The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-20
ROBERTS CASE ON TRIAL.
UTAH WITNESSES TEsTIFYING TO
HIS POLYGAMOUs PRACTICES.
show He Introduced His Third Wife
to Them as His Wifc-1Iis Cross
Examination Indicates That His
Defense VIII he = Technical One.

| Defense VIII he y Technical One.
WASHINGTON, Dec-ta--A number Of
| witnesses from Utah appeared today be-
| fore the committee Of the house OF repre-
sentat.ves which is investigating the case
| OF Mr.. Roberts, of Utah. They Included
Miss Luela p. Miles. practicing physic-
ian Of Salt Lake City; Mrs. McDongall.
| r. A. Mcdaniel and s. l.. Wishard, all OF
| Salt Lake.
Mr.. Roberts was present and conducted
the cxoss-examnation.
Mss DIR. Miles was the first witness. She
gave her profession as that of physician
| at Salt Lake, and a member of the medical
| society there. She gave the details OF a
| call she made at the house of Mrs DR..
| Maggie Ship Roberts, on April H. 1897,
| relative to some medical society affairs.
| She addressed Mrs. Shipp Roberts as "Dr.
| Shipp,' whereupon, the witness said. she
| was interrupted with the request, Doc
| ter, you can call me DIR. Roberts" Mrs,
| Roberts went on to explain, the witness
! said, that she had been married to Mr..
Roberts for several years. She asked that
| the medical society mail sent her In fu-
| ture be addressed as "Dr. Roberts," not
! as ''Dr. Shipp."
| Subsequently, the witness called at the
| house, and after visit Mr.. Roberts came
| in and was introduced. She could not re-
| call whether there was a specific introduce
| ton as husband, or whether his entry was
| with such familiarity as to indicate mar
! ital status.
| When Mr.. Roberts cross-examined the
| witness she repeated the same story.
| After the witness had stepped aside, Mr..
Roberts submitted an objection to the eff
| feet that this testimony related to 1897,
| whereas the committee had no jurisdic-
| ton over him prior to his becoming q
| member OF congress.
Then you contend" said Chairman Tay-
Ter. that the testimony should be confined
| to polygamous practices subsequent to
| March 4, 1897"
| II do" answered Mr.. Roberts.
! 1.-The objection will be noted" respond
| ed the chairman.
| Rev. s. E. Wishard was the next witness.
He gave his business as that of superinten-
| dent Of the home missionary work of the
Presbyterian synod. embracing Utah. He
| knew Dr. and Mrs. Roberts and recalled
| his first meeting with the latter in Septean-
Der, 1897. This occurred. he said on the
| train at Mant, Utah. He was In the car
| with Roberts and spoke with him. A lady
sat beside him and he beckoned to her
and then introduced her, saying Mrs. Rob-
erts Mr.. Wishard."
On cross-examination Mr.. Roberts
brought out Mr.. Wishard's opposition to
Mormonism. and then asked:
WAS Roberts drunk when he made this
Introduction referred tor
mot that knew Of"
WAS he insane?"
II do not know"
"What possible reason them" asked Mr.
Roberts, could Roberts have had for put
| ting 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.
Mrs Maria McDougall testified that on
July %. 1893, when she was on train Mr..
Roberts and Mrs. DR.. Roberts travelled on
the same train. "Once heard Mr.. Rob-
erts introduce his companion as my wife,"
testified Mrs. McDougall, land repeatedly
as Mrs. Roberts,"
Edward Mcdaniel, former manager Of the
Salt Lake Herald, was examined at con-
siderable length. mainly on the politics and
convention affairs pertaining to Roberts
nomination to congress. In 1896, while man.
aging the Herald. he had conversation
with Roberts. in the course of which Rob-
erts told him he had three families. Sub
sequently. in 1898. the witness said, there
was another conversation prior to the NOM
mating convention, relative to rumors
against Roberts. The latter said he thought
this line of opposition would not prove eff
fective, as he would court an attack as to
the plurality Of wives.
On cross-examination Mr. Mcdaniel said
he had opposed the nomination of Roberts.
Mr. Roberts asked the witness:
Ibid not Roberts state at these conversa-
lions that Celia Dibble Roberts lived out Of
the state?"
81 do not recall It,"
What Roberts did say, the witness con-
tinued 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 making distinction
from unlawful cohabitation.
Mr. Mcdaniel said his retirement from
the Herald was because he did not wish
to defend Roberts while living in the
poiygamous relations.
Mr. Schroeder, the gentle representative,
who conducted the direct examination,
submitted copy Of an editorial by Roberts
in the New Era relating to polygamy and
its biblical status.
Mr. Roberts presented formal objec-
ton to the testimony on general lines al
ready stated. The committee then took
recess.
At the afternoon session T. ]. Brandon.
a. resident of Centerville, Utah, where
he had been postmaster and probate
Judge, testified that he had known B. II.
Roberts for ea D abH Robeats He
erts, five or six in number. Celia Dibble
Roberts also had six children, If he ne re- re,
the morning of August II. 1897, 1t was
currently reported about Centervile that
B. III. Roberts had a pair Of twins born
to him by Celia Roberts. He had seen
them frequently since then. He also gave
circumstantial details of other children
of Celia Dibble Roberts. who, he said,
were recognized in the town the chill
dren of b. II. Roberts and called for the
mail of Celia Roberts and occasionally
for that of b. III. Roberts while the wit
ness was absent.
On cross-examination the witness said
he knew nothing beyond general repute,
had not been introduced to Celia Roberts
and had never called at the house. He
said he had attended a town meeting
and made q speech saying he would vote
for Roberts as he was the whitest man
himself from the Mnrrnnr