Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-20
TO BE ARGUED JANUARY 4
Decision of the Committee on the Roberts
Case.
Testimony Regarding the Reputed
Marital Relations of the Accused
and Several Women.

| J. Brandon testified to being a resident IF
| Centervflle, Utah, where he had been post
| master and probate judge He had known
| b. H. Roberts for years; also Louisa Smith
| Roberts and Celia Dibble Roberts. He
| knew the children of Louisa Smith Roi
erts. five or six in number. Celia Dihble
Roberts also has six children, If he remcn-
| bered correctly. He knew that the
morning of August IL, 1897. it was cur
rcntly reported about Centerville that b.
| II. Roberts had a pair of twins born to him
| by Celia Dibhle Roberts. lie had seen then,
| frequently since then. He also save cir
| Cumstantial details of other children OF
Celia Dibble Roberts. who. he said. were
| recognized in the town as the children of
| B. II. Roberts These children called for
| the mail of Celia Roberts, and occasionally
| for b. II. Roberts, while the witness was
postmaster. Celia Roberts was publicly
| and privately reported to be the wife of Il.
| H. Roberts. The latter was about the
| house frequently.
| On cross-examination. the witness said
| he had never been introduced to Celia Rob
erts, had never called at the house. lie
| said he attended town meeting and made
| a speech. saying he would vote for Roberts,
as he was the whitest man of the two sides.
| He had himself voluntarily separated him
| self from the Mormon faith He said he
| knew nothing beyond general repute and
seeing the women reputed as Roberts
wives and the children reputed as his.
| On redirect examination Mr. Brandon tol'i
of a funeral in the family of Celia Dibble
Roberts n II Roberts was present at the
| f,.narai 1fterward he saw the tombstone
al The grave Of this child which read:
| II ena daughter of Celia and Brigham a.
| Roberts.
In renix tn Chairman, Tayler Mr.. Brandon
told If the names occ,Ipied by Louis,
Smith and Celia Dibble Roberts. The lat
| ter now occupied the house formerly occu-
| pied by Louise Smith Roberts. who had
| Roberts This change of homes occurred
about four wears ago B. H. Roberts owned
| horh buildings according TO general repll;e.
| While r,rstmaster when one of the Rob
erts children called for mail for '.fathet. Sc
he delivered the mail of B. H. Roogrts
ne Also S"" ING
Mr.. Ray Brandon. son of the former vii
noes also related events occurring al Cen
m a. -. r,o,,,,,,s Ia,,i.o c,,itb
t'i N''''' ~ mn" - '''-''
Roberts. Celia Dlbole ROBERTS, ana most
If rot all, of the children He said 1t was
generally reported that twins were born
10 Celia ami 4. II. Roberts and he had
seen them and talked with them. He had
seen Roberts about the Celia Roberts house,
just rs any husband and father would he
about working around the house and barn.
\ short time ago. the witness said. he was
passing the Celia Roberts house when one
OF Roberts nieces presented the twins and
sid they were the twins of r. H. ROBBERS.
He described the respective houses occu-
pied by Louisa Smith and Celia Roberts,
along the same lines his father had
stated. He had seen Roberts with his coat
off around the Celia Dibble house. He had
seen him there about shutdown, also early
in the morning. He was personally ac-
quainted with The eleven-year-old boy of
Celia Dibble Roberts. and had talked with
him to the birth OF the twins. The chill
d"en of Louisa Roberts called Celia Dibble
Roberts aunt The usual custom when
such relations existed was for the children
of nm if. IN he A h@r f,a
On cross-examnation Mr.. Roberts brought
out that the witness was absent at scnOo!
for considerable periods. including the sum
mer of last year, and his observations did
not cover these periods. He had no per
sonai knowledge OF the marital relations
existing, beyond common repute. When
Roberts asked if the witness was not a
saIoel ne II, oiit
hrinp tined fwice for nir;or assauIts
MIR. Schroeder stated that this closed the
evidence on hand and would be al. unless
the committee wished further testimony.
There were two other gentlemen who could
testify, and If the committee desired more
direct testimony it could be had only by
summoning 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 ne had some documentary
evidence he wished 10 present, and hoped II
would arrive today.
DO you expect to place yourself on the
stand as a witness? asked Mr.. Miers, a
member OF the commute.
1 DO not, replied MI Roberts
AT the request OF Representative Page
Morris OF The committee Mr.. Brandon, sr..
returned to the stand and was asked by
MIR. Morris as to the marital repute of
Roberts and Celia and Louisa Roberts.
There is such general repute." the wit
ness replied. 1t is that Celia Dibble Rob
erts is recognized by the entire community
as Il. IL. 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 reputed wife,
Margaret Shipp Roberts. had come there
once to attend the funeral already referred
TO.
Records of the Marriages.
The records of these marriages. the wit
,,oSS said ryare in tho Ta,,rra which ms
.
~ zoe g.
Roberts was in the emrl9v and ,aiG nv he,
church.
This brought about quite a sharp ex-
cnahse between me witness ana Roberts.