The New York herald., 1868-04-08
The Great Gninen Caxe.

The Great Gaines Case.
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 deci-
sions were made upon appeals brought up from
the Louisiana courts touching the right and
title to vast amounts of real estate in New
Orleans and in the State of Louisiana, the con-
testants, including the city of New Orleans,
claiming said properties upon transfers resting
on will of Mrs. Gaines 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 touch
ing her Legitimacy as daughter of Daniel
Clark.
She first heard of this will accidentally, some
thirty odd years ago, from an eye witness of
its execution, her fathers best friend, at that
| time living ut Havana, and who had heard
| of her whereabouts, Mrs. Gaines was then,
we believe, the wife of Mr.. Whitney,
worthy and enterprising 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 pro-
ceeded to an investigation of her case; but
before she had unravelled its mysteries her
husband died, from the violence and persecu-
ton of her enemies and she, in the struggle for
existence, was left poor widow, with three
helpless children upon her hands,
In this extremity, though resolved to estab-
lish her good name and her rights as the one
great purpose of her life, she was shortly
brought to 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 Or
leans and volunteered his assistance. Such an
offer at that crisis, from such a man, was like
the veritable appearance of a good fairy. The
General was captivated by the fair widow
but, chivarous soldier he stated that con-
sidering the disparity in their ages he could
not presume 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 as the wife of
General Gaines, worth quarter of a mil
lion, she soon brought her case before the
courts His fortune was sunk i'm 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,
however, she still contrived to fight them from
court to court, frequently bafled, often penni-
less-but never dismayed-an indomitable little
woman, dispossessed, engaged in the unequal
contest of the law against the holders of twenty
millions of her property.
At length, in 1860, she gained decree from
the Supreme Court of the United States, es-
tablishing her claim as the legitimate heiress
| of her father and the validity of his will be-
| queathng her his estates. Then the war of
the rebellion interposed and cut off for five
years all further proceedings. At its close
claims of rightful possession by the city Of
| New Orleans and other parties of large
amounts Of her property, resting upon pre-
| vious WILL were brought into the local courts
and carried thence up to the Supreme Court
of the United States, where they were decided
in her favor on Monday last. Thus she be-
comes the wealthiest woman in the United
States, and still apparently not over sixty
years of age. Her case is one of the most
remarkable of its class on record her history,
embracing her successes and defeats, her
troubles and trials in connection with this
case, Is one of the strangest of romances She
has become, through her long experience,
learned lawyer in the most difficult branch of
the profession and is still one of the most charm
ing Of her SEX She has fought one OF the
most unequal and unpromising conflicts In all
the annals of litigation; she has achieved one
| of the completest and greatest victories, and
long may she live to enjoy It.
JEFF DAvIs.-NoT BAD IDEA.-It has
been rumored from Washington that JEFF Davis
(who, after reporting himself lately at Rich
mond and being released till the I'd Of May,
has sought again the exe's refuge Of the New
Dominion, has expressed the opinion that with
the removal of President Johnson, and the
promotion of ''Old Ben Wade to his place,
he, the aforesaid Davis, will report himself no
more at Richmond. His reason is said TO be
that the elevation Of Senator Wade TO the
White House in the manner proposed will be
unconstitutional, and that accordingly, as q
stickler for the constitution, he Davis cannot
give his consent to trial under Wades ad-
ministration. Very good. The constitution
will do, so that Master Davis, with ''Old Ben
Wade" in the place Of Johnson, may keep on
the aJrta side Of the Canadian line.