The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-20
WIVES DISCUSSED
Witnesses From Utah Tell About
Roberts Many Happy House.
holds
TRIPLE HUSBAND
WILL NOT TAKE STAND
arguments in His Case Will Be
Heard Until After the Christ
mas Recess

mas Recess
Washington, Dec. ia number of
witnesses appeared before the Roberts
investigating committee today. Mrs.
Miles, a physician of Salt Lake City,
was the first called. She gave details
of call she made at the house of Mrs.
DR.. Maggie Ship Roberts, April u, 1897,
relative to some medical society af-
fairs. She addressed Mrs. Shipp Roberts
as DR.. Ship, whereupon, the witness
said, she was interrupted with the
words: Doctor, you can call me DR..
Roberts,
| DIR. Roberts went on to explain, the
witness said, that she had been married
to Mr.. Roberts for seven years. She
| added that the medical society mail
sent her in future should be addressed
DR.. Roberts, not DR.. Shipp Subsequent
ly the witness called at the house and
after a visit, Mr.. Roberts came in and
was introduced. She could not recall
whether there was a specific introduce
y
was with such familiarity as to give
that impression.
Mr.. Roberts submitted an objection
on the ground that this testimony re-
| lated to 1897 whereas the committee had
no Jurisdiction over him prior to his be-
coming a member of congress.
Then you contend" said Chairman
Taylor, that the testimony should be
confined to polygamous practices sub
sequent to March 4, 1892
81 do" answered Mr.. Roberts.
| 1.-The objection will be noted re-
sponded the chairman.
MINISTER'S TESTIMONY.
Rev. S. E. wishard was the next wit
ness. He said he knew both Mr.. Rob-
erts and Mrs. DR. Roberts, and said his
first meeting with the latter was in
| September, 1897 This occurred. he said,
on the train at Manti Utah. He was in
the car with Roberts, and spoke to him.
A lady sat beside him, and he beckoned
to her and then introduced her, saying
Mrs. Roberts-Mr. Wishard." Witness
was asked if Mr.. Roberts say my
Wife in making the introduction. The
witness was not sure, but was positive
the introduction was as a wife. He Wis
tied Mrs. Roberts at her home.
On cross examination, Mr.. Roberts
brought out Mr.. Wishard's opposition to
Mormonism, and then asked: Was
Roberts drunk when he made this in
PRODUCTION referred to-"
mot that 1 know of?'
WAS he insane?"
ct do not know"
What possible reason, then" asked
Mr.. Roberts, could Roberts have haS
for putting himself in such position
with one who opposed him?"
The witness said he could not explain
reasons. He repeated that the facts
were as stated Mr. Wishard said that
in conversation with Mrs. DIR. Rob-
erts he had asked her if the young lady
in Washington with Roberts was her
daughter and she answered in the mega
tive
Mrs. Maria C. McDougall testified to
an incident occurring July 2S, when
she was on the train from Butte, Mont,
to Salt Lake City. "Once l heard Mrs.
Roberts introduce his companion as
My wife testified Mrs. McDougall
and repeatedly as Mrs. Roberts. She
overheard two such introductions to
missionaries, and heard much of the
conversation.
Edwin McDaniels, former manager of
the Salt Lake Herald, was examined at
considerable length mainly pertaining
to Mr.. Roberts nomination to con-
gress.
In 1896, while managing the Herald,
he had conversation with Mr.. Rob
erts in the course of which Roberts
told him he had three families. Sub
sequently, in 1898, the witness said,
there was another conversation prior
to the nominating convention, relative
to rumors against Mr.. Roberts The
latter said that he thought this line of
opposition would not prove effective,
as he would court an attack as to the
plurality of wives. On cross-exami-
nation, Mr.. Daniels said he had OPP
posed his nomination, and had second
ed the nomination of Mr.. King.
ROBERTS PLEA.
What Roberts did say, the witness
continued, was that he was not guilty
of the crime of polygamy as that crime
had been defined by the supreme court
as the taking of plural wives thus maxi
ing a distinction from unlawful cohab-
itation.
Your recolleotions seem clear on
some points and not on others" said
MIR, Roberts.
Mr.. McDaniels said his retirement
| frcnl the Herald was because he did
moi wish to defend Roberts while the
| items.
Mr.. Schroeder, the Gentle representa-
tive who conducted the direct examina-
ton, submitted a copy of an editorial
| by Mr. Roberts in the New Era, relat-
| ing to polygamy and it's biblical status.
Mr.. Roberts presented formal objec-
ton to the testimony.
POSTMASTER ON STAND.
At the afternoon session, t. ]. Bran
don of Centreville, Utah, where he had
been postmaster and probate judge,
testified that he had known 8. 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 had six children.
On August II, 1897, it was reported
about Centreville that B. II. Roberts
had a pair of twins born to him by
Celia Dibble Roberts, He had seen
them frequently since then. He gave
circumstantial details of other children
of Celia Dibble Roberts, who, he said,
were recognized in the town as children
of B. Fl. Roberts. These children called
for the mail Of Celia Roberts, and oc-
casionally for B. H. Roberts mail
while the witness was postmaster Celia
Roberts was publicly and priv ately re-
ported the wife of B. H. Roberts. The
latter was about the house frequently.
Mr.. Brandon told of a funeral in the
family of Celia Dibble Roberts. B. H,
Roberts was present at the funeral. At
terwarG witness saw the tombstone at
the grave of this child, which read:
Lena, daughter of Celia and Brigham
H. Roberts,
Mr.. Ray Brandon, son of the former
Witness testified that he knew Rob-
erts, Louisa Smith Roberts, Celia Dib-
BILE Roberts, and most, If not ALL of the
children, 1t was generally reported that
twins We're born to Celia and B. H.