The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
THE RIVAL GRANDFATHERS.
BUCHiNAN rs GUARDIAN, TAYLOR
ms cor THE CHILDREN.

Court says the Grandchildren Have Been
tbducted-They Are Out of This .Juris.
diction and 1t Cant Get Them, Hut
1t stands by Grandfather Buchanan.
In the long fight between Paternal Grand
father William Buchanan, a wealthy tobacco nd
jute dealer and Maternal Grandfather William
J.. Taylor. also a wealthy man. over the custody
ofth"tr grandchildren, Charles l.. j. Roderick.
and Adelaide buchanan, Surrogate Varnum
has denied motion Of Taylor for the removal
OF buchanan as guardian.
But the decision is an empty one, so far rs
present conditions are concerned, for the Tay-
lor clan long since spirited the children away
and Buchanan. who has been nominally their
guardian for more than two years. has been
unabl" to get them Soon after Buchanan was
appointed guardian the children were abb
Quoted and buchanan traced them to Canada,
but when the pursuit got hot the children
wrr" taken to France. Where they are now
does not appear in the record OF the case
Criminal proceedings were taken by Buchanan
81 1886 to secure the children through charge
OF abduction against Taylor. but nothing came
Of them.
The children are the offspring OF Charles P
Buchanan, son Of William Buchanan, and OF
Adelaide. daughter Of William l.. Taylor. The
husband was IL years old when he married
nnd tn" wife three years older. The young
couple 1il not get along well and their families
horam" "stGanged. Early in 1896 young Mrs
buchanan obtained an absolute divorce with
til" custody Of the children. Shortly after the
divorce -ho died. Her will gave the custody OF
tn children To her father William L. Taylor,
and her sister, Jennie T. Taylor The will di-
vii"j among her children her estate. including
$5opo~ and other property which her hus :
hHi had given her wh"n she PROC ured the
Ernr'" Within year Of her death her hus-
tI|d, married Theresa IHronner.
ia'r,r" IN" children obtained letters appoint
irg him their guardian. The Tayors moved
Charles l. buchanan was addicted to drink and
not comret"nt tu care for them. Charles
], hu'hhnnn resigned the guardianship while
frb5r wh" or Dee g. 1916. was Sap APPOINTED ted
guardian. He never got the children. however
chir"n were carried off by the 'fayiiorrs. In In
refusing 10 remove Buchanan. Surrogate Var
" 1t is one Of the numerous and unfortunate
cas". OF 'amliy differences. where many charges
t"II"\r, they have been especially aggravated
iaith. ewing 70 their belonging to different
thyoIumnous cases snbmitted on both sides s.
Suffice it TO say that on Dec, % IL .. the pater-
Buchanan. was appointed their if general ,rI
guardian by this court, but a day or
SFs Dis by ha sS m ess9
family and have since been kept either out Of
the jursdictono of this court or otherwise so
eonrcacd that the guardian. despite the great
est Efforts on his part. has been unable for more
than two years past to find them. The ma
t"rnnI grandfather OF the infants then applied
Tor the removal 81 the paternal grandfather as
such guardian, II no guardian had ever been
apponted by this court | might possibly feel
at liberty to exercise a wider discretion than
now feel authorized to do in deciding who
should be appointed as guardian, but find
guardian already appointed. the paterna
grandfatdher Of the infants. gentleman who. 1
son Of un9uestioned social and business
not Young. IS in the full possession OF all his
faculties, and is not. as has been suggested
liable to be unduly influenced by those adverse
70 the chldren's best interests. He agrees
IN the papers before me that the relatives
Of the minors on the maternal side shall
have full opportunity to see the chill
dr"n as they may wish, whereas the
relatives on the maternal side have not only
denied similar requests on his part. but have
carried the children out Of his reach and out Of
the jurisdiction Of this court. The question as
to what may be best for the children = interests
NAV he 4 doubtful one. but accept the re-
sronsibiiity imposed upon me and decline to
remove guardian heretofore appointed by
this court who. am satisfied; is honest com
potent and responsible. and who is one OF the
nearest relatives of the minors"