The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-14
ROBERTS Hrs OWN LAWYER.
He Gets the Best OF His Acousers Before
the House Special Committed.

He Gets the Best OF His Acousers Before
| the House Special Committee.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 13.-Representive.e elect
Roberts Of Utah had con siderably the best OF the
| argument to-day before the Special Com
mittee Of Congress which Ia investigating the
| charges against him. As result OF the
| session this morning the committee was con-
vinced that II could come to no satisfactory
conclusion from the testimony OF those en-
gagged 10 prosecuting the case against Roberts.
and has adjourned, subject TO call OF the chair
man. In the meantime steps will be taken to
ascertain whether certain witnesses will come
to Washington from Utah. and II IL will be
necessary to subpoena them.
The anti Mormon deeR alton. which has
been so industriously pressing the charges
against Roberts, had the floor to-day for the
purpose OF telling what they knew against
him. A. I. Schroeder OF the delegation acted
as prosecuting attorney. while Roberts ap-
peared as his own attorney. Although Roberts
Ia not lawyer. his cross quest ioning was OF
the keenest. most searching kind. and II Il was
at times somewhat pointed and his questions
irrelevant he managed to bring quite as many
facts as damaging to the other side us they pro-
duced against him.
At the beginning OF the session Mr.. Roberts
presented the following written query to the
committee:
Gentlemen OF the Committee: I respest-
fully ask 70 be informed as to my status before
this committee:
o, A% as member OF the House
Jou answer this question In the AMIR alive
ak ;Se hG sS% 81 my e SSs%s
,Ss sqsn' Of on my s0q 81 sea
United States. Il, Ills committee shall d Ins
70 be correct and regular, that my election is
fh SS all tSs
then ask that l be permitted to, take the
"a G possr as sh s' Il. The aoS. .' or so S
committee can exercise over me until l am
sswSTn ~ !, SSnnE. proceed under Article l.
pei member. until have been permitted to
take The i, oath ,hn u and Occupy ny seat.
this inquiry. then II has no Jurisdiction what
eyer over me. as the Constitution gives the
that the proceedings before the committee be
C, y Owen, a civil, engineer Of Salt Lake. was
publicly made in the newspapers that Roberts
s and Dr ssssss Vic Ros es D00'
On cross-eXsmInstion. Mr.. Roberts asked
witness Il he did not represent the Ner York
nitted He also admitted, that he had spent
Sas sssr Il s S Lake n snn NJ no pSyse
Investigate Mr. Roberts's status
either Roberts or DIR. Maggie Ship Roberts and
hearsay. He also admitted that he knew Of
no acts which justified the presumption that
Mr. Roberts had maintained poygamous rela-
tons with Maggie ship Roberta since March 4.
Arthur McFwen. editor OF the Philadelphia
NoIIh imeicai. was the next Witness He
Vas questioned once sE Chairman IeyIsr about nm
the North .imericd last week Mr. McEwen said
Mr., Roberts spoke OF his wives," saving that
I, is dheman'ed of me that / put away my
On ross.examination. Mr.. McEwen ad-
mitted that h. made no notes Of the, interview
ap cap sa ESs wa. e N
common, report Celia Dibble Roberts and
Maggie ship Roberts were polygamous wives
The Rev. T, C. ,nir. Superintendent OF
charges against Roberts made in the news
PAPERS ana to tho effect that Roberts, by
several wives.
On cross. examination by Mr. Roberts Mr.
lin said that In the Constitutional Con-
could REGAL no objections male TO Roberts on
the ground OF polygamy when Roberts was q
candidate for Congress IN 1897. He admitted
mon rrnnte and he had no pcr,onal knowledge
OF Mr Eobcrts's alleged relations with the
women in question.
Presbyterian minister. also testified rs TO the
common rrpute OF tho relations between
Robert ani sh n. Ssllssed wives Celia Dibbs
knowledg" OF those relations.
Mr.. Roberts inquired as TO the soope OF the
rnmmtte". whether In regard TO the case OF
Roberts Il was 10 be confined 10 that or OK
Ghnlrnnn said that at present the committee
dll not wish To hear witnesses on the general
snblect. The committee then went into