Evening star., 1896-06-16
DISTRESSING SCENE
Marked the Recovery of Her Children by
Mrs. Slack.
The Little Ones Cried for Their Aunt
VIII he Well Cared for,
Says the Mother.

The surrender of the children Of the late
VIM. H. Slack to their mother, Mary Kem-
Dle Slack, yesterday afternoon was attend
&c with features both sensational and dis
tressing, the little ones, girls OF ten and
eight Years of age, rebelling against the
mother who had fought for their posses
sion so long, and crying to be taken back
to their aunt and testamentsry guardian.
Mrs. Addic Slack Perrine. In time, how
ever, their childish expostulationJ and en-
treaties gave way to the fearful, pathetic
assurances of tier mother, and for the
first time since 1884 Mrs. Slack last even
ing enjoyed the absolute possession Of her
little ones.
In obedience TO tine direction of Judge
McComas, the children were produced in
court promptly at 4:45 yesterday afternoon
by Mr.. ard Mrs. Perrine, the children be-
ing left In the private room of the judge by
them. AS their aunt and her husband
left them the sobs of the little ones could
plainly be heard, and when their mother.
after signing the bond of $4,000 required
by Judge McComas, Miss Alice Riggs and
Mr.. John Quinn becoming her sureties, was
told that she might take her children.
those in the court room were astonished
and distressed to hear the children cry out
against her as she entered the room where
they had been left. Go away" they
childish cries grew louder and harsher.
Mrs Slack's brother, Mr.. Julian Gerard
Buckley. quickly Joined his sister, and
with her endeavored to quiet them But
which quickly drew a throns of curious
people N the corridors and in the park
about the court house.
Judge McComas adjourned the hearing,
and after ordering the crowd dispersed,
also entered the room where the mother
and her children were, as did Mr.. Colbert,
of Mrs. Slack's counsel The cries Of the
children continued, and one Of them darted
out of the room and ran down the corridor.
Her uncle Mr.. Buckley, quickly caught her
and brought her back to her mother, when
Mrs. Slack continued her efforts to soothe
her children. But for nearly an hour, how
ever, their cries continued, despite their
mothers assurances that they should be
allowed to see their aunt, and that she
loved them and would do everything TO
make them happy. The poor woman was
greatly distressed, and remarked that had
she been given her children sooner such a
scene would never have occurred. Finally,
the children were in measure quieted,
and they were driven by their mother 10
her brothers home 1873 p street. There,
1t is said the children again gave vent to
their grief. but in a short time their
mother succeeded in quieting them, and
with a little friend they were soon playing
in perfect forgetfulness of the absence of
their aunt.
done during the long-pe nding struggle for
her children, declined to say anything for
publication. Mr.. Buckley stated that his
sister felt that the action of the Court of
Appeals. in giving the children to her, was
sufficient reply to the cruel accusations
made against her by the Perrnes. Never
theless, he remarked, the children would
be taught to think kindly of their aunt.
Their mother, he said, would take them
with her to some seaside resort for the
summer.
Judge Hagner's Decision.
Judge Hagner this morning disposed of
the suggestion made to him yesterday by
counsel for Mrs. Perrine. They suggested
that Mrs. Perrine had reason to apprehend
that Mrs. Slack, If given the custody of
the children. would remove them from the
jurisdiction of the court
The judge explained today that after
carefully considering the matter he had
arrived at the conclusion that the case was
before the Court of Appeals. Therefore
he decided that he could take no action in
the matter. whether the apprehension OF
Mrs. Perrine was well founded or not, a
question he, of course, did not decide