Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1900-01-11
ROBERTS DEFENSE.
UTAH CONGRESSMA PLEA
BEFORE OMMlTTEE.
Constituents competent Judges of Moral
status ofa Representa- ative-Claims Ev-
idence Does Not sustain Charges.

'aSii1hS Soh, Jan. t.--Ihf- hOUerls OF
Utah began his plea on his own behalf
yesterday, speaking in all about five
hours. The committee adjourned be-
fore he had concluded
At the opening OF the session letter
was received from John G.. Carlisle,
arguing against the citizenship of Mr..
Roberts, and stating it was his belief
that Mr.. Roberts would not be allowed
to vote In amy state in the union on the
showing made. Mr.. Roberts said
"The questions to be considered are
the prima facie and final right of b. II.
Roperts, representative-elec from
Utah, to seat in the house of repre-
sentatives, 10 which he was elected in
the month of November, 1898, by the
people Of Utah; the electorate of said
state gave him plurality of vote of
5,665. 1t is a case in which there is no
contest and where IL appears, SO far as
the proceedings before the COMMITTEES
are concerned, the representatives. elect
possesses all Of the qualifications pre-
scribed by the constitution of the
United States and where there is no
statute SO far ms made to appear before
the committee either in the state of
Utah or the United States applicable to
the case which disqualifies the repre-
sentativc-elect from the Office of con-
gressman in the lower house of the
American congress
ut is left 20 those constituents to
determine, said he, what shall be the
moral status OF the man they wish to
send to congress as their representa-
tive, and not 10 the house OF congress.
Mr.. Roberts took up tho evidence of
the witnesses who appeared against
him and questioned some OF their state
ments.
1T has not even been established,
said he, Nthat Il II Roberts was ever
married to Margaret G Shipp Roberts.
1t has been shown that lie was seen
near the house aud once in the house
But there vas no testimony of mar
rage, nothing as to their maintaining
martial relations, nothing as to their
having been seen at the theatre or at
the church, or otherwise associating as
man and wife,
As to the testimony that he had at
tended the funeral OF a child OF Celia
Dibblc Roberts, that was, Mr.. Roberts
said, not remarkable There was
nothing extraordinary in his attending
funeral ard the differences drawn
could not be viewed US proof. As to
any direct marital relations with Celia
Dibble Roberts, he said there was no
direct testimony.
In the main the evidence was as to
general repnte. he eontended, which
was short OF that conclusive proof re-
CURED. lie challenged the charge that
he had contracted three polygamous
marriages.
Mr.. Tayler said he had never heard
OF such a charge, as three polygamous
marriages would mean four marriages
In all
II challenge this, said Mr.. Roberts,
"beeause it is one of the charges on
which excitement has been worked
up"
Mr. Roberts yehemently exclaimed
against those who had ''honnded" him.
They were not the bankers, merchants.
lawyers and other substantial citizens
of Utah but they were in the main
eastern missionaries who had gone to
Utah to oppose Mornonism.
At one point Representative Mo
Pherson Of the committee asked:
Under your faith, was the taking
of plural wives merely allowable or
was it required2a
1t was mandatory replied Mr..
Roberts, according to the view of
leading Mormon authorities
Mr. Roberts continued until 4:3o D.
M, when he asked that the hearing 90
over, having spoken almost five hours.
General Wood Releases Prisoners.