The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-05-01
The Gaines Lawsuit.


We gave last week brief abstract Of the
decision by the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States Of the suit Of Mrs. Gen. Gaines
for the recovery of the estate of her father.
devised to her by will. with which the pub
lie has been familiar for long time. The
validity of the will was sustained by FIVE
out Of the eight Judges, aad comprehends
all the possible features Of the case, and is
Gnal legal conclusion OF the matter, to be
followed, Of course, by the necessary de-
crees and precepts to place the courageous
old lady in possession of the vast estate in
question. The story of her thirty-six years
Of legal warfare, with the previous Incl
dents of her life and family, is a romance
stranger than fiction, and under skillful
hands could be woven into a work ofthrll-
ing interest. The wealth, influence and in
trigue, she has at length successfully com
batted in maintaining her rights, and the
disappointment she has survived under IN
falling spirits, prove her to be woman of
remarkable powers. for though she has
spent one or more large fortunes in employ
ing eminent legal talent, il is stated as a
fact that she has mastered thoroughly the
law of the complicated case, and has been
for many years the real conductor of the in
tricate business. The general public is
gratifed at her triumph founded as it is in
justice and achieved after so much toll and
trouble.
The property she obtains is very large,
nearly all Of it being in Louisiana and the
city of New Orleans. It consists of i'm
mense cotton and sugar plantations on the
Mississippi river and its tributaries and
connecting bayous, city lots improved and
unimproyed, and realzabls debts for large
amounts. The total value is estimated at
six or seven millions under the inventory
accompanying the papers that have just re-
ceived the sanction of the court of last re-
sort.
Mrs. Gaines is the daughter Of Daniel
Clark and Zulima Carriere, and is about
sixty -four years of age. Mr.. Clark. her ia
Their, was born in Sligo, Ireland, and came
to this covptry on the invitation of rich
To the great wealth left him he added great
er wealth, and golden tide flowed into his
Golfers. Disagreements arose between Mr..
and Mrs. Clark, aud in 8O7 they sepera-
ted. No public acknowledgement Of he:
marriage was ever made, and Mrs. Clark
| again married. In 1881 Daniel CLARK
made a will, wherein he recognized the le-
! gitimacy CT Myra, and devised to her his
immense property. Yet ofthis his daugh-
ter was kept IN ignorance. She was rear
ed by Mr. Davis, and knew nothing Of
her parents or her rights. In 1882 she
married VIM. w. Whitney. In examining
some old papers, by mere accident he OBJ
tanned an intimation of his wifes parent
age and claims.
She forthwith proceeded to an inVestiga-
ton of her case but before she had unrav-
eled its mysteries her husband died, from
the violence and the persecution of her en-
emies and she, in the struggle for exist
ence, was left poor widow, with three
helpless children upon her hands.
In this extremity, though resolved to es.
tablish her rights and her good name as the
one great purpose of her life, she was
shortly brought to the verge of despair.
when Major Gen. Games, of the United
States army, learning of her story and he1
distress, and believing in the justice of heI
cause, sought her out in her humble lodg
iugs at New Orleans and volunteered his
assistance. Such an offer at that crisis
from such man, was like the Veritable ap,
pearance ola good fairy. The General was
captivated by the fair widow but, chiv,
alrous soldier, he stated that considering
the disparity in their ages he could no
presume to talk of marriage. He would
leave her perfectly free upon that point
but in any event she might count upon hi
rervices in her cause. The young widow
accepted the offer and the man, aud as tht
wife Of General Gaines. worth a quarter 0
million, she soon brought her case befor
The courts. 10 the courCe of time the gal
LIANT old General died also, but not so di,
the pluck and persisteney of the offsPrinl
of the Celt and the Creole. It knew n
such word as fail, and now at green an
hale old age, she is the wealthiest woman
on the continent Union G Dispatch.
DANGERS OF BENzINE.-The Boston Jour
nal Of Chemistry cautions its lady reader
, against bringing the liquid called BENIN
| IL IL