Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-06
THE GAINES CASE.

F.. "'tb'LHt q -Atyu-tHC iOI August GOntdlu9
an article upon the great law suit Of Mrs.
Gen. Gaines, which was recently decided.
We quote the concluding paragraphs:
"The decision of 1860, wonld seem TO be
conclusive and final. 1t was 80 intended
to be. But Mrs. Gaines was still resisted,
once more, in 1868, her claims have been
confirmed. Her old friend Judge Wayne,
and her old-can we say opponent Judge
Catron, are off the bench. Judge Davis
spoke the opinion of himself, Justice Chase
and Associates Nelson, Clifford and Field,
while Judges Grier, Swayne and Miller
dissented.
"The decision-seventh mandate from
the Supreme Court Of the United States
is surely final. Opening it, Judge Davis
said:
at was supposed, after the decision in
Gaines agt. Hennen GA Howard), that the
litigation, pursued in one form or another
for over thirty years by the complainant,
to vindicate her rights in the estate of her
s5ather, WAS ended.
"And in conclusion, he asked:
"Can we not indulge the hope that the
right of Myra Clark Gaines in the estate
of her father, Daniel Clark, will not be
recognized ?"
"Such is the outline of the progress of
the Gaines case through thirty years
of law. The legal reader can turn to the
books, and study the reports at leisure.
Our sketch will be completed with brief
reference to the moving spirit Of the long
effort.
"Married in 1892, learning her true his
tory, though not fully, soon after, COM
mencipg her suits in 1884, Mrs. Whitney
was left amid the pestilence of New Or
leans, widow in 1886. The yellow fever
struck down her husband in a few hours.
She was alone, with three little children,
a slender fortune, few friends, in the midst
of actual enemies, for her bold claims had
produced the most bitter opposition. A
fearful duty stood before her.
Somewhat later she met Gen. Gaines.
He was warmly interested in her history
and he could not, doubtless, resist the win
| ming eloquence of her address, or her
piquant charms of person. They were
married; and thence till now the heroine
of the story is not Myra Davis, Myra
Clark, nor Myra Clark Whitney, but Myra
Clark Gaines.
"The laws delays were fearfully expen-
sive. The little fortune received at her
marriage soon melted-she had spent the
whole Of her husbands estate. She had
borrowed of every one who was bold enough
to listen to her persuasive voice, for she
talked the money out Of their pockets
Nobody could listen to her fifteen minutes
without sharing in her enthusiasm and per
feet conviction of ultimate success. She
had feed the ablest lawyers in the land
with princely retainers, when she had the
money; and she had more than once
pleaded her own case when money could
not be obtained. She knew the law perfect
ly. She had mastered details az we'll as
principles. She knew precedents, aud did
not stumble upon quibbles. Once, it is
said, she spoke two hours and a half to a
jury aud won her case.
"Once more with friend and partner in
her struggle, she fought forward. General
Gaines devoted his time and his fortune to
the work. For ten years the gallant old
General and his beautiful young wife
planned and executed their campaigns to-
gether. She had youth, FIRE and energy
he had wealth, position and 4 chiyalrons
devotion to her cause.
"Should you search over the files Of some
old newspapers, about 1871, you may find
men ton of the leCturing tour Of General
and Mrs. Gaines. They delivered in COM
pany 4 series of lectures, upon- subjects
which would seem TO be strangely dissimI-
lar. The General had new Plan of Ma
tional Defense; his wife descanted upon
the Horrors Of War. In Wilmington, they
thus jointly took up an evening in the old
Town Hall, appearing before large au-
dience, and deyoting the proceeds to re-
| build the burnOd St. Andrews Church.
"The General died in 1S49. Once more
alone, his widow has still fought the battle
with unwearied energy. The fortune left
| her has been long since exhausted. Thou
| sands upon thousands of dollars have been
| advanced to be repaid when she gained her
property. 1t is perfectly safe to say that
the expenditures in this suit have reached
into millions.
80 violent was the antagonism to her in
| New Orleans, that her life there has been
more than once endangered. Pistol shots
have been directed ut her, and once a bull
let passed through her bonnet.
"To-day Mrs. Gaines ia doubtless the
wealthiest woman in America. The true
value of the property adjudgcd to her can
not be accurately estimated 1t embraces
some of the most improved portions New
Orleans, dwellings, stores, warehouses,
public buildings. A schedule, fled in 1899,
shows a portion of the Clark estate, as well
as it could then be estimated. It's amount
as then estimated was over S5,000,0 ,00G.
'Is it not, then, truly most remark
able case -? Can ingenious fiction weave
more curious texture Of romance than this
story of real life?
pending the question, its heroine, at the
age of aixty-three is charming and still
beautiful woman, whose years seem moi
over forty. The incessant toll, the in
| Vulnerable trials, the terrible strain upon
brain, nerve and muscle, have been to hel
fountain of youth, whose fresh vitality may
| long give her enjoyment Of the fruits VOL
| in this lawsuit of lifetime"