Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-20

Wells counsel to the apostles, and he
thought the ceremony was performed AZ
me homo OF Mr.. Wells son.
Senator Overman inquired Of Mr.,
Roberts whether his first and second
wife had consented 20 his marriage TO
his third wife.
no. SIR" said Mr. Roberts Continu-
ing he said they did not learn OF the
marriage for three or four years.
How was that?' asked Senator Bev-
cridge "Do you mean TO say that the
marriage was not known to anyoneY
1t was known 20 some Of my friends,
but not to my wives was the answer.
"Why was this marriage concealed
from thcm?' asked Chairman Burrows.
Because ! did not want TO embarrass
them
How embarrass them?'
well. we knew the marriage was IL
legal and might be embarrassing TO
them II they should for any reason DO
called on TO testify
MIR. Roberts said his third wife was
the divorced wife Of Or. Ship, and IN
regard to his courtships he said he al
ways had met her at the house Of mu-
tual friends and had never called Oh
her al her home. lie also said that
she continued 10 live IN her home but
that he never had called on her there
until she removed TO rooms on Main
street, Salt Lake,
Mr.. Tayler asked Mr., Roberts II he
knew that Maggie Ship Roberts lived
IN house where lived her divorced
husband and two Of his divorced wives.
Mr.. Roberts said he was aware OF the
fact.
Senator Dubois asked IN regard to the
secrecy Of his marriage and declared
that he (Dubois) believed Mr.. WeUs,
who married represented the Nor.
mon" authorities. The witness believed
that. said Senator Dubois, because OF
Mr. Wells position as counsel TO the
apostles, According to Mr.. Roberts, ne
said there Is no record OF his last mar
rage though the ceremony Is the same
as that which was used In his olher
marriages.
Chairman Burrows desired to know
whether MIR Wells knew the witness
had a wife living when he married the
"He ala" said MIR. Roberts. "He mar
rled me to my second Wife
MIR. Pettus asked II the Church ever
had reprlmanded him or the high
ofIiclals who performed the ceremony.
Mr. Roberts said nothing had been SAID
10 him, -
MIR. Taylor asked Mr.. Roberts why he
thought Il incumbent upon him 10 TAKE
plural wives. .,,.
Prom boyhood,' replied the witness,
"I had been taught the rightfulness OF
mural marriages and | believe THIS
practise to be he law Of God knew
that this practise was contrary 70 the
mandates Of Congress, but believed
that the law Of God was the highest
rule, and / felt mpelled 10 obey IT,
Chairman Burrows asked number
Of pointed questions which brought the
confession from Mr.. Roberts that ne
still believed In practising polyganly.
lie said that he believed the Woodruff
manifesto was divinely inspired, ana
that now In practising polygamy he
krows that he Is disobeying the laws
and the laws OF God. He was asked
why he continued TO dlsobey the laws
of God II he believed them to be the
highest laws and with a resigned air,
he said.
We'll the manifesto left me In the
midst of obligations to these wives |
am trying to do the best ! can to I'VE
within the laws but these obligations
] cannot shirk.
The committee adjourned until this
afternoon with Mr., Roberts eXamina-
ton unfinished.