National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-14
4 TROUBLE sOME BABT.
A Family Difficulty Settled at Police Head
uuartera.

n Eaimiy Dhhculty Settleu at romeo menu
quarters.
A small baby lay kicking and sprawling on
the sofa in the detective Office at Police Head
quarters last evening, evidently greatly dis
satisfied with the little bit Of life 1t had seen
and refusing with disdain to be comforted by
Lieutenant Vernon and other officers who
vainly tried many little arts to smooth the
ruffled spirit of tho infant. The baby had q
history involving n social scandal, which has
just come to light John Buckley, who keeps
a grocery.story in the West End, was married
last August. About four months ago n woman
named Mrs Martha Raper entered his store
and left bundle and letter for the propri
etor of the store on the counter. The bundle
contained q baby and the letter statement to
the effect that IL the baby did not belong to
him he could return II, but If 1t did that he
must keep IL and care for it,
Mr.. Buckley by keeping the baby delivered
to him over the counter tacitly admitted that
it belonged to him. His wife, however, OBJ
iected to having any addition made to the fam.
lily in that way, and the advent Of the baby
brought many troubles. The wife, having an
opportunity, sent the baby away from the house
last Thursday 10 be cared for, and would not
divulge its whereabouts. The mother, mean.
while naturally missing and longing for her
babe, made frequent visits to Buckley's house,
and thereby provoked several serious family
difficulties. On one occasion the wife and the
mother of the child met. and n hair.puliug
cnsued, the comhatunts being finally parted by
Buckley. by the advice of friends tho wife
finally concluded II get the baby off her hands.
Mrs. Rapcr, in her anxiety to regain posses.
sion oi it, applied to Police Headquarters and
told her story. Mrs. Buckley went to Police
Headquarters yesterday and expressed her
WILLINGNESS etIrTpntpr thp infant 4.
terward the baby itself appeared on the scene
in the arms of n culOred woman. and was de-
posted on the sofa in the detective office.
The mother of the babe arrived about six
o'clock, and the transfer of the property to its
rightlul owner was made complete, much to
the satisfaction of the officers, to whom it had
been, during its short stay at Police Headquar-
tiers, q vexatious source of trouble.
Mrs. Martha Rapcr, the mother of the baby,
made tho following statement last evening to
REPUBLICAN reporter; She had known
Buckley about six years, having boarded in
the same house with him. Upon the death of
his first wife he induced Mrs. X. to leave her
husband and she went to live with him. Last
August, while she was living at his house, in
the First Ward, he married another woman
named Catherine Cronin. He brought his
bride to the house and introduced her to Mrs.
Raper. Three weeks later, while his wife was
in the house, Mrs. Rapcr was delivered of a
child, of which Buckley admitted he was the
father Mrs. Rapcr continued to live at the
house for about amonth, when difficulty arose
between the new Mrs. Buckley and herself She
was forced to leave and took the baby with
her. She was unable to support it, however,
and sent it back to Buckley and told HIM to
care Tor it. lie accepted the trust and hired
nurse for it, so that his wife would not be
troubled with it. The child remained in his
possession until last Thursday, when Mrs
Buckley sent it away without his knowledge
or consent. He Immediately informed Mrs
Raper Of the transaction, and she went to Mrs
Buckley and asked what had become of the
baby. The latter refused to tell, and Mrs Ra-
per laid the matter before Major Morgan. As
soon rs Mrs. Buckley learned what had been
done she consented to return it to the mother.
Mrs Raper says that Buckley told her he would
see that she and the baby were taken care of
properly.