Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-21
No. II.
THE VICTORY OF Mrs. GAINES.

Clark Gaines, both of which have, for many
years, occupied prominent positions before, not
only the legal profession, but the eyes of the
world. These cases are singularly suggestive,
and peculiarly Illustrative OF certain phases OF
American society," and as such, possess other in
terests than those Of a merely pecuniary char
acter Each hasreached, after rorracted strug-
gas, decision, the one adverse to and the 9TH
er in favor of the claimant-the one loses all she
deemed worth living for, while the other gains
not only fortune of fabulous amount, but es-
tablishes forever the honor of her mother. Had
the Imperial Court been more kind the Ameri-
can claimant of a kingly hand would now be in
possession Of a vast estate, with her sons legt-
imacy acknowledged before the world, while, as
it is, these are denied her, and perhaps forever.
In view, them of the interest of the celebrat-
ed cause which Yesterday was decided in favor
of Mrs Gaines, by iull bench of the Supreme
Court of the United States, brief resume of its
material facts will be not misplaced.
Daniel Clark. who was ont of the early set
tiers in the colony of Louisiana, was a very re-
markable person. His sagacity, prudence and
business tact, soon pla, ed him at the head of its
monetary world, while his beauty of person, pop.
ular character, and agreeable manners afforded
him similar position in the social circle. In
1902 he became acquainted in Philadelphia with
a lady of extraordinary personal benuty, named
Zulime Carriere. She was born in the old
French colony of Biloxi, and her parents were
emigrants from the land of poetry and romance
-Proyence-the iavorite home of the Trouba-
dours. When Clark first met her, she had been
living in wedlock with swindlcr named Jerome
DeGrange, who, having dazzled her with gilt
,ering coronet, married her, and then disclosed
the astounding facts that he was counterfeter
and bigamist. Iulime appealed for protec-
tion to Clark who being warm-hearted and
chvalrous, at once espoused her cause, and af-
ter becoming convinced that De Grange had
another wife living, espoused herself The mar
rage was kept secret and III 1906 Myra, now
Mrs Gaines, was born. Being naturally desi-
rous OF having her connection with Clark pub
licly acknowledged one, Zulime went to New
Orleans to obtain legal proofs of her first hus-
bandss rascality. While she was gone, Clark,
who had grown into an influential politician, be-
came enamored of Miss Cation, grand-daugh-
ter Of Charles Carroll, with whom he contract.
ed an engagement, though when reports were
brought TO Miss Cation alleging her lovers mar
| riage to Iulime, she at once insisted upon re-
lease from the engagement, and she Subsequent
ly became the Mlrchiones, of Wellesley.
/ In the meantime, Zulime had returned to
/ Philadelphia, and sought to obtain proofs ol
her marriage with Clark, who had, with singu-
]
cover. Finding herself helpless, in a strange
country, and with a child dependent upon her
she was wholly at loss what to do, and, in hel
dcstitution, driven almost to despair, she ac-
cepted the hand of DIR. Gardette, who, with
kindness and generosity, united his fortune with
hers. Clark, III the meantime, had become pen
ilent, but, on Fastening to find his former love
ascertained that she was the wife of another
He took the child Myra, placed her under the
care of friend, and had her mo t liberally ed
ucated. Zulime lived for long time after that
attained the age Of IS years, and died at New
Orleans but few years since.
Clark, whose business talent was proverbial
amassed an immense fortune in Louisiana, Mis-.
sour, Kentucky, and Maryland, which he be-
queathed by will. in lSl3 to his mother, Mary
Clark, naming Beverley Chew and Richard Rel
bankers of New Orleans, as executors. Charge,
have been preferred against the executors of bad
faith and miSmanagement but however that
may be, Myra-thcn Mrs Whitney dis
covered at maturity that her mother had beer
the wife of the deceased millionaire, with an i'm
pulse of honorable affection for which she can.
not be too highly praised determined to assert
her right, as the legitimate child and cunsequen
heiress, to the entire property.
That she met with opposition and with Oh
staceS of all sorts may well be imagined, bu
she battled for her mothers honor, and evnceC
the most commendahle spirit and perseverance
in spite of most fearful odds. Her husbant
died, but she remarked, and in so doing enlist
ed powerful auxiliary in the person of Gen
Gaines, who believed in her Legitimacy and aid
ed her with all his might. | would be weari
some merely to index the various legal strug
giles, the attempted social ostracisms, the trcach
cries, the sorrows, the hopes and fears exper
fenced by Mrs Gaines in this work OF her life
time. She sued in numerous Courts and Will
varied success, until her fortune was gone, he
friends convinced OF the uSeleSsneSs of furthe
trial. and all but her own ndomitable spirit fed
She still struggled on, and, as a last resort
brought the case in lis amplitude and its laby
: riaths OF legal technicalities to the Suprem
Court of the land. There, after a long and pa
tient hearing, she has obtained her victory
The Court has unanimously decided that MNr
, Clark Gaines is the only legitimate child Danit
Clark, and that, as sucl, she is entitled to "a
the property left by him. Nor are the year
and energies of the courageous woman too ia
spent to prevent her enjoyment of her vas
wealth. Mrs Gaines, though now in her fifty
fifth year. is represented as being an agreeabl
specimen of what old people delight in callin
"ladies Of the old school," She is in &c cd heatl
and possesses an abundant flow of animal spin
, its, which have buoyed her up for over thirt
years under circumstances of an unusually try
, ing nature.
! Mr.. Justice Wayne, in closing the decision c
the Court, seems to have placed peculiar an
, significant emphasis on the words that the Su
preme Court would see that the provisions {
d the decision were carried into efect-a state
. ment of more than ordinary importance whe
1 we reflect that possibly the State of Louisian
may decline to take cognzance of, or be boun
g by. decree emanalinS from no less tlibuno
r than the Supreme Court of the "lae Unite
e States of America ~ y Times, 10Th.
i LOTTERY swINDLE IN VERMONT.