The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-20
Lena,
Daughter of
Celia and Brigham H. Roberts.


In reply TO Chairman Tayler. Mr..
Brandon said Celia Dibble Roberts now
occupied the house formerly occupied
by Louisa Smith Roberts. who had
moved into a new house built by B. n.
Roberts. 3. II. Roberts owned both
buildings, according to general repute.
While postmaster, when one of the
Roberts children called for mail for
father" he delivered the mail of B. II.
Roberts.
Mr. Ray Brandon. son of the former
witness, knew Roberts. Louisa Smith
Roberts, Celia Dibble Roberts and most
if not all OF the children. He said it
was generally reported that the twins
were born to Celia and B. H. Roberts,
and he had seen them and talked with
them. He had seen Roberts about the
and father would be about, working
around the house and barn.
A short time ago. the witness said,
ne was passing the Celia Roberts house
when one of Roberts nieces presented
the twins and said they were the twins
of B. II. Roberts. He had seen Rob-
erts with his coat off around the Celia
Dibble house.
Tells of Twins.
He was personally acquainted with
the 11-year-old boy Of Celia Dibble
Roberts and had talked with him as to
the birth of the twins. The children
of Louisa Roberts called Celia Dibble
Roberts "aunt" The usual custom
when such relations existed was for
the children of one wife to call the 9TH
er wife aunt
on cross-examination Roberts
brought out that the witness was alb
sent at school for considerable periods,
including the summer of last year. and
his. observations did not cover those
periods. He had no personal knowl-
edge of the marital relations existing
beyond common repute. When Roberts
asked if the witness was not gam
bier he answered in the negative The
witness. in response to- questions. said
he had been fined twice for minor as
saults.
Mr.. Schroeder stated that this closed
the evidence on hand, and would be all
unless the committee wished further
testimony. There We're two other gen
tlemen who could testify, and if the
committee desired more direct testi-
mony it could be had only by summon
ing the women reputed to be wives of
Roberts.
Chairman Tayler asked Mr.. Roberts
what line he desired to follow. He
said he had no witnesses. but he had
some documentary evidence he wished
to present, and he hoped ii would ar
rive tomorrow.
Will Not Be Witness.
DO you expect to place yourself on
the stand as a witness?" asked Mr..
Meyers. a member of the committee.
Il do not replied Roberts.
At the request sof Representative
Page Morris. Mr. Brandon. sr.. re-
turned to the stand and was asked by
Mr.. Morris as 10 the marital repute of
Mp. Roberts and Celia and Louisa Rob-
erts.
There is such a general repute. the
witness replied. 1T is that Celia Dib
Bile Roberts is recognized by the entire
community as 3. H. Roberts second
wife. She is dealt with by the Mormon
church as his second Wife
How about Louisa Roberts,
'She is recognized as his first wife"
Mr. Brandon said the third reDuted
wife. Margaret Ship Roberts. had
come there once to attend the funeral
already referred to.
The records of these marriages. the
witness said. were in the temple, which
was the only depository of plural mar
riages. He said il was generally IN
derstcod that Roberts was in the en-
ploy and paid by the church.
Dispute Regarding Pay.
This brought about quite sharp ex
charge between the witness and Rob-
erts.
do you know" asked Roberts. that
the Mormon church does not pay those
for it?''
Il know.F replied Mr. Brandon, that |
the rank and file are not paid, but the |
higher ones are paid.
And is not B. H. Roberts in the rank !
and ile?"
mo. sir: you are considered as one |
of the influential ones, and at the time |
you We're called down it was stated |
that you received 800 per month from |
the church
Did not Roberts deny ito"
q know, said the witness. that the |
bishop says he sends a part of the tith |
ing UP there (Centerville) to pay you"
do you not know that none of the /
tithing is sent there?'
Il only know what the bishop says"
Mr. Ray Brandon was recalled to
give evidence Of general repute along
the same lines as his father.
The committee decided to hear argu-
ments in the case on Jan. 4. In the
meantime. during the holiday recess. a
consisting of all those
n the city will hear other witnesses +
who may come on from Utah Their
coming is indefinite and no time is
liked for the hearing