Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-26

A suit has been entered by a female named
Maria Susanna, in the District Court at New
Orleans, against Matthew Richeto, to recover
damages for SANDER. The circumstances OF
the case are peculiarly romantic, and are thus
narrated in the True Delta: gl es
Miss Maria Suzanna in her petition, states
that she was born in the city of New Orleans,
in the year 1878, and has resided here ever
since with a free colored woman who nursed
her, and whose name is Martha Don Andre,
under the impression for the most part of the
time, that is, until she had attained her ma
jority, that she was Of colored extraction, and
daughter Of Martha Don Andre. On becom-
ing Of age, however, her nurse and guardian
told her that she was born OF white parents,
who for reasons best known to themselves had
kept her birth q secret from her. On this in
formation, Maria took her position in society
as a white woman. Although these circum-
stances were explained to the general satisfac-
ton of the parties whom she was in the habit
of visiting, nevertheless, there were persons
malicious enough to Insist that she was nothing
more or less than colored person. and among
the rest one Marthieu Richeto on various oc-
casions, denominated her publicly as such.
thereby depriving her of her right to the social
position to which she was entitled amongst
white persons. For this deprivation of her
right, damages are claimed.
In proof of this statement the deposition of
Martha Don Andre, her former nurse, is before
the court. She is now rs years of age, and
resides at the corner of Bourbon and Orleans
streets. She says that some time in the year
1918 certain Madame Picole came to her
residence, bringing with her newborn infant,
and requested her to take charge Of it at
monthly wages, to be paid her. The lady ex-
pressed wish that the child should be secretly
raised, as its mother was young lady of one
of the first families in the city, who would not
for the worlds wealth, have her name men
toned or her reputation sulled. Shortly after
wards the mother of the child, described BY
Martha as beautiful young female, about
twenty years Of age, called and imposed on her
a solemn Injunction that she would never
reveal anything Of the matter, and at the same
time told her the real name of the child, her
lineage, &C., &C., requested her to have the
child baptized as white child, by the name
which she now bears. The request was COM
piled with, and the baptismal record of the
Cathedral of st. Louis proves the fact. Up to
her majority Suzanna was under the impress
sion that she was the daughter of Martha, as
it was the wish Of her own mother such should
be the case. Proof lin substantiation of these
circumstances of the death of Martha's own
child. shortly after the reception of the little
nursing, was also produced, and on this
Martha passed her off as her own child. At
the period of the death of Marhas infant she
was living with man named Gibbs, and there
fore it was that the child Maria Susanna, was
brought up as Maria Susanna Gibbs, which
name she, however, discarded on coming Of
age, and being informed of the facts narrated.
The defendant, in his reply to the petition of
the plaintiff admits her statement to be true,
as far as his calling her colored women goes
and calls upon her to prove her status. This
the complainant says she is prepared to do,
and so the matter stands before his Honor
Judge Reynolds, whose decision in the matter
will no dnnnt he a n innslu lnnlcad for