can't remove entries from a table without a seg fault

["Dave J. Andruczyk" <dave www2 buffalostate edu>]

I'm having a hell of a time in removing items from a table.
the code that adds the items is:
 gtk_table_attach(GTK_TABLE (channel_table),
                             label[i], 0, 1, (i*2), (i*2)+1,
                             GTK_FILL | GTK_EXPAND,
                             GTK_FILL | GTK_EXPAND | GTK_SHRINK, 0, 0);

the code that removes it is:
   gtk_container_remove(GTK_CONTAINER (channel_table),
                                           GTK_WIDGET (label[i]));

when something is re-added into its previous place, the program seg faults

i.e. when the first function is called again. 
the debugger (xxgdb) says the fault happens when gtk_table_attach() is
called, (after previously having something there, and removing it)

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

dave