The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-19
CONGRESSMAN, OR NOTp
is THE QUESTION Mr.. ROBERTS PUTS
To THE COMMITTEE.
If Not, the Committee or House Have
No Jurisdiction Over Him He Is,
He Demands to Be Sworn In-wit-
nesses Testify Before the COMMITTEES.

Washington, Dr=r 12-Tne COM
mittee Of the lis y representatives
which is investigating the case of Mr..
Roberts, OF Utah, opened it's doors at
1890 o'clock today to begin the exam
ination of witnesses. A large number
of spectators were on hand, including
several ladies.
Mr.. Roberts occupied a seat at the
foot of the committee table, while
thanking him vas the delegation of
Gentiles-Rev. DIR. Tiff, Mr.. Schroeder
and others-here to direct the case
against .he Utah member-elect.
When Chairman Tayler called the
committee to order and asked what
witnesses would be heard, Mr.. Roberts
arose and said:
4 respectfully ask to be informed
as to my status before this committee.
AM 1 regarded as a member of the
house of representatives?
IF you answer this question N the
affirmative, then 1 ask that the COM
mittee confine itself to the considera-
ton of my election, the returns of my
election, and the qualifications of a
membe of congress as defined in the
constitution of the United States. If
this committee shall find that my cleo
ton is beyond question, then l ask
that | be permitted to take the oath
of office; as this is the only constitu-
tional power which the house or this
committee can exercise Over me, until
I am sworn in.
IF the committee shall answer mo-
to his inquiry, then it has no jurisdic-
ton whatever over me, as the consti-
tuition gives to the house power over
it's members only, and / ask that the
proceedings before the committee be
discontinued"
Mr.. Tayler responded that all of Mr..
Roberts rights had been fully looked
after and protected, and at the 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 Mr.. Roberts and DIR. Mag
gle s.. Shipp roberts was hat they
maintained the relation of husband
and wife.
Mr.. Roberts then cross-examined the
witness. The questions were asked
rapidly, some times savagely. Mr..
Roberts questions brought out that
as to Mrs. Maggie Roberts or Mr..
Roberts, based on talks with them, but
was general information and common
repute.
Mr.. McEwen, of The Philadelphia
North American, vas examined as to a
recent interview with Mr.. Roberts,
signed by him McEwen). In this Mr..
Roberts spoke of his wives referring
to them as good and true women"
toward whom obligations had been in
CURED prior to the enactment Of the
| pOlygamy law.
Captain Elias H. Parsons, of the
quartermaster's department, United
States volunteers, testified to an Incl
dent occurring in 1896, while he was
in Salt Lake City. A bout s o'clock a.
M, some one asked him to call up on
his telephone DR.. Maggie Shipp Rob-
erts. On going to the telephone and
calling up the house a mans voice an
| swered.
who is this?" Captain Parsons ask
ed owe the phone.
"B. H. Roberts, was the reply,
Captain Parsons testified.
| On crOsS-examination, Mr.. Roberts
asked: do you know B. H. Roberts
voice."
Il do not" was the reply.
Rev. DR.. Tiff, a Methodist mission
airy, of Utah, testified that the general
reputation as to the status of Celia
Dibble-Roberts was that she was the
plural vie OIL Brigham II. ROBERTS.
On cross-eXamination, Mr.. Roberts
sought to show hat Dr.. Tiff was hos
tile to the Mormons, the witness stat
ing that his hostility was to the polyg-
amous feature of Mormonism.
Rev. G. w. Martin, a Presbyterian
minister, of Manti, Utah, testified as
to the reputation of the polygamous
status of Celia Dibble-Roberts and
Margaret c.. Shipp-Roberts toward
RrIphQm Pnh1rfc III cou- cto%0
ments to this effect in the Salt Lake
newspapers, and heard of no denials.
h polygamous status of Mr.. Rob-
erts was a matter of common repute.
1t was also reputed that twins lac
been born to Celia Dibble- Roberts.
In the course of the hearing Mr.. Tay-
Ter stated to MI. Roberts hat the lat
ters demurrer had been over-ruled, all
questions being taken into considera-
ton for dissemination latar