The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-03-26
THE VICTORY OF MRS. GAINES.

THE VICTORY OF MRS GAINES.
The annals of litigation furnish no more inter
esting or peculiar case than that of Mrs. Myra
Clark Gaines, which has for many years occupied
q prominent position before 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 soon
placed him at the head of its monetary world,
while his popular character and agreeable man.
ners afforded him similar position in the social
circle. In 1902 he became acquainted in Phila-
delphia with lady of extraordinary personal
beauty, named Zulme Carriere. She was born in
the old French colony Of Biloxi, and her parents
were emigrants from Provence. When Clark first
met her, she had been living in wedlock with a
swindler named Jerome De Grange, who, having
dazzled her with glittering coronet married her,
and then disclosed the astounding fact that he
was confectioner and bigamist. Zulime ap-
pealed for protection to Clark, who, being warm
hearted and chivalrous, at once espoused her
cause, and after being convinced that De Grange
had another wife living, espoused her himself.
The marriage was kept secret and in 1906, Myra,
Mrs. Gaines, was born. BEING naturally
DESTROYS of having her connection with Clark
publicly acknowledged one, Zulime went to New
Orleans to obtain legal proofs of her first hus-
bands rascalty. While she was gone, Clark, who
had become an influential politician, became ena-
mored of Miss Cation, granddaughter of Chas.
Carroll, with whom he contracted an engagement
but when reports were brought to Miss Cation
alleging her lovers marriage to Zulime, she at
once insisted upon release from the engagement,
and she subsequently became the Marchoness of
Wellesley.
Tn the meantime, Zulime bad returned to Phil
adelphia, and sought to obtain proofs of her
riage with Clark, who had, with singular treachery
destroyed all that he could discover Finding
herself helpless, IN a strange country, and with
child dependent upon her, she was wholly at a
loss what to do, and in her restitution, driven
almost to despair, she accepted the hand of DIR
Gardctte, who united his fortune with hers.
Clark, in the meantime, had become penitent, 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 most literally educated. Zu.ime
lived for long time after that, attained the age of
rs years, and died at New Orleans but few years
since.
Clark, whose business talent was proverbial,
amassed immense fortune in Louisiana, Mis-
souri,, Kentucky and Maryland, which he be-
-9ueathed by will, in 1918, to his mother, Mary
Clark, naming Beverly Chew and Richard Relf,
bankers of New Orleans, as executors. Charges
have been preferred against the executors of bad
faith and mismanagement, but however that may
be, Myra-then Mrs. Whitney-having dis
covered at maturity that her mother had been the
wife of the deceased millionaire, with an impulse
of honorable affection for which she cannot be too
highly praised, determined to assert her right, as
the legitimate child and consequent heiress to the
entire property.
That she met with opposition and with obsta-
cles of all sorts may well be imagined, but she
.battled for her rights against the most fearful
odds. Her husband died, but she REMARKED and
in so doing enlisted a powerful auxiery in the
person of Gen. Gaines, who believed in her legiti-
macy and aided her with all his might. II would
be wearisome merely to index the various legal
struggles, the attempted social ostracisms the
treacheries, experienced by Mrs. Gaines in this
work of her lifetime She sued in numerous
courts, and with varied success, until her fortune
gone, her friends convinced of the uselessness
of further trial, and all but her own indomitable
spirit fed. She still struggled on, and, as last
resort, brought the case in its amplitude and its
lahyrinths Of legal technicalities to the Supreme
Court of the land There, after long and
patient hearing, she has obtained her victory.
The Court has unanimously decided that Myra
Clark Games is the only legitimate child of
Daniel Clark, and that as such, she is entitled to
all the property left by him. Nor are the years
and energies of the courageous woman too far
spent to prevent her enjoyment of her vast
wealth.