Spirit of the age., 1861-04-17
The Great Gaines Case.

IHC SOuFl vi luO SuttSu otttSo
has just rendered decision in favor of Mrs. |
Gaines, establishing her right to the Nc
Donald property now in the possession of |
the cities of New Orleans and Baltimore
The decision places her in possession of all |
the immense property of Daniel Clark of |
whom she is the only legitimate child
Mrs. Myra O. Gaines, the contestant in this
celebrated case, furnishes the world, in her
life, one of those strange, eyentful histories,
unlocked for save in the realms of romance.
Mrs. Gaines was born in Philadephia in
1905. Her father, Daniel Clark, was man
OF immense wealth, but of uncertain NOR
als-hls property lying for the most part in
and ahant the. cities of New Orleans Raj
mad formed tiaason with woman of sun-
posed easy virtue, with whom he lived for
many years, in Philadelphia. Mr.. Clark's
friends never recognized this woman-nor
did Clark ever acknowledge her publicly as
MS wife, but on the contrary. it has heen
proved, that even after the daughter was
born, he persisted in declaring that he was
bachelor. 1t seems. however. that some
months prior to Mrs. Gaines advent into the
world, MIR. Clark was compelled or induced
10 marry his victim, but with the distinct
understanding that the marriage should new
er De made public Soon after its birth the
child was placed in charge of a person in
Baltimore, (whoSe name does not transpire
oy whom she was raised to womanhood =
M Ile! nnotner IN the meantime went away from
Paliaoelphla, but where or when, or what
ever became OF her IS unknown. At the age
VI Mel.y-tWo, Myra married Mr. Whitney,
oil Dihghampton, New York, by whom she
became pee the mother of three children. Mr..
whitney died in 1886, and in 1910 She mar
Rf H.
army. Mrs Gaines did not, until some wears
after her marriage to her first husband Lno,y
anything of her parentage: she haying to-
ken the name of the person who had tba
charge OF her, and supposed as did her oc-
quantances, that the persons with wbor,
she lived were her parents. At the death of
clark, IN 1880 or 1881, his kinsmen went on
TO administer upon his est tie, but they found
barrier IN the person of Mrs. Whitnev,s
former guardian and supposed father who
lnterposeda claim for his protege, and then
lot the hrst time informed her and her won-
| oerlng husband, as to who and what she was.
II seems that this person alone, aside from
tne family OF Clark, knew the secret of the
marriage. At first Clark's friends tried to
BRIDE him to keep the whole matter. a Sc
cret, and Tor time succeeded in keenino
hlm out OF the way; but as thev did NOT
comply readily with his demands for money
ne communlcate tho Set aG,uur esranIfsnrHp
her Legitimacy. She commenced her first
suit against the executors of her f.tls :,
+ one or two Of TIE witnesses VINO were pres
ent at the ceremony. In the first suits
against the Executors she was unsucccssIui,
Int she and her husband were determined
| that the stigma of illegitimacy sheu not
rest upon her, and so to again bring the mat
| far before the Court when she should DE
able to better prove the marriage OF her pa
rents. she commenced the PRESENT suits against
Henning and others, involving the MELON
ough estates and other vast amounts OF prop
erty in the South and West. The case ma
heen fought inch by inch by the other lega
, tees. has been tried with varied successe
in the Courts of half a dozen States, unit
this last decision of final resort. The nr'
! legal talent in the country has been engage
n on both sides and probably no case. as Jude
:, Wavpe remarke &c, was ever tried IN TINS counti
4 involving so many nice points OF law ana Ia
- nc this The Court of the United States n
s. unanimously decided that Myra Clark Galh
- Is the only legitimate child of Daniel Clar
to and that, as such she IS entitled 10 al
nd property left by him. Nor are the yea
m and energies of the courageous woman !
bo far spent to prevent her enjoyment OF
nd vast wealth. Mrs. Gaines, though now
me her fifty fifth year, is represented as oe
an agreeable specimen of what old people
ryhf in calling ladies of the old school.
mr. She is in good health, and possesses an ao
ose dant flow of animal spirits which have ou
the ed her up Tor over thirty years ui'uN ..
st? stances of an unusually trying nature