Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-21

the following resume of the material facts connected
with this interesting case which were as follows:
Daniel Clark who was one of the early settlers in
the colony Of Louisiana. was a very remarkable
person. His sagacity, prudence, and business tact,
soon placed HIM at the head Of the monetary world,
while his beauty of person. popular character, and
agreeable manners afforded him similar position
in the social circle In 1902 he became acquainted
in Philadelphia with lady of extraordinary per-
sonal beauty, named Zulime Carriere. She was
born in the cid French colony Of Biloxi, and her
parents were emigrants from the land Of poetry
and romanee-Provence-t favorite home Of the
Troubadours. When Clark first met her, she had
been living in wedlock with a swindler named Je-
rome De Grange, who, having dazzled her with
Offering coronet married her. and then disclosed
the astounding facts that he was confectioner and
bigamist. Zuline appealed for protection to
Clark, who, being warm-hearted and chiyalrous, at
once espoused her cause, and after becoming con-
VInced that De Grange had another wife living,
espoused herself. The marriage was kept secret,
and in 1866, Myrs, now Mrs. Gaines was barn.
Being naturally desrious Of having her Connection
with Clark publicly acknowledged one, Zrlime
went to New Orleans to obtain legal proofs of her
first husband rascality. While she was gone, Clark,
who had growninto an influential politician, became
enamored of Miss Cation. grand daughter Of Charles
Carroll, with whom he contracted an engagement,
though when reports were brought to Miss Cation
alleging her lovers marriage to Zulime she stcnce
insisted upon release from the engagement, and
she subsequently, became the n ,rchioness Of Welles
ley.
In the meantime, Zulime had returned to Phila-
delphia, and sought to obtain proofs of her mar
rage with Clark, who had with singular treachery,
destroyed all that he could discover. Finding her
self he lpless in strange country and with child
dependent upon her, she was wholly at q loss what
to do, and in her desttution driven almost to des
pair, she accepted the hand of DR.. Gardette, who,
with kindness and generosity, 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. Zulime
lived for long time after that attained the age Of
seventy years, and died at New Orleans but few
years since.
Clark, whose business talent was proverbial,
smassed an immense fortune in Louisiana Missouri,
Kentucky, and Maryland, which he bequeathed by
will in 1913, to his mother, Mary Clark, naming
Beverly Chew and Richard Relf, bankers Of New
Orleans, as executors. Charges have been prefer
red against the executors of bad faith and misman
agement, but however that may be, Myra-then Mrs.
Whitney--having discovered at maturity that her
mother had been the wife Of the deceased million
are, with an impulse of honorable affection for
which she cannot be too highly praised, determined
to assert her right as the legitimate child and con-
sequent heiress, to the entire property.
That she met with opposition and with obstacles
of all sorts may well be imagined, but she battled
for her mothers honor, and evinced the most COM
mendabIe spirit and perseverance, in spite of most
fearful odds. Her husband died. but she remarked.
pnd in so doing enlisted powerful auxiliary in the
person of Gen. Gaines, who believed in her legiti-
macy, and aided her with all his might 1t would
be wearisome merely to index the various legal
struggles the attempted social ostracisms the trea-
cherries the sorrows, the hopes and fears experien-
ced by Mrs Gaines in this work of her lifetime.
She sued in numerous Courts, and with varied sue
cess, until her fortune was gone, her friends con-
ViReed of the uselessness OF further trial. and all
but her indomitabe spirit fed. She still strug-
ged on and as last resort brought the in Its
amplitude and its labyrinths Of legal technicaies
Ia the Supreme Court of the land. There, after
long and patient hearing she has obtained her victos
ry. The Court has unanimously decided that Myra
G. Gaines is the only legitimate child Of Daniel
Clark, and that, such, she is Untitled to all the
property left by hun. Nor are the years and ener>
yies Of the courageous too far spent 70 pre-
vent her enjoyment other vast wealth. Mrs. Gaines,
though now in her ftyffth year, is represented as
being an agreeable specimen Of what old people de-
light in calling ladies' Of the old school, She is
IN good health, and possesses an abundant flow Of
animal spirit, which have buoyed her up for over
thirty years under circumstances Of unusual try
ing nature.