The sun., 1900-01-18
BRIGHAM ROBERTS
egT OF CONGRESS
~
House Committee Declares Utah
Man is Surely Guilty
of POlygamy.
REASONS FOR THE FINDING
>zimous Vote on Question OF His
Polygamons Status, but Divi.
sion Over the Procedure
10 be Adopted at an
Early Date.

Washington, Jan. IL. The spccial
committee OF the house OF representa-
tives to investigate the case Of Brigham
II. Roberts of Utah has reached final
conclusion. On the polygamous status Of
Mr.. Roberts the committee was unani-
nous and agreed upon sormal state
ment Of facts. On the question of pro-
ccdure to be adopted the committee was
divided Messrs. Littlefeld and De Ar.
mond will make 4 minority report fa-
vorable to seating Roberts on his prima
facie rights md then expelling him.
The statement Of facts found by the
committee is as follows:
I'VE find that i. II. Roberts was elect
cd as a representative to the Fifty-sixth
congress from the state OF Utah and was
al the date Of his election above the age
OF % years; that he had been for more
that seven years q naturalized citizen Of
the United States and was an nhabitant
OF the state OF Utah.
I'VE further find that about 1878 he
married Louisa Smith, his first and law
ful wife, with whom be has ever since
lived as such md who, since their mar
riage, has borne him six children.
plural wife Celia Dibblc, with whom he
has ever since lived as such and who.
since such marriage. has horne him six
children, OF whom the last were twins,
horn Aug IL, 1897.
That some years after his said mar
riage to Celia Dibble he contracted an
other plural marriage with Margaret G.
Shipp, with WHOM be has ever since lived
in the habit and repute OF marriage.
Your committee is unable to fix the exact
date OF this marriage. 1t does not ap-
pear that he held her out as his wife be-
fore January, 1907 or that before that
date she held him out as her husband, OF
(, that before that date they were reputcd
u he husband and wife.
l"Jhat these facts were generally
Known in Utah. publicly charged against
MIN during his campaign for election and
were not denied by him. That the test-
nony hearing on these facts was taken
in the presence OF Mr. Roberts and that
lie fully cross examined the Witnesses.
hut declined to place himself on the wit
ness stand"
Case Brought 10 an Isaue.
The eliminating session of the COM
mittee followed many prolonged execu
tive sessions which left no doubt as to
I0e atllLuuc OF lne several Win
the exception OF Mr.. AIiers of Indiana,
who has been out Of the city. He had
Just returned, and il was determined TO
bring the matter to a direct issuc. Ac-
cordingly, when the committee met. Nc
Pherson of Iowa offered n resolution for
the exclusion of Roberts
Mr.. De Almond Immediately proposed
substitute recognizing the constitution
al rights OF Roberts 20 take his seat on
his credentials and providing for his ex-
pulsion.
There was no discussion beyond in
formal remarks, aud q vote was taken
on Mr.. De Almonds substitute, Mr.. Lit
tlefeld joining him in the affirmative
and the others voting in opposition. A
vote was then taken ON Mr.. McPherson's
motion TO exclude. resulting as follows:
Yeas-Taylor t0.), Frear, Morris and
Mcpherson Republcans), Lanham and
Miers (Democrats).
Nays-Littleheld (Republcan), De Ar
mond (Democratl.
Chairman Taylor was authorized to
prepare the majority report. 1t will be
ready in few days, and the prospects
are that the subject will be brought be-
fore the house early next week.
Mr.. De Almond will submit the views
haustive review OF the law, covering
about 40 typewriter pages, prepared by
Mr. Littleheld. The main point Of this
IL that the house cannot add TO the re-
qurements provided by the constitution
Tor admission to the house and that tne
only constitutional remedy is 10 admit
and then expel ON the finding Of facts.
The Clark Case.
After a recess Of four days the senate
committee on privileges and elections re-
sumcd its investigation of the charges of
bribery in connection with the election Of
Hon. W. \. Clark to the senate from
Montana.
The first witness was William J. Cook,
treasurer ~ the Thomas Cruise Savings
bank Of Helena, who was questioned
concerning the accounts of A. j. David
son and Hon. j, x. Toole with the bank.
Dayidson's account was opened Sept. 2,
1883, and closed Feb. ., 1899 David
4 son was considered a representative of
Mr.. Clark in the senatorial campaign,
and the effort was 10 show that the sena-
tors money was being used. Mr.. Cook
aid that from first 10 last SCI 800 was
deposited in Mr. Davidson's name and
mat $4,000 Of this amount came TO the
oank in the shape of a draft from the
hsnk Of Clark e. Bro. OF Butte and S3,-
800 on a telegraphic order of transfer
from that bank. He said the money was
all checked ont, but he could not remem-
her to whom any OF the checks were
made payable.
Mr. William +. Rector, who said he
was IN expert accountant, was the next
witness. He testified that he had se-
cured rooms in Helena 10 be used during
NE senatorial contest at the instance OF
\ j. Steele, getting threA rooms in the
rover block which met Nh. Steele's re-
quirements Of a vault ana "a number of
entrances. These rooms the witness de-
sc:ieed as trap, aud said they wera
u.ed fsr .couEulcatiGn With members Of
ne [5fsldtlfa. Ha .fhtai fhaf ha knii