The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-06-17
Miscellaneous.
HISTORY OF THE CASE OF
MRS. MYRA CLARK GAINES.
F OR THE RECOVERY OF HER FATHERS ESTATE
LC0ncluded.l
ION ME REcOVERY OI

II
years, until their conduct had so far demon
strated to him their ability and apparent hon
esiy, that he made them his partners in bus
mess, though they had no capital except what
they had acquired from him. To say TINT
he had confidence in their fidelity and hon
esy is not necessary. after giving such evil
dence of his regard for them. He was not
only generous patron, but their devoted
friend, relying implicitly on their fidelity.and
entrusting them not only with all his bus
mess, but also with the knowledge of his Sc
cret feelings, purposes and affections. They
throve by his favor, and did their best for a
long ume TO retain 1t, which could have been
done easily by simple honesty, and due at
tentlon TO his commercial interests, as com
blned and identified with their own. But
this course, so simple and easy to men of on
ly ordinary depravity, did not accord with
the ioollshly eager covetousess Of those men,
who seemed to have grasped at nothing less
Than the whole OF the property of Daniel
Clark, in case of his decease before them.
Regarding those his ;,roteges and benefic-
iores as the most grateful and devoted of his
friends Daniel Clark on bringing his beloved
Zullme to New Orleans, entrustedthem with
the whole ofthe secret of his private mar
rage to her, and of the peculiar circumstan-
ces which prevented an immediate disclosure
of it and public recognition of her ms his
wife at that time. She was treated bv them
rs ills wife, and was received by the wife of
ReIfe into his house as Il virtuous and honor
able lady; while her connection with Daniel
Clark was Known, she was also thus received
by other ladies on Tie strength of her recep-
lion ny the wife of Relic. No testimonial of
respect and kindness to her was lacking on
their parts, and she was therefore left under
their protection by her husband, on his de-
parture, without Il msgivng as to their fdel-
ly to nm, or respect and friendship for her.
IL was under these circumstances that the
only child ofDanie Clark and his wife Zu-
lime, was born. 1t was daughter, and was
named by him Myra. The circumstances
made It necessary 10 separate the infant from
lis mother. almost Immediately after its BIRTH
and 1t was so fortunate rs TO find in n lady
ofhlgh character and eminent virlues,on of
the best of foster mothers. Captain Davis,
an officer ofthe United States Army, then
stationed at New Orleans, was an intimate
and favored friend of Daniel Clark, and was
so largely benefited by his iberiity in pc
cuniary matters, as to feel under great per-
sonal obligations TO him. Captain Davis was
married; aud to him and his wife were en-
trusted the secret of the marriage of their
wealthy and generous friend in consequence
of which Madame Zulime Clark was received
10y them, also, as lady worthy the society
of1adics. To the kind care Of Mrs. Davis the
little Myra was gladly entrusted, soon after
her birth, and was received by her with al
affection as devoted, fond and unchanging, as
If she had been her own offsprihgso that will
an the nlistortunes other birthunder circum.
stances which prevented the public acknowl-
Judgement of her parents marriage, Myra new.
er knew what is was to want mother. I'm
all she became woman, she never found the
least occasion TO suppose that Mrs. Davis was
Il. Al. 4
of Mrs. Davis were not her brothers and sis
tiers. To the day of her death, Mrs Davi,
was all to her adopted child that n mother
could be; and when she died, was lumentct
by her with an agony of grief that was unmil
gated by the recently acquired knowledge of
the absence of all natural kindred relation
ship between them.
ReIfe aud Chew were, by the frequeu
Withdrawal oftheir patron from commerce
into the absorbing cares of politics, soon lief
with an almost absolute control of his bust
ness, and with the management of all his
property, with correspondent knowledge
Of the extent, position and value of it. Com.
plicated as his affairs were, by his numerou:
gigantic speculations in great tracts oflanC
in the new states and territories, at times
largely absorbing his money and actual re
sources, his sudden death in country so fa
remote from that of his birth and kindred
would IF he had remained unmarried anC
childess.) have left his whole estate very
much at the mercy of rinprincipled and Gun
ming men, in their position, alone possessing
all his secrets ofbusiness, his accounts ant
papers. The warm friendship and attach
nlent which he then felt for them, would have
undoubtedly induced him to make them tht
heirs ofsome considerable portion of hi
property, as they were nearer to his hear
than any other person, except his nged moth
or, then living in Philadelphia. His Lawful
marriage and the birth of legitimate hei
ofhs estate, could not, therefore, but make
very material difference in the condition ant
prospects of Relfe and Chew. Still, for some
time after the birth of his daughter, he con
tnued to hold them in the same confidence
and esteem and friendship as before. The,
still retained in great measure, the custod.
and management of his property and bust
ness.
The absence of Daniel Clark at Washing
ton aud the North, was soon made by ReIt
and Chew the occasion of the formation, ant
incipient execution,o of that extraordinary plo
ngainst him, his affections, his hopes, his al
in all in life, which resulted in those event
that, for nearly half a century, have frustrat
ed the great designs which he cherished no
only for himself, but for what was dearer I,
him than self, than fame or being. To pre-
vent him from publicly acknowledging hi
marriage with Zulne Carriere-from estab
fishing the legitimacy of his daughter borl
ofher-from emitting his wife to her Lawful
share in his estate, and from making his lie
climate daughter his heir-were the grea
objects before them. The only imaginable
mode of accomplishing those objects, the,
were able to discover and adopt.
After Daniel Clark had been for some tim
81, 81 t,,u JN,y,x