The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-16
Our Southern Correspondenee.

New ORLEANS. May 8, 1851
maues in Rca Life--Singular 7riat-Another
f,uS5'-N,ars from 7arIaco-7He Collector of
,foE.eey, &c., &c.
There Is no doubt Of the fact that the real occur-
ces Of life often exceed the widest inventions Of
Imagination. 1t il only because tho secret acts
men so seldom become exposed. that we are
Ftled at times by the development Of transac-
is which frequently disclose circumstances of the
& extraordinary and mysterious nature. II j.
bur judicial tribunals that we are indebted for
hging to light the darkest and most romantic,
DIS that have ever been recorded.
5 mentioned in my letter Of yesterday, suit
be on for trial, last week, in one Of our courts,
attending circumstances Of which are Of the most
resting and singular character. II appears that
Il Wise, the wife Of Alphon Stsgni, an Italian,
ught IN action against the estate Of the Coun.
lion, for the posse ssion Of female slave, named
Sy, whom she claims to have purchased from
nc FRANCHISE Cournant, free woman Of color,
even hundred dollars, and exhibited an act Of
passed before a notary, confirming the same.
executor and heirs Of the estate resist the ac-
on tie ground that the act Of sale was n fraud
'ciratcj between the plaintiff and the deceased
m, Il is ayerred, lived in concubinage together,
that sbe had no means, or in,ome, whatever.
rcwith 70 purchase the slave. They also except /,
the plaintih's right If action, on the ground
fho was not fee. The case was first tried on
exception; and A witness By the name Of Mar
Wise, "a qualroon, was introduced by tho
ndsnis who stated that Gho was n half sister of
Plaintiff that they were both born Of one mo-
in Monroe county, Missouri, who was light
= -. ~. Al.
and plaintiff were brought TO this country when
young, and sold 10 the Count de Gaalon. IL
APPEARED that the witness was not free, and in
ctfuL 10 testify; ard the Court held that a.
defendants had not st forth in the exception
IL. plaintiff was q colorcd woman. IL was pre-
a sao wac free white woina1 until the con-
should ho shouo; and the exception wa over
!. The ease then proceeded on the merits.
be plaintiff appeared in court with her husband,
little gul shout a year old. she i very
tiful Young white woman, with blue eyes.
ouI leSion, and about eighteen years old. She
rcd that sko was born IL German parents, in
matt that her father and mother died when
a. vary young, and that friend Of her fathers
Ut her to Missouri, and left her in charge Of
druDu woman, who brought her up. IL ap-
q, frot the testimony. that when the plaintiff
bout eleven years Of age, she was brought 10
city wHh tho qu4droon girl Margaret, by
named bick Martin, who sod tho quadtoon
Ceun, &c Gaalcn The latter, on seeing the
& would take hsS aud bring her up n his
y. At CHS time, Madame Gaalon was absent
nstuiqWc. when the plaintiff attained her
snta year, Gaalon scduced her, and bal
ny her. During thigtiine, Madame dc Gaalon
rciurued. and was living in the same house
her husband. The plaintiff was treated NJ
Il the family, and they took their meals to-
al ti.c samo table When her child was born.
va on the 18th May 1870, lie Gaalon, had
rib registered as tho natural issue Of Eliza
F.... fr al fr~ec m nf coll
lu iited IL tho Recorder that il was his own
H. Caaloe, al this time, wns between sixty
stnls ycare ofage. Afterwards, in 1851, he
ElcJ tbc rlaiu,iH's present husband to m irry
crfcscnling her W. his ward, whom he had
hi ur. In JULY of that year, he made appli.
I" oic &C the courts to be appointed curator
Tor tLe purpose &C assisting his ward, minor
[trsct marriage with hcr present husband, and
sriaec was afterwards duly solcmnircd.
Ernsut. an old free quadroon woman, about ~
CT egc, was called, aud proved that she soid
ave II qrcsticn to the plaintiff, and thst Do
u p.id her fer the slave. The witness was no
err, cnietion Of Meg Merrilcs"-her eyes
.iill bright, and had wild look. She vas
ding 70 give history Of the plaintiff, from
he Knew, and tho acts Of DE Gaalon, when
urt stopped her; and II vas ruled that the
lty Of ihs Old woman should not be received
,lcnec.
raeita 20 tho plaintiff, and his natural chill
= g'his, II was considered by the q, fendants'
j. Wv, sufficient to show that the deed Of sale
s.rsn II had been made in ffaGd Of the rights
beifs, and was, therefore, null aud void.
cornsel for the plaintiff argued that the rea-
did not srry, ~ the slave in question never
b. rrcnegty II re GaalJn aud that the plain.
Il dst;vcd disec. title from The vendor. Asd
purys,sir,g cha, tie Count lie Gaaion had even
lcd The money lor the purchase u the slave,
ld not hc made o. appeal that y wss dony
AIDE W fraud of the beif-. That u tsaalor
~ Ia i,ty In 81 emit 20 recover the slave, b.
not l., permitted t. show that he furnisaed
nos H. purchase her.
,as. i cert iinly OF very extraordinary ne
The mystery ~ the girls birth i verl
Ne bat there il nv, doubt bus that she W