The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-14
MANY AT THE HEARING
HE ENTERS A DEMURRER
WHICH is oyERRULED.
TWO MINISTER'S ON THE WITNESS STAND
They Both Testify That the PoIygamous Re.
lations Of Roberts in Utah Are Mat
ter Of Common Repute and
Are Not Denied.

He moi UenleQs
Washington. Dec. 13.-The Committee
Of the House of Representatives which
Is investigating the case of Mr.. Roberts,
Of Utah. opened its doors at 1890 to-
day to begin the examination Of wit
nesses. 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 was the delegation Of
Gentiles Rev. DIR. Iliff, Mr.. Schroeder
and others here to direct the case
against the Utah member elect
When Chairman Tayler. 10hio). called
the committee to order and asked what
witnesses would be heard, Mr. Roberts
arose and said
II respectfully ask TO be informed as
to my status before this committee. Am
/ regarded as a member Of the House
Of Representatives?
IF you answer this question in the
affirmative, then / ask that the commit
tee conhne itself to the consideration Of
my election. the returns Of my election,
and the qualifications of ii member Of
Congress as defined in the Constitution
|of the United States. il this committee
shall find that my election Is lDeyuastl
question, then ] ask that / be permitted
to take the oath of office; as this is
the only constitutional power which the
House or this committee can exercise
over me, until ] am sworn in.
IF the committee shall answer mo- to
this inquiry. then it has no jurisdiction
whatever over me. as the Constitution
gives 10 the House -poayer over its mem
bers only. and | ask that the proceed
ings before the committee be discon-
tihued
Mr.. Tayler Ohio 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 Roberts and DR.. Maggie g. Shipp-
Roberts was that they maintained the
relation Of husband and wife.
Mr.. Roberts then cross-examined the
witness. The questions were asked
rapidly, sometimes savagely. Mr.. Rob
erts' questions brought out that the
witness had no personal knowledge as
10 Mrs Maggie Roberts or Mr.. Roberts,
based on tails with them, but was
general information and common reports.
Mr.. McEWen, Of the Philadelphia
North American was examined as to
recent interview with Roberts, signed
BY him (McEwen). In this Roberts
spoke of his wives referring to them
as good and true women toward whom
obligations had been incurred prior 10
the enactment of the polygamy law.
Captain Elias II. Parsons. Of the
Quartermaster's Department, II. S. ",
testified to an incident occurring in
1896, while he was in Salt Lake City.
About 8 a. m., some one asked him 10
call upon his telephone DR. Maggie
Shipp Roberts. On going to the tele-
phone md calling MP the house, mans
voice answered.
WHO Is this?' Captain Parsons ask
ed over the telephone.
"B. H. Roberts was the reply, Cap
tain Parsons testified
On cross examination Roberts asked:
''Do you know b. III. Roberts voice?"
4 DO not.
Rev. DIR. Tiff, Methodist missionary
Of Utah, testified that the general repu-
tation as to the status Of Celia Dibhle
Roberts was that she was the plural
wife Of Brigham H. Roberts. On cross.
examination Mr.. Roberts sought to show
that DR.. Tiff was hostile to the Nor
mons, the witness stating that his hos
tility was to the polygamotls feature Of
Mormonism.
Rey q. w Martin, Presbyterian
Minister of Manti, Utah, testified as to
the reputation Of the polygamous status
Of Celia Dibble Roberts and Margaret
G. Shipp-Roberts toward Brigham III.
Roberts. lie saw statements to this
effect in the Salt Lake City newspapers
and heard Of no denials. The polyga-
nous status of Mr.. Roberts was mat
ter Of common repute. 1t was also re-
pnted that twins had been born to Celia
Dibble Roberts
In the course Of the hearing Mr.. Tay-
lor stated to Roberts that the latter's
demurrer had been overruled. all ques-
tons being taken into consideration for
determination later.