Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-12-13
IN His own DEFENSE.
Roberts Appears Before the In.
vestigating Committee.
PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES

Tho Representa- Elect from Utah Then
Demurs to the Jurisdiction of tho Com
mittee Creates . Sensation at the Alter
noon Session by. Denouncing A. T.
Schroeder, Ono of tho Gentle Dslega-
tien from Utah.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE consider
alton Of the case of Roberts Of Utah
was resumed at 10 o'clock in the morn.
ing by the house investigating commit.
tee. Roberts being present to plead to
certain specific interrOgatories which
had been framed. The proceedings
continued to be behind closed doors.
Roberts was first asked If he conceded
the court record wherein he pleaded
guilty in 1889 under the Edmunds-
Tucker law. This he conceded. He
was next asked whether about 1887 or
since 1890 he had married plural wives
and had lived with them since that
time as wives.
Pleads Not Guilty. 49,
To the whole Of this charge Roberts
pleaded not guilty. and then demurred
to the jurisdiction of the committee
for the following reasons:
First-On the ground of violation Of
constitutional rights, in that 1t at
tempted to try him for crime with
out presentment Of indictment by gand
jury, and without trial before jury
and due process Of law. L4--4a i
Second-That 1t was an attempt to
deprive him of vested property that he
held in the emoluments of an Office for
the full term.
Third-That the only evidence that
could be rightfully considered in the
committee was court record estab-
fishing the guilt, confessed or proven,
Of the representative-elect and that the
committee has no right to consider any
other evidence. A.->
FOurth-That the crime alleged,
namely. that Of unlawful cohabitatiOn
even If proved-would not constitute
a sufficient crime to bar member or
deprive him Of his seat, because inno-
cence of pOlygamy or unlawful CO.
habitation is nowhere enumerated in
the constitution as a qualification for
the Office of member Of congress, nor
Is 1t named in any United States law
applicable to Utah or any other state.
q. Legal Controversy Throughout.
Roberts argued these points for
nearly two hours, referring to law
books. and answering queries. 1t was
a legal controversy throughout, the
facts not being gone into at length.
Roberts concluded by asking that his
prima facie right to seat be at once
considered, as the present status de-
MED to sovereign state representa-
tion In the house at a time when injur-
f0us legislation affecting that state
might take place. "
At the conclusion Of Roberts state
ment the committee held an executive
session and then adjourned until p.
m. The chairman announced that sub
sequent meetings would be open and
publicity also be given to the official
stenographer's reports of the morning
session.
&k Denounces . Gentle.
At the afternoon session Of the Rob-
erts investigating committee, Mr.. Rob-
erts created sensation by denouncing
A. T. Schroeder, one of the gentle
delegation from Utah, Mr.. Schroeder
was about to address the committee.
when Roberts, waving his hand in pro-
test, said:
,'I object. object to this witness
if he comes here as an attorney. OBJ
ject to him If he comes as a witness,
on the ground that he is unworthy of
confidence and because he Is a COM
mon swindler. And 1 propose to es-
tablish by the records of the supreme
court Of Utah that he is utterly I'M
worthy of belief"
After some explanation Mr.. Schroed-
er was permitted to proceed.