Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-05
Never Used Bad Language or Loved
an Actor.
MORE APFIDAVITS READ TO-DAY
Lawyers Commence to Argue the
Matter.
NO CIsIoN TODAY

The introduction of testimony was con.
cluded before Judge Hagner this morning in
the contest over the custody of the children
of the late VIM. H. Slack instituted by
their mother, and counsel commenced Their
arguments. The arguments will hardly be
| concluded today, and, as 1t Is understood
| that Judge Hagner will preside as usual
ever the Probate Court tomorrow, 1t is
thought that the case will hardly be sub.
mitted to the court much earlier than Sat
| urday next.
| The proceedings before Judge Hagner
were instituted by the late Maj. VIM. B.
Slack the grandfather of the children, two
| little girls. who. on their behalf, prayed
that all legal proceedings here and else
| where be stopped until the contest over
| their fathers will be settled, their aunt,
| Mrs. Addje Slack Perrine of Trenton, N j.,
| having been given the custody and guar
| dianship of them by their fathers will.
| Just before the hearing was adjourned yes
| terday afternoon, counsel for Mrs Perrine
| gave notice that they would today ask leave
| of the court to read an affidavit of Ben
| jamin Swan, Mrs Stacks colored butler.
morning, Mr.. Calderon Carlisle of counsel
! for Mrs. Perrne presented the deposition
of Swan to the court asking permission to
| read 1t as part of their testimony.
He Objected.
| On behalf of Mrs Slack Mr.. A. S. Wor-
| Ellington objected to the introduction into
| the case Of the affidavit, remarking that he
was hardly able to fifty express the
| strength of their opposition to its introduc-
ton. It was not only too late to introduce
| 1t, he thought, 1t having been made by a
person heretofore available at any time,
| but to meet and answer it Mrs. Slack would
| be required to submit the affidavits of five
| or six persons. one of whom was now In
Europe. Therefore, it not only contained
| new matter. but it's introduction into the
| case now would delay the case many
weeks. 1--WE do not fear its contents, your
| honor" explained Mr.. Worthington. but
we do not wish any more of the dreadful
| publicity already given this case"
| Mr.. Jere NJ. Wilson Of counsel for Mrs.
Perrine, stated that they were Just as
| solctous as to tho publicity given the de-
tails of the case, and were. therefore, quite
| willing that the court should first read the
| deposition before passing upon Its COM
Potency and materiality.
| Was Rejected.
| Mr.. Worthington replied that his side
| was quite as willing that the court should
read it. but only for the purpose of passing
upon It's admission.
Judge Hagner was then handed the dep
osition, and, after reading it, he decided
that It should not be admitted in evidence,
| rot deemipg 1t material to the questions at
| issue. The affidavit, of several typewriter
pages was then withdrawn. 1t is under
| stood that it referred not only 20 the con-
duct of Mr.. Barry Buckley at Mrs. Slack's
residence after the Low famous dinner at
| Harvey's, April 80. 1884. but also related
| to the conduct of Mrs. Slack then and al
| ether times, and to the relations between
| her and her husband.
| After MIR. George f. Hamilton of counsel
| for Mrs. Slack lad stated that by an agree
| ment between counsel the visits of the
| children to their mother would be iiscon-
| tirued today and tomorrow because of the
death of their grandfather. Mr.. Hamilton
read to the court the deposition of Mrs.
| Slack and that of her brother, Mr.. Julian
| Gerard Buckley.
| Charges Denied.
| The two affidavits were in answer to
| those of Mai. Slack and Mrs. Perrine. read
by the other side yesterday. Mr.. Buckley
stated that he and Mrs. Slack visited the
home of Mrs. Perrine in Trenton. N. j.,
| last April They saw Maj. Slack and Mrs.
| Pcrrne, and Informed them that Mrs.
| Slack had come for the purpose of de-
| manding her children. Mrs Perrine told
them that she could do nothing in the abb
| sence Of their father. when she was re-
quested TO allow Mrs. Slack see her chill
| dren. Mrs. Perrine thereupon spoke very
| unpleasantly to Mrs. Slack, said Mr.. Buck
| ley, refusing to allow her to see her chill
| dren. saying that they did not longer care
Tor their mOtner, having learned 10 call
her CMrs. Perrine) mother. Mrs. Slack
| then endeavored to get upstairs. where the
! children We're. but was prevented by Maj.
| Slack and Mrs. Perrine. Mrs. Slack was.
| of course. very indignant and greatly ex-
cited, and said to Mrs. Perrine that she
cursed her with a mothers curse. She
also said to Maj. Slack: May God bring
| you down to hell for this. Maj. Slack
Mr. Buckley stated that he then took his
| sister away, and at the railroad station she
| became hysterical, trying to kill herself by
| jumping from the embankment, eXcIaiming
| that she couldn't live without her children.
was i'll for some time. Mr.. Buckley said
! he had never known his sister to conduct
herself improperly, or use profane Ian
! guage, or use liquor to an undue extent.
Mrs. Stacks Explanations.
In her affidavit, Mrs. Slack agreed with
| her brothers version of the visit to Mrs.
| Perrine at Trenton. She emphaticaIly de-
| MED using profanity there, or at any place,
! saying that it was foreign to her nature.
She also denied speaking here, or else
where, OF her mother-in-law as an old huZ-
gard, and stouty denied referring to her
at any time as something wors7k Refer
ring to the statement that she had once
| threatened to give her husband HI. Mrs.
Slack declared that she had been misunder-
| stood, having said she would give him
Hail Columbia" an expression often used
by her.
Il
| Paud.ng, the actor, from childhood. Visit
F.; ing the theater one evening with her irus-
! band, she told him Mr.. Pau!d:ng (whose
| real name is Dodge was an old friend of
| hers. when Mr. Slack invited him to call
| 1t is true that she loaned Mr.. Pauld.ng So
| uO1-a matter Of which she first informed
| her husband. 1t is true that she possessed
! photographs of Mr.. Pauld:ng. but her hus-
| band knew CT it, and she denied that she
| secreted them under lock and key 1t is
| also true that she wrote Mr.. Padding but
| with her husbands knowledge and consent.
| The letters We're business commun: ca lions,
| however. She may have said that she liked
| Mr.. Pauldng very much, but not in the
sense of loving him. 1t is true, too that
| she visited Mr. PauldiEgs mother, but
| when he was absent and it is true that on
| her way home she was robbed. When she
! left her children to visit Boston she left
| with the approval of her physician, they
| not being i'll. She went on urgent business
| was gone but week, and was accompanied
| by female friend-a Miss Carrigan
That concluded the testimony on both
| sides, and Mr.. Carlisle then proceeded to
make the opening argument in the case.
Arguments Begun.
Mr. Carlisle referred to the various pro-