The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-19
A Life Suit.
THE ROMANTIC FEATURES IN THE CASE OF MRS.
GAINES.
From the New York Herald


On Monday last the Supreme Court Of the
United States. in three decisions In her FAVOR,
finally settled the great and remarkable case OF
Mrs. General Gaines. These three decisions we're
made upon sppealsibroughtupf from the Louisiana
courts touching the right and title vast amounts
of real estate in New Orleans and in the State Of
Louisiana, the contestants. including the city OF
New Orleans, claiming said properties upon trans
fers resting on Will OF Mrs. Gaines's father,
Daniel Clark, made anterior to that bequeathing
her all his estates. But she had more serious
battle to fight in the outset, upon questions raised
by the holders of the property as to the fact Of
the will upon which she based her claim, and
touching her legitimacy as daughter Of Daniel
Clark.
thirty odd years ago, from an eye witness of its
execution her fathers best friend, at that time
living at Havana, and who had heard OF her
whereabouts. Mrs. Gaines was then, we believe,
the wife of Mr.. Whitney, worthy and enter
prising man. and the news to her was complete
surprise; for her father had died when she was
child in years and her guardians had kept her in
total ignorance on the subject. She forthwith
proceeded TO an investigation OF her case oat
before she had unraveled its mysteries her hus-
band died, from the violence aud persecution OF
her enemies and she, in the struggle for exist
tence, was left poor widow, with three helpless
| children upon her hands.
| In this extremity, though resolved to establish
! her good name and her rights as the one great
purpose Of her life, she was shortly brought 10
| The verge of despair, when Major General Gaines,
of the United states army, learning OF her story
and her distress, and believing IN the justice OF
her cause, sought her out in her humble lodgings
| at New Orleans, and volunteered his assistance
Such an offer at that crisis, from such man. was
| like the veritsble appearance OF good fairy
| The general was captivated by the fair widow ;
but chvalrous soldier, he stated that consider
ing the disparity in their ages he could not pre-
| sumo TO talk of marriage. He would leave her
perfectly free upon that point. but IN any event
| she might count upon his services IN her cause
The young widow accepted the offer and the
man, and the widow of Gen. Gaines, worth q
j quarter OF million, she soon brought her case
| before the courts. His fortune was sune IN the
! litigation, and she, in the lapse of years, again
was left widow without the means needed to
| cope with the powerful league of her wealthy ad-
versaries. Upon the strength Of her cause. how
ever she still contrived to get them from court TO
court, frequently baflied, often penniless-out
| never dismayed-an ndomitable little woman, dis
| possessed, engaged in the unequal contest OF the
| law against the holders of twenty millions of her
| property.
At length in 1850, she gained a decree from
the Supreme Court of the United States, estab
fishing her claim as the legitimate heiress OF hei
father aud the validity OF his will Dequeathng hel
| his estates. Then the war of the rebellion inter
| posed and cut off for five years all further pro
| ceedings. At its close claims of rightful pos
session by the city of New Orleans and othei
parties of large amounts of her property, resting
upon previous will, were brought into the loca
courts and carried thence up to the Supreme
| Court of the United States, which decided In bel
favor on Monday last.
Thus she becomes the weathiest woman in the
United States, and still apparently not over sixty
years of age. Her case is one of the most re
| markabe of its class on record; her history, EN-
bracing her successes and defeats, hel troubles
and trials in connection with this case, is one o.
the strangest Of romances. She has become
through her long experience, a learned lawyer il
the most difficult branch OF the profession. and i
still one of the most charming of her sex. Sh'
has fought one of the most unequal and unprom
ising conflicts in the annals of litigation. she ha
has achieved one Of the most complete anC
greatest victories, and long may she live t
| enjoy it.