The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-10-12
THE NICHOLSON CLAIM

he NASHOi4SON CLAIM.
Joseph b. Anthony, Esq, the conn3
ioner appointed under the act of las, ssss;o,s a
10 ascertain aud report to the Rsyerpor ,Sa
amount OF the commonwealth claim agaius,
John Nicholson, the condition and the
quantity Of the land upon which the claim
ls'a lien, and the private debts of John
Nicholson, has been engaged in his of5c.
since the 25th Of September last. He oc-
cuples the room appropriated TO the Session
oi the board OF properly in the land depart.
ment.
'a"ns.N --hthony entered upon the du
ties OF this commission in the early part of
last August, but his personal altendarc.
was not required here for more than d,v
or two, prior to the preseu. session. r.
the act Of assembly all the private debts Of
John Nicholson had to be reported on or
before The IS! Of October inst, othe,wiseb be
barred. We understand that .hose aeb,, .,
mount to several millions.
The act requires him 10 make his repor,
by the LIST Of November. His future a,,cn.
ton must therefore be given 10 she publie
account against John Nicholson, and tho
immense bodies Of land scattered ovar the
commonwealth, once his. aud from which
must be ascer1ained what sill is properly IN
his right.
SsS7sEsESsSsSSszEs
Il pdst Estdte.--'The Cincinnati Ga
zei.e supplies us with condensed sl.ts.
ment of particulars connected with law
suit which is 10 be tried at New OrlssHs
during the esuing winter, in which Major
General Gaines, who has recently married
second wife, lays claim, in her right, 10
an estate now estimated to bs worth t,Dslrs
millions Of doiiars.
Mrs. Games claims to be legi,imsi.
daughter Of the late Daniel Clark. Mr..
Clark settled in New Orleans, under the
dominion Of Spain, and became an sxtsn-
slye merchant and speculator, besides dis
tinSuishng himself as a politician. He
died in 1873, and MIR. Relf, VI the merchan.
tile firm of Clark g. Relf, Of New Orleans.
took immediate possession OF his immense
estates, under will executed in 1911.
From that period 10 The present, MIR. Rel.
has controlled, conducted and disposed of
Mr.. Clark's estates without accoun.aDil,y
10 any one. Mrs. Gaines is Mr. Clark's
! daughter. Her story is romantic ore.
| In 1902 or l603 Mr.. Clark marrIsd in
New Orleans lady; separated from hsr
husband. The separation had taken place
in consequence Of proofs tha! he had pro-
vious living wife-but before these prssfs
were effectively obtained. Upon this ao-
count the marriage was kept privatc. Mrs.
Gaines was bora Of this marriage, and nan.
ed Myria. DSagresments arose bslwssn
Mr.. Clark and his wife which resulted in
hnal seParatoniH the year 1907, no pub,
lie acknowledgement Of the marriage having
taken place. The lady in persuasion that
her marriage with Clark was an illegal one,
from his refusing her a public acknOwl-
edgement inIermsnied with a gentleman
of Philadelphia, who took her 10 France
where they resided many years. He 10
now dead, and his widow, claiming 10 have
been once tho wife Of Daniel Clark, is liy-
ing .andfesdes at Natchitoches.
In 1919, it il alleged. that Daniel Clark.
made will, written complete, in his OWR
hand wiring. by which he recognized the.
legitimacy OF his daughter, and devised HE
immense property TO her. This will, it is
charged, was obtained and secreted, if net
destroyed, by Mr.. Relf.
In 1892, Myria Clark became the wife
of VIM. W. Whitney. She had been
brought up by Mr.. Davis in total ignorance
Of her parents and of her alleged rights.
After the marriage Of Whitney, in examiR-
irg some old papers, he frs, op;ainsd an
intimaton Of his wife's patronage, and
claims. He commenced an investigation
which has led to the full proof, as 1t is said
Of all the facts here stated. In the hands
Of Gen. Gaines, no donbt, every effort will
be made to elicit all the facts, and to secure
for the wife the psternal heritage that has
been wrested from her.
Daniel Clark was native Of Sligo in
Ireland, and came to New O'ra.s upoA
: the invrta!on Of bachelor uncle, whS
made him his heir. He filled a large space
+ in the politics of the country, and gave in.
formation that fully confirmed the hentue.
y Ky Spanish conspiracy, and fastened upor
Gen. Wilkinson corrupt participation 10
IF it.
G The Gazette appends schedule Of Mr.
/ Clark's estate al the time Of his death, yalu