The morning news., 1899-12-20
THREE FAMILIES.
,rRoDUCED BR. MAGGIE S. ROB-
ERTS AS HIS WIFE.

"A
she Is said to Have Been the Third
woman He Married-She Asked 10
n called DIR. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
,.acticaIIy CIOsed-ROberts win
p,t in some Documentary Evil
a.ncc-Arguments VIII Be Heard
EARLY in January.
washington, Dec. ia number of wit
,sz-4s from Utah appeared to-day before
\ ,ha committee of the House of Representa-
+rss which is Investigating the case of
,,r Roberts of Utah. They included Mrs.
nr Tuella Miles, a practicing physician
\ oe salt Lake City; Mrs. McDougal. Mr..
r T., Mcdaniel and Rev. e. S. Wishard,
\ s1 of salt Lake.
Mr. Roberts was present, unaccompa-
ried and sat alongside the witnesses, con-
/ ducting the cross-examination.
Mrs. DR.. Miles was the first witness. She
4 r,,,a the details of a call she made at tho
/ house of Mrs. DR.. Maggie Shipp Roberts
an April u. 1897, relative TO some medical
society affairs. She addressed Mrs. Shipp
Roberts as "Dr. Shipp," whereupon the
| uitness said, she was interrupted with the
reouest: Doctor, you can call me DR..
Roberts,
Mrs. Roberts went on to say, the wit
ness said, that she had been married to
Mr.. Roberts for seven years. She asked
that the medical society mail sent her in
future he addressed as "Dr. Roberts," not
0Dr. Shipp." Subsequently the witness
called at the house, and after a visit, Mr.
Roberts came in and was introduced.
tIVhen Mr. Roberts cross-eXamined the
witness. she repeated the story.
WAS the introduction as husband?" he
asked
The witness could not remember.
Roberts Makes Objection.
After the witness had stepped aside,
Mr. Roberts submitted an objection to the
effect that this testimony related to 1897,
whereas the committee had no jurisdic-
ton over him prior to his becoming a
member of Congress.
Then you contend" said Chairman
Tavler. that the testimony should be
confined to polygamous practices subse-
ouent to March 4, 1892"
"I do" answered Mr.. Roberts.
1.-The objection will be noted" respond
ed the chairman.
Rev. 5. +. Wishard was the next wit
ness. He was in clerical garb and gave
his business as that of superintendent of
the Home Missionary work of the Pres
byteran Synod embracing Utah. He knew
both Mr. Roberts and Mrs. DR.. Roberts,
and related his first meeting with the lat
ter in September, 1897. This occurred, he
said on the train at Manti, Utah. He was
in the car with Roberts, and spoke with
him. A lady sat beside him and he beck
oned to her and then introduced her, say
ing. Mrs Roberts, Mr. Wishard.'
Whether Roberts said my wife" in
making the introduction, or simply said
Mrs. Roberts, the witness was not sure.
But he was positive the Introduction was
as wife. Subsequently Mr.. Wishard said
he called on Mrs. Roberts at her home,
10 make sure he had made no mistake.
The sign in front of the house read 'Dr.
Margaret S. Roberts"
In the parlor he saw on the wall large
portrait of Roberts, and on a table a small
picture of him. He saw Mrs. Roberts, re-
called to her the Introduction on the train
and said she remembered it.
Mrs. Maria McDougall testified to an
incident occurring July %, 1898, when she
was on the train from Butte, Mont, to
Salt Lake City. Mr.. Roberts and Mrs.
DR. Roberts, Travelled on the same car as
far as Pocatello.
Once l heard Mr.. Roberts introduce his
companion as my wife, testified Mrs.
McDougall, and repeatedly as Mrs. Rob-
erts."
Roberts Three Families.
Edwin McDaniels, former manager of
the Salt Lake Herald, was examined at
considerable length, mainly on the politics
and convention affairs pertaining to Rob
erts' nomination to Congress. In 1895,
while managing the Herald, he had a con-
ion, in,
of which Mr.. Roberts told him he had
three families.
"Ihree?" inquired Representative Lit
tlefeld, of the committee.
Yes, three" responded the witpess.
At the afternoon session T. ]. Brandon
and Ray Brandon, his son, were heard.
Mr.. 7. ]. Brandon testified 10 being res
ident of Centerville, Utah, where he had
been postmaster 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 Roberts, five or six in number.
Celia Dibble Roberts also had six children,
II he remembered correctly. He knew
that on the morning of Aug. H. 1897, it was
currently reported about Centerville that
B. H. Roberts had pair of twins born to
him by Celia Dibble Roberts. He has
seen them frequently since then. The
children occasionally called for mail for
B. H. Roberts.
Ray Brandon gave evidence tending TO
support substantially the same allegations
as those made by his father. Subsequently
Mr. Brandon, senior, testified that the
general repute was that Louisa Roberts is
Roberts first wife, Celia Dibble Roberts
MS second, and Margaret Ship Roberts
bis third.
Close of the Evidence.
Mr.. Schroeder stated that this closed
The evidence on hand, and would be all
Unless the committee wished further testi-
mony. There were two other gentlemen
Who could testify, and if the committee
desired more direct testimony 1t could be
mad only by summoning the women re-
puted 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 doc
umentary evidence he wished to present,
and hoped it would arrive tomorrow.
Do you expect to place yourself on the
stand as a witness?" asked MIR. Miers, a
member of the committee.
81 do not" replied Mr.. Roberts.