The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-05


A despatch from New Orleans says that In the
case Of PandeIey ". wiltz, the jury have rendered
verdict for the plaintiff, thereby establshing the
smm. No damages. This trial his been for some
time in progress In New Orleans, and seems to have
excited no little interest there. The cause OF the
action was Of most painful character 70 numerous,
highly educated, and every way highly Respectable
family connection in that city, being nothing less
than the impeachment OF the status Of the family.
On the score of attsinted or negro blood. The I'm
parchment, now proved to have been wholly mali
cous, failed in it, object. An &C ount says:-
The members Of the family attsmptea 20 %
elected from the public schools, in which several OF
them were employer, and from the City Councils, OF
which the plaintiff in this action Of damages was
member 90 far made good their status to the salts
faction Of impartial community, that the proceed
ing was aband ,ned by the prosecutor, now in turn
made the defendant In the civil suit but not without
doing wide mischief to the reputation and prospects
of the family.
The original cross Of blood, which gave rise to
the scandal Of the negro mixture, appears TO have
been the Creole French or white, with Indian. 1t
runs back to the great great grandmother, Marian
Delhia, the supposed daughter OF an Indian mother
by white father. Several aged witnesses, one OF
ITO years old, and herself the descendant OF the
Pawnee Indians, testfes to the personal appearance
and habits OF this lady; her attachment to the
Indians their frequent visits to her house and
the sobnquet OF La Belle Sauvagesse or Mariana
Ia Sauvagess, by which she was sometimes desis-
mated. She was also known, and chiefly so to tho
witnesses by her husbands name, a. Madame Mont
paisr. She was the mother Of Franchise Mont 9lai-
sir afterwards Madame Michel Dragon. Her hus
band was sailor white man, bat OF brown com
plexion. They had TWO daughters, one OF whom
died early The other married Andress Dimitry, .
friend Of Dragon Who came to this Soualry with
mother, bus like the mother and grandmother had
straight hair and no single Characteristic Ct the NO
gro race. Her mother, Franchise Montplaisir, or
Madame Dragon, says one OF the witnesses, a inc
moet beautiful hair that witness ever saw-is formed
o roll as thick a. witness arm when unIe: sed, 1t
fell below her waist-jet black, and as straight IS
line.
dian cross, is the grandmother OF the whole con-
nection now on the scene OF action. She had tive
daughters, and, as we gather from the testimony,
one son, Mr.. Draoos Dimitry. One of the daughters
married Mr.. PsndeIley, father Of the plaintiff to
this suit. Tho other three daughters also married,
and all had numerous families. The younger
branches appear for the most part to have been men
Of fine scholarship. One Of the family, Profeasez
Alexander Dimitry, was made superintendent OF the
public schools Of Louisiana. He subsequently, had
charge of private school in Raymond, Miss, with
fifty pupils, until the scandal Of negro blood broke
him up, when he returned to New Orleans
Two other members Of the family have employ
ment in the public schools. Mr.. Pandelley, Jr., was
made Q city councilman Q few years since. Mr.
Alexander Dimitry married Miss Mills, Of Washing
ton city daughter Of Mr. Mills the architect Judge
6trawbridge, now . member Of the bar, was al
Georgetown College with Ni,holas Dimitry, brother
Of Alexander Dimitry. He died eight years ago
He Was the most striking specimen Of North Ams
rican Indian witness ever met with, but his features
were softened and modified such ss might have beer
expected from an intermixturc of Grecian blood.
Alexandra Dimitry also graduated at Georgetow N
College with distinguished honor, and is esteemed {
man Of very ne talents aud is an excellent speaker
He has . commanding appearance, brilliant blacl
eye, and exhibits the evidences of Indian descent.
The damages were laid at $40 900, but though th'
verdict was In favor of plaintiff. the jury, it seems
thought proper to award no damages.