Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-14
Investigating Committee Begins!
Examination of Witnesses.
QUESTION AND ANSWER q
The Accused Rcpre.entntivs-Eiect
condne's His own Case. AskinE
Question. Rnpidiy. somet,mess }
s"vase'y. After Learning the stats
u'or III. cn.o Before tho Commit.#
Toe.
(By Telegraph to virgInlan- Pllot.)

(By Telegraph to virglnian- Pilot.)
washington, D. c., Dec 13-The
committee of the House OF Represent
tatiVes which is investigating the case
OF MT. Roberts. of Utah. opened its
doors at 1890 to-day TO begin the ex-S;
ANIMATION OF witnesses. a large NUM-
per OF spectators were on hand, I'm
Guiding several ladies. Mr.. Roberts
occupied q scat at the foot OF the;
committee table. while Ranking him
was the delegation OF Gcntiles-Rey.
DR.. Ilin, Mr.. Schroeder and others
here to direct the case against the
Otah member-elect. fi
ROBERTS ASKS QUESTION.
When M. Tayler, of Ohio, called the
COMMITTEES 20 order, and asked what {
witnesses would be heard. Mr.. Roberts
arose and said: Il respectfully ask
to be Informed as to my status before
TINS committee. Am 1 regarded as a
member of the House of Representa-
tlves? mos "
II you answer this question in the
affirmative, then ask that the COM
mittee confine itself to the consider.
alton of my election, the returns of
my election and the qualifications of q
member of Congress, as defined in the
Constitution OF the United States. IT,
this committee shall find that my cleo
ton Is beyond question, then ask
that l be permitted to take the oath
OF Office; rs this is the only consGtu-
tional power which the House or this
committee can exercise over me until
Il am sworn In. I.,
''If the committee shall answer mo-
to this inquiry, then 1t has no jurisdic-
ton whatever over me. rs the consti-
tuition gives to the House power over
Its members only. and I ask that the
proceedings before the COMMITTEES be
discontinued"
AND is ANSWERED..
Mr.. Tayler, OF Ohio. responded That all
of MIR. Roberts rights had been fully
looked after and protected, and Mt tho
very threshold of the inquiry there was
no proper question which had not been
raised.
Charles Austin Owen, of Salt Lake
City. was then called. The witness said
that the general reputation Of the
status Of Roberts and Dr. Maggie g.
Ship Roberts was that they MAIN
tanned the relation or husband and
wife.
RAPID AND SAVAGE.
Mr.. Roberts then cross-exnmined the
witness. The questions were asked rap
idly, 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 on general
Information md common renuie
Mr.. McISwen, Of the Philadelphia
North American. was examined as to
a recent interview with Roberts, signed
by him (NIcEwen). In this Roberts
spoke of his wives" referring to them
as good and true women" toward
whom obligations had been incurred
prior ito the enactment OF the polyga-
my law.
Captain Elias II. Parsons of the
Quartermaster's Department, U. S. W,
testified to an incident occurring in
1896, while he was in Salt Lake City.
About r. m. some one asked him to
call up on his telephone DR.. Maggie
Shipp Roberts. On going to the tele-
phone and calling up the house, mans
voice answered
'.who is thfs?" Captain Parsons ask
ed over the telephone
"B. H. Roberts was the reply. Cap
tain Parsons testified.
On cross-examinatlon Roberts askedi
do you know Is. II. Roberts voice 2.
II do not" 80
MINISTER'S HEARD.
Rev. DR.. Tiff, u Methodist missionary
OF Utah, testified that the general repu-
ration as to the status OF Celia Dibble
Roberts was that she was the plural
wife of Brigham H. Roberts On cross
examination. Mr.. Roberts sought to
show that DR.. llir was hostile to the
Mormons, the witness stating that his
hostility was to the polygamous fea-
ture OF Aiormorsm. Al,
Rev. G. w. Martin. a Presbyterian
minister of Manti. Utah, testified as
to the reputation Of the polygamous
il. ~ - =
Margaret C. Shipp Roberts toward
Continued on Page Ii.