rev.
Dr. Tiff, Mr. Schroeder and others-here
10 direct the case against the Utah mem
ber-elect.
When Chairman Tayler of Ohio called
the committee to order and asked what
witnesses would be heard. Mr. Roberts
arose and said:
4 respectfully ask to be informed as to
my status before this committee. Am I
regarded as a member of the House OF
Representatives?
If you answer this question in the af-
drmative, then 1 ask that the committee
confne itself to the consideration of nv
election, the returns of my election and
the qualifications of a member of Con-
gress as defined in the constitution OF the
United States. If this committee shall
find mat my election is beyond question.
then 1 ask that 1 be permitted to take
the oath of office; as this is the only con-
stitutional power which the House or this
committee can exercise over me until [
am sworn in.
IF the committee shall answer No to
this inquiry, then it has no jurisdiction
whatever over me, as the constitution
gives to the House power over its mem
bers only, and 1 ask that the proceedings
before the committee be discontinued"
Mr.. Tayler of Ohio responded that all
OF Mr.. Roberts rights had been fully look
ed after and protected. and at the very
threshold of the inquiry there was no
proper question which had not been raised
Testimony as to His Wives.
Charles Austin Owen of Salt Loke City
was then called. The witness said that
the general reputation of the statue of
Roberts and DR.. Maggie C. Shipp Rob
erts was that they maintained the rela-
ton of husband and wife
Mr.. Roberts then cross-examined the
witness. The questions were asked rapid
ly sometimes savagely. Mr.. Roberts
questions brought out that the witness
had no personal knowledge as to Mrs.
Maggie Roberts or Mr.. Roberts, based on
talks with them, but was general infor-
nation and common repute.
Mr.. McEwen of the Philadelphia North
American, was examined as to a recent
- interview with Mr. Roberts. signed bv hin,
NIcEwen) 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.
Capt. Elias H. Parsons of the quarter
masters department, U. s. v, testified
as 10 an incident occurring in 1896 while
he was in Salt Lake City. About a. m
some one asked him to call up on his tele-
phone DR.. Maggie Ship Roberts On go
ing TO the telephone and calling up the
house, mans voice answered.
Who is this?" Capt. Parsons asked over
the telephone.
ID. H. Roberts," was the reply, Capt.
Parsons testified
On cross-examination Roberts asked:
DO you know B. H. Roberts voice?"
81 do not"
Citizens of Utah on the Stand.
Rev. DR.. Tiff, a Methodist missionary of
Utah, testified that the general reputation
as TO the status of Celia Dibble Roberts
was that she was the plural wife of Brig
ham H. Roberts. On cross-examina ion
Mr.. Roberts sought TO show that Dr. Tiff
was hostile to the Mormons, the witness
stating that his hostility was to the
plygamOus feature of Mormonism.
Rev. G. w. Martin, a Presbyterian min
lsiers of Mant, Utah, testified as to the
reputation of the polyganlous status Of
Cella Dibble Roberts and Margaret c.
Ship Roberts toward Brigham H. Rob-
erts' He saw statements to this affect in
SAT- Lake City newspapers and heard of
no denials. The polygamous status of
MT. Roberts was matter of common re-
puie 1t was also reputed that twins had
been born to Celia Dibble Roberts
In the course of the hearing Mr. Tayler
stated TO Roberts that the latter's demur-
rer had been overruled, all questions be-
ing taken into consideration for determi-
nation later.