The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-20
ROBERTS THREE WIVES
A TALK WITH DOCTOR MAGGIE
SHIPP ROBERTS.
EVIDENCE AGAINST ROBERTS CLOSED
He Has no Witnesses But VIII Present Some
Documentary Evidence. The Committee
VIII Hear Argument on the Case
on January the Fourth.
on January the Fourth.

on january the ourth'
Washington. Dec ia number of
witnesses from Utah, appeared today
before the committee of the House Of
Representatives, which is investigating
the case Of Mr.. Roberts, of Utah. They
included Mrs. DIR. Luella Miles, practic-
inf physician Of Salt Lake City; Mrs.
McDougall, Mr. Z. L. Mcdaniel and
Rev L. s. Wishard, all of Salt Lake.
| Mr.. Roberts was present. unaccom-
panied, and sat alongside the witnesses,
conducting the cross examination.
Mrs. DR.. Miles was the first witness.
She gave the details Of a call she made
at the house of Mrs. DIR. Maggie Shipp-
Roberts ON April 18th, 1897. relative to
some medical society affairs. She adj
dressed Mrs. Shipp-Roberts as "Dr.
| Shlpp," whereupon the witness SAID, she
was interrupted with the request
| doctor, you can call me Mrs. Roberts. I"
SsIrs. Roberts went on TO explain, the
witness said that she had been married
to Mr.. Roberts fer seven years. She
asked that the medical society mail
sent her In the future be addressed as
''Dr Roberts, net DIR. Shipp." Subse-
| quently the witness called ut the house,
and after a visit, Mr. Roberts came in
and was introduced.
When Mr. Roberts cross examined
the witness she repeated the story
/ WAS the introduction as hlIsband?' r.
he asked.
The witness could not remember.
After the Witness had stepped aside
| Mr. Roberts submitted an objection to
the effect that this testimony related to
| 1897, whereas the committee had no
jurisdiction over him prior to his becom-
ing member of Congress.
Then you contend, said Chairman
Tayler. ''that the testimony should be
confined to polygamous practices slrbse-
quent to March 4th, 1892
Il do" answered Mr. Roberts.
The objection will be noted, re-
sponded the chairman.
Rev. S. L.. Wishard was the next
witness. He was in clerical garb and
gave his business as that Of superintend-
ent of the home missionary work of the
| Presbyterian Synod, embracing Utah.
He knew both Mr.. Roberts and Mrs.
DIR. Roberts, and related his first meet
ing with the latter in September, 1897.
This occurred. he said on the train at
/ Mani Uaah. He was in the car with
| Roberts and spoke with him. A lady
sat beside him and he beckoned to her
and then introduced her, saying: Mrs.
Roberts. Mr. Wishard"
Whether Roberts said my wife, in
making the introduction, or simply said
Mrs. Roberts, the witness was not
sure. But he was positive the introduc-
ti0n was as wife. Subsequently Mr..
| Wishard said he called ON Mrs. Roberts
at her home to make sure he had made
no mistake The sign in the front of
the house read DR. Margaret @.
Roberts. In the parlor he saw ON the
wall large portrait of Roberts, and ON
a table a small picture of him. He saw
Mrs. Roberts. and recalled to her the in
| PRODUCTION on the train and she said she
remembered it.
Mrs. Maria McDougall testified to an
incident occurring July 22nd, 1898, when
she was ON the train from Butte Mont,
to Salt Lake City Mr. Roberts and
Mrs. DIR. Roberts Travelled ON the same
car as far as Pocatelo
"Once / heard Mr. Roberts introduce
his companion as my wife, testified
Mrs McDougaH. and repeatedly as
Mrs. Roberts.
i Edwin McDaniels, former manager of
| the Salt Lake Herald was examined at
considerable length, mainly on the poll
tics and convention affairs pertaining to
Roberts nomination for Congress. In
| 1896 while managing the Herald he had
d conversation with Roberts in the course
Of which Roberts told him he had three
families.
At the afternoon session. L. }. Bran
don and Ray Brandon, his son, was
heard Mr.. r. j. Brandon testified to
being resident of Centerville Utah,
| where he had been postmaster and pro
bate judge. He had known b. H. Rob
erts for years, also Louisa Smith Rob
erts and Celia Dibble Roberts He
knew the children of Louisa Smith
Roberts, five or six in number. Celia
/ Dibble Roberts also has six children, if
he remembered correctly. He knew that
Oh the morning Of August 11th, 1897, it
was currently reported about Centerville,
that b. H. Roberts had twins borne to
him by Celia Roberts. He had seen
them frequently since then The chill
dren occasionally called for mail for b.
| H. Roberts.
Ray Brandon gave evidence tending to
| support substantially the same allega-
tons as to those made by his father.
Subsequently Mr.. Brandon, Sr., testified
that the general repute was that Louisa
Roberts is Roberts first wife, Celia Dib-