The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-19
Rirhmonb Nispateb.
MORNING. :. MARCH 10, 1se,
The Victory efsfr.. Gaines.

49, ~-a,--
The Victory efsfrs. Gaines.
The annals OF litigation furnish no tw,
more interesting or pee liar cases than thos.
Of Madame Paterson Bonaparte, and Of Mira
Myra Clark Gaines both OF which have 70,
many years, occupied prominent positions be.
fore, not only the legal profession but the
eyes of the world.
Daniel Clark was one of the early settlers
in the colony of Louisiana. His business tact
seon placed him al the head of its monetary
world. while his popular character and agree :
able manners afforded him similar position
In the social circle. In 1902 he became ac
guainted IN Philadelphia with lady OF ex-
traordtnary personal beauty, named Zalime
Carriere. She born in the old French
colony ct Biloxi and her parents were emf
grants from Provence When Clark first
me, her. she had been living IA wediock with
swiudler named Jerome DE Grange, who
having daSxed her with gfitering ceronet,
married her, and then disclosed the astound
ing cts that he was confectiener and a
bigsmist Zulime appealed for protection TO
Clark, who being warm. hearted and chival-
rous. at once espoused her cause, and after be-
coming convinced that DE Grange had an
other wife living, espoused herself. The mar
rage was kept secret, and in 1896 Myra now
Mrs. Gaines, was born. Being naturally de-
sirons of having her connection with Clark
publicly acknowledged one, Zulime went TO
New Orleans 10 obtain legal proofs OF her
FIRST husbands rascality While she was
gone, CLARK, who had become influential
III.
grand daughter OF Charles Carroll with whom
he contracted an engagement, but when re-
ports were brought to Miss Cation alleging her
lovers marriage TO Xulime, she at once insist
ed upon a release from the engagement, and
she subsequently became the Marchioness of
Wellesley.
In the mean time, Zuiime had returned to
Philadelphia, and sought 10 obtain proofs of |
her marriage with Clark, who had, with siu- |
gular treachery, destroyed all that he could |
discover. Finding herself helpless, in
Strat, Oh. Aant
upon her, she was wholly at loss what TO
do, aud in her desttutIon, driven almost to
despair, she accepted the hand OF Dr. Gardet-
te, who united his fortune with hers. Clark, |
in the mean time, had become penitent, but, on |
Fastening to find his former love. ascertained
that she was the wife OF another. He took
the child Myrsl, placed her under the care OF a
friend, and had her most literally educated -
Zuiime lived for long time after that, at
tained the age of is years, and died at New
Orleans bui a few years since.
Clark, whose business talent was proven |
bal, amsssed an Immense fortune in Louisi |
ana, Missouri, Kentucky aud Maryland which | ,
he bequeaihed by will, in 1913, to his mother
Mary Clark naming Beverly Chew aud Rich !
ard Relf, bankers of New Orleans, execu- !
tors. Charges have been preferred against !
the executors of bad faith and mism.naga-
ment, but however that may be- Myra-theu s
Mrs. Whitney--havng discovered at maturity |
that her mother had been the wife of the de- J
ceased millionaire, with an impulse OF honora-
BILE affection for which she cannot be too high
ly praised, determined 10 assert her right, as
the legitimate child and consequent heress to
the en- tire property. a
That she met with opposition and with OBJ
stacles of all sorts may well be imagined, but S
she battled for her rights against the most \
fearful odds. Her husband died, but she re- r
and in so doing enlisted powerful !
in the person of Gen. Gaines, who y
believed in her legitimacy and aided her with
all his might. 1t would be wearisome merely
to index the various legal struggles, the at :
tempted social ostricisms, the treacheries ex-
perienced by Mrs Gaines in this work of her
lifetime. She sued in numerous courts and
with varied success, until her fortune was
rome, her friends convinced of the uselessness
'f further trial, and all but her own indomi-
liable spirit fled. She still struggled on, and, | ,
rs "a last resort, brought the case in its ampi-
ude and Its labyrnths of legal tech icalities
o the Supreme Court of the land. There at
er long and patient hearing she has obtain Il
d her victory. The Court has unanimously y
leeided that Myra Clark Gaines is the only NJ
egitimate child of Daniel Clark, and that as 81
uch, she is entitled to all the property left by =
lin. Nor are the years and energies of the !
outrageous woman too far spent TO prevent .
Ter enjoyment of her vast wealth.