Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-08
MOTHER WEEPS AS
.TR|PLETS.. LEAVE
At FATHERS Order
Children Are Returned to
Maternity Hospital From
Which They Were Taken
in January

Mrs. Alice South. who secretly OBJ
tanned eleven children from mater
nifty hospitals and led her husband
and the public to believe they were
born to her, burst into tears Satur-
day afternoon when she had 90 sur
render the "triplets" who came into
her home on New Years day AS
big touring car from st. Mary's ma
ternity hospital disappeared around
the corner with the tiny babies she
had learned to love as though they
were her own, the frail little woman
became frantic and fell across her
bed, where she sobbed and tossed in
anguish for several hours.
Mama is real sick, cause 1t nearly
killed her when they took the trip
let's away" pretty twelve-year-old
Virginia, another of the foundlings,
told reporters who visited the little
brown cottage at % Weyman avenue
And it hurt the rest Of us too, she
added, as she brushed the tears from
her big brown eyes.
The "triplets" were returned to
the maternity hospital at % Wind
sor street, from which they were pro-
cured by Mrs. South month and
a week ago. Mrs. M. T. Mitchell,
manager of the hospital, says she
will keep them until good permanent
homes can be found for them.
Decision Is Reached
Decision to give up the "triplets"
was reached in the small hours or
Saturday morning after Mr.. and Mrs.
South had gathered the older chill
dren around them and related the
whole story. Several hours Of pray
er and forgiveness followed, and when
Mr.. South left for work Saturday, it
was agreed, it is said, that they
would formally adopt the rema ming
six children and raise them to be
good men and women.
No statement was Forthcoming Sat.
urday from Mr.. South, but according
, to HIS wife, who was seen during
the morning before the "triplets"
were taken away, everything had
been arranged and the plans agree.
on as we sat by the fire Friday nigh,
will be carried out"
When Mrs. South amazed her hu$
band at noon Friday with her admls
sion that all of their eleven childrta
were procured from maternity hos
Epitalsshe sank into chair and burie
hiss fece, IN his hands, shouting sd,.
, | his wife, You have played hell, you
= have acted a lie for fourteen years.
Made Apologies
Mrs. South says he made apologize
txyh q HI raa bop E,liH nx v,6 ia
these and other hasty remarks he
made to her. And. of course. for.
gave him, for love him devotedl.
and he is the best man in the world"
she asserted. A.
The wife declared Mr.. South had
taken the children on his knee FRI
day night, embraced them and told
them he loved them "far too much
to ever part with them" And then.
] she said, they put the children to bed
J finally deciding definitely to return
the "triplets" and keep the rest of
i the children. - ~ .-
9 Virginia was kept busy Saturda Y
t afternoon answering the doorbeil and
S informing iall visitors that her moth
:. err was too i'll and grief-stricken to
: see them. b.
i "Papa's at the store, and poor
e mama's inside crying her eyes out,
SO I'm the only one you can talk to-"
| she LOlQ neWSpdpe men.
Child Il Told
Virginia said papa and mama :
had told her everything Friday night.
But they said they loved me just
as much, and 1 think they're the best
parents in the world, and I'd be Just
as happy as over If they hadn't taken
the 'triplets' away" @
Elmour ten years old, romped UP
on the front porch.
"They told me all about It, too
he said. Pretty tough. but I guess
,, everything'll be all right. But I wish
they'd bring the 'triplets'' back"
mud and n nnp o Gder sisters chased s
him into the house to wash his hands.
HE has always been the liveliest
: Some one remarked to Virginia that
her real mother and father might
be found for her some day.
''The papa and mamma have now
are good enough for me, and love
them awful much. and don't ever ex-
pect to leave them" She said.
:. The little girl played with her
pretty hair, which was plated and
fell below her waist, as she describ-
ed the dramatic scene in the parlor
Of the home Friday night. r
Everybody knelt and papa prayed
first; then mamma prayed. And they
told us we weren't their children. but
they loved us just the same, and that
we were always ~ stay WIFI
them. Then they kissed us all. and
then papa kissed mamma, and eY-.
everybody was happy"
BOY Reappears
E1mour reappeared on the porch.
His chubby little hands were scrupu4
lousy clean. Virginia smiled at
them approvingly. e.
Mamma says you must come back
in the house, because papa said we
couldn't talk any more unless he was
here" was the message Elmour
brought.
wait a minute and I'll see If ]
can come back" said Virginia, as
she went inside the house.
Then Elmour Opened up" and de-
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