Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-02-29
From the Memphis Enquirer.
HlaIE ola Il z EoOER mE

- The sui: now being prosecuted by Gen. and
Mrs. GAINES. at Washington, for the recovery
of this estate, is one Of the most important thai
has ever come before the Supreme Court
The magnitude of the pecuniarv amount in.
volved, and the singular. not 20 say romantic
private history upon the facts of which hang
the merits of the claim set up, lend TO it a pc.
culiar interest. The first counsel, too in the
Union, are engaged on one or the other side.
IT Is generally known to our readers, that
Mrs. JAMES claims tile estate of her farther
DANIEL CLARK, IN virtue of a last will and
testament, which it is alledged, was DESTROYED
by the executors acting under former via.
This last will, it is in proof, made Mrs. q. the
sole helresS ofthe testator. 1t is By establish.
ing the existence of this will al CLARK 8 deaIh.
and proving its contents, that Mrs GA1NEs'
counsel expect to put hel in possession of her
long withheld rights.
Suit was instituted for the recovery offt;s
estate in the lifetime of Mrs. G's. former hus-
band, w. W. Whitney, Esq; but trial of the
cause upon its merits was never obtained until
after the marriage of the claimant with Ger
Gaines In the spring of l84l Charles Patte--
son, Esq, an innocent holder of portion of the
property Gin amount bout S20,OOO) consented
to come to trial of the cause upon its merits.
in the U. s. District Court for Louisiana. Az
ter patient hearing fall the testimony, de-
cree was rendered in favor of the claimant.
from which an appeal was taken 10 the Su
preme Court at Washington. The appeaI
case was argued at the .erm of the Court held
in 1912. but the Court postponed rendering
Judgement until the following term. In con.
sequence of The absence of some of the Judo.
es who sat upon the case, at the decision was
post pOned from the tern held IN 1913 Il, the
one now IN sessi' n. 1t is upon appeal the alb
owe stated, and what thelawyers call denaur
rer entered by some of the other parties inter
ested that the case is now being argued anew
AS already ated the two first DAYS were
consumed by Messrs. Henderson and Cox.
The third day Saturday 27th) was occupied
by Reverdy Johnson. Esl., whose argument
is thus noticed by the correspondent of the
Baltimore Patriot
"The great cause of Mn. Gaines, so gener-
ally known, is now beforethe Court. Among
the most eminent counsel employed in it is Mr.,
Johnson. of Baltimore, whom had the pleas
ure to hear this day. The room was unusual
~ full, attracted, no doub, by the notoriety of
the cause and the eTninsnce of the counsel
on both sides. 1t is Characteristic OF the Court
to be always attentive, and 10 maintain perfect
orCer-but as Marylander it gave me pecu.
liar satisfaction to observe that the large and
respect able audience seemed rivited in atten-
ton and deeply impressed by the clearness and
dlstincness of his manner, and the potency of
his argument. They came and remained to
hear him through-and had the pleasure to
hear bis speech and argument lauded in the
highest terms by persons Of the greatest COM
potency to judge"
The result can hardly b. known for some
time yet. Mr. johnson will be allowed by
Gen. Walter Jones. and perhaps MIR. Criten-
dO-a and othere,whose arguments will doubtless
occupy several more days. Probably, too, the
Court may, on account of the magnitude ofthe
suit, take untilDthe end of the term to delIber-
ate upon the judgment which will be rendered.