The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-14
Schroeder Permitted 10 Conduct Eramlna-
tIon In Spite Of Objections.
ROBERTS REPUTATION IN SALT LAKE.
Witnesses Testified as 10 His Relations With Els
flural Wvss wsrs Sapgsb Cross Examined
b. Roberts More hIiasss.s ron u,ah.


OF the House OF Representatives whicl
is investigating the case of Mr. Rob
erts OF Utah, opened it's doors yesteT
day TO begin the examination OF wit,
nesses. A large number OF spectator
were on hand, including several ladies'
Mr.. Roberts occupied a seat at the fOO
of the committee table, while fiankinf
him was the delegation of Gentiles--the
Rev. DIR. lim. Mr. Schroeder and others
here To direct the case against tht
Utah member-elect.
When Chairman Taylor (Ohio) called
the committee TO order and asked whal
witnesses would be heard, Mr.. Roberts
arose and asked as TO his status before
the committee. Mr.. Taylor (Ohio) re.
sponded that all OF Mr.. Roberts rights
had been fully hooked after and pro-
tected and at the very threshold of the
inquiry there was no proper question
which had not been raised.
Mr.. Taylor then asked Mr. Schroeder
OF the Gentle delegation what Witness
es he would call
Does this man appear as attorney"
asked Roberts, as Mr.. Schroeder step
ped forward.
He will examine Witnesses" said
Mr. Taylor
''Then / wish to introduce the court
record relating TO him." said Roberts.
Mr.. Taylor said this had already been
passed on and than Mr.. Schroeder had
been recognized.
STATUS OF DIR. ROBERTS.
Charles Austin owen of Salt Lake
City was then called. In response to
questions by Mr.. Schroeder he said he
knew the general reputation i'm Salt
-Gitx of thl- status of ..nr- Maggie
G. Schipp Roberts" Her professional
Her name appears similarly I'm the city
directory. The witness said also that
the general reputation of the status OF
Roberts and Mrs. Maggie G. Schipp-
Roberts was that they maintained the
relations of husband and wife.
While the questions were being put Is
TO Mrs. Maggie Roberts. Mr.. Roberts
interrupted with the objection that
what this lady may have done is i'm
material in the absence of any showing
that ii was ait the direction Of Il. III.
Roberts"
Mr. Schroeder said later testimony
would bring out the materia1ity or the I
Questions. and Mr. Taylor ruled that
tie compet ency of the questions could |
be judged by the subsequent testimony. |
Mr.. Roberts then cross-examined the |
witness. The questions were pol ~"n-
idly and some times savagely u was |
brought out that, in addition to being |
civil engineer Mr. Owen was the COR |
respondent Of a New York newspaper |
Mr.. Roberts questions brought out
Vhat the witness had no personal |
knowledge as TO Mrs. Maggie Roberts |
or Mr.. Roberts. based on talks with |
them, hut his information was general |
and common repute.
II want to know" asked Roberts. "if /
the general reputation you have been |
testlfying to obtains since March 4, ,
1892"
1T does"
And what is that reputation"
THAT Maggie G.. Schipp- Roberts is
the plural or polygemous wife OF Brig !
ham III. Roberts"
ION what acts is this general repu-
tation based?" inquired Roberts
ON GENERAL REPUTATION.
mo specific acts. but generally ac-
cepted reputation" responded Mr..
Owen
There was also considerable testi
mony on court prosecutions throughout
the state. on which the witness had in
FORMATION. As his evidence closed Mr..
Roberts asked TO have All this testf |
mony stricken from the record, but the
eheArffff permitted t1e testimony Ia
stand.
Mr. McEwen Of the Philadelphia
Noftn American was examined as tn
recent Interview with Mr.. Roberts In
TINS Roberts spoke OF his wives" re
1errng TO them as good and true wo-
men, toward whom obnra tions hod
been incurred prior to the enactment of
the polygamy law.
was nof this conversatiO ION I'm refer
ence To general conditions?" asked Mr.
Roberts '"''
oh no, Mr.. Roberts" answered tho
witness. you spoke Of general coudi-
nj
frates"
Can't. Elias II. Parsons Of the quar-
termaster's department, " $. V. tes-
titled 10 an incident occ,s.ring in 1909
while he was I'm Salt Lake CITY. Abo,t
A. m. some one asked him 20 call upon
his telephone DR. MAGGIE Schipp- m
erfs. On going TO the telephone and
calling up the house, mans voice an
swered
ANSWERED TELEPHONE.
Who Is this?" Capt. Parsons asked
over the phone.
"B. II. Roberts" was the reply. Cant
Parsons testified
On cross-examination Roberts asked.
II do not"
Did the answer over the telephone
ssy Brigham II. Roberts2'"
No, simply y. u. Roberts"
rs there not a Bolivar Roberts in
Salt Lake City?"
Yes. but ] would know Bolivar Rob
srts' voice az any time. and il was not
his"
Mr.. Roberts said he would later ask
70 nave this testimony stricken out az
irreiesant. and not on personal knowi-
edge.
Rev. DR. Iliff. a Methodist miss onarv
OF Utah. testified that the general rep
utatiOn as 90 the status OF Celia Dibbie
Roberts was thar she was the plural
wife ~ Brigham ~. Roberts.
On DISCRIMINATION. Nr. Roberts
sought 10 show that DR. Tlin was hos
Tile 20 the Mormons. the witnsss stat
ing that his hostility was 10 the polyg-
emous feature OF Mormonism.
Dr. HIN referred 10 an article by Mr..
Roberts defending polygamy.
Dr. nm went into the historical feat