The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-22
Singular History Of Parental In
discretion and Cupidity.
TOO MUCH MARRIED.
Judge Billings Decision-Thirty Millions
Of Property Recovered.
Precedent That Will Affect Hundreds
Of Estates.


Gaines on Monday last, calls up food Of romantic
Incidents such as even suits reveal II por-
trays The life OF woman devoted first to the establish
ment OF her legitimacy then the reclamation Of vast
fortune which had been by various devices withheld
from her For nearly hall a century has she
fought against the Universities and vicissitudes
OF a htigant Sometimes suffering from be-
reavcment deserted by friends, misled by grasping
attorneys lett to plead her own cause in the
presence OF the abcst lawyers OF Louisiana before
cnptous and preudiced judge she has ceased to
for those rights OF birth and estate 10 which
sho laid clam. The dust OF years has accumulated
upon the volumes Of evidence 10 support her claim,
she has grown gray protesting against tho mis-
carriage justice, VIII ch placed others in possession
oil her property finally she has achieved grand tr
umph placing within her reach upward OF $4,000 600
worth Of property and opening an avenue ior COM
pee revolution in the law OF entail and tho disposition
OF hundreds OF estates native Stae for II wib
remembered that upon almost the precise allegations
made by Mis-. Games depend the possession OF enor-
nous wealth, when has been brought INTO question by
The peculiar relationship formerly held between plant
crs and their female servants. In this respect
resume OF this celebrated will be read with inter-
est by HERALD readers who remember the melting,
iinpassioned addresses OF Mrs. Gaines during tho
curly years of trial. while presenting to the pres
cnt generation the attractive features Of most m-
portant decision.
QUESTION OF MRS. GAINES LEGITIMACY.
Daniel Clark father OF Mrs. Games, was proud,
chvalrous lrshman Previous TO the war OF 1sl4 he
achieved handsome fortune. most OF which was spent
in purchasing valuable real the Crescent City.
Al that time New Orleans gradually becoming the
ideal residence of wealthy slave OF
AFFAIRS For thirty years the city continued TO grow In
population AMI influence and the value OF real estate
pcnd wit O
Dcspau Daniel Clark married to Zune Carriere,
In the city of Philadelphia IN 1908. The ceremony
was performed by Catholic priest. One child
born OF this marriage, towit, Myra
Clark, Mrs. Games. But Nine. Despair
was fatty contradcted, when 1s4s, the cx-
ecutors OF Myras grandmother Mary Clark, undertook
TO prove her right dispose OF the property at public
Gale otherwise. 1t alleged that Zuiinc had mar
ried De Grange; that this marriage was not an
nullcd because Zuline failed to convict De Grange OF
bgamy 1u reply to this however, Nine. Caillcret,
Zuines sister, stated that when IT became known
DO Grange had committed bigamy in marrying Zune,
aud the marriage rendered VOID thereby. Clark made
proposals OF wedlock TO Zuline; but the latter
deferred her acce ptance until after the fullest
proofs OF Dc Oranges bgamy could DO procured. 1t
hat the record OF his marriage was ina
Catholic church New York city, and said Nine. Call
lcret Myself Zuine and Nine. Despair started North
TO that city Clark arrived later. We heard that q
Mr. Gardettc, then living in Philadelphia, was one of
the witnesses to De Oranges PRIOR marriage. We
proceeded 10 that CITY and found Gardcte. lie told
he present ut Do Oranges marriage ana that
he aitcrward knew De Grange and his wife; that
wife had sailed for France Mr.. Clark then said to
Zuilne, you any longer refuse being
married 10 me. 1t WILL however, be necessary to keep
our marriage till have obtained judciai proof
OF the nuility OF your and Dc Oranges marriage
Clark and Zunne were then married." De
Grange imprisoned on charge OF bigamy,
subsequently, escaped from jail and fed the country.
not denied that at the time Of his arrest he
had another vile living beside Zune; at the same
tine h. had neither convicted OF bigamy nor
separated by any judicial process from either Of his
wives.
SECRET MARRIAGE BELIEVED.
What tended still more to complicaie matters was
the assertion that Caroline, the WHO OF Mr. Barnes
the only legitimate child Of Daniel Clark This
statement was made by three witnesses, Coke, Huling
and De Ia Croix Mr.. Justice Wayne, OF the United
States Supreme Court December 1877 dismissed this
question OF another heiress very summariy He infer
red that she vas, fact, the child OF De Grange Said
he. the .wtnesses speak OF extraordinary affection
manifested by Mr. Clark Tor his child (Myra) daily
visits. his parental and endearlng londness his costly
presents and manifested PRIDE IN her time developed
Myra Clark. of course all this Is not inconsistent
with what men OF generous temper should do to
pair much they In such their indis-
crction 10 the birth Of child But when
. parent does II, with subsequent declnra-
lions made over and over again TO several
persons OF childs legitimacy, they may well be
snited to the latter 10 remove the objection that
Mr. Clark had mentioned hts marriage with Zulinc
at the time he gave Colonel and Mrs DAVIS Instructions
10 provide for the birih Of the child. Besides up to
that time he had mentioned his marriage no one.
Nine nespau, himself, his wife and her SISTER only
knc~ the secret, and his influence over them really
made II his own until they they could speak Tree. from
thc npprchcnsions excited lnem by his
Injunction that the marriage DO
disclosed until the dc Grange marriage had
been Judciny annucd. All tins occurred In 1903,
lust before the close OF the spanish government
Louisiana. Clark OF no ordinary character.
HIS natural niness 10 control those about hun became
habitual. aud his wealth and influence ncroascd
was exercised and involuntary yielded TO ny all who
associated who we're business with HIM
Ho was n man OF high qualities, but Of no
rigor OF virtue or, scil.contfOL Energetic, ca
terprisine, COURAGEOUS, eiee,ionate aud Generous.
no modification untiI sense 81 justice subducd II IN
behalf Of his child. As 10 Mrs. ciaiks subsequent
cont ection with Gardette while she was the we OF
Mr. Clarke, considering II alone, or with those
sous which have been urged against the marriage,
conclusion is that, incxcusabe as her conduct WAS,
there IS not enough to make her marriage with Clark
doubtful DESCRIBING altogether from our considera-
tlon the irritation and i'm positions To witch this e
male fZniine) had been subjected from her girnood
and her we'll founded Tears of the fidelity OF
Mr. Clark, and admitting she was very deficient
In her IDEA OF tho sacredness OF marriage however,
II may expose virtue and her affection Tor her
ful husband to conclusions against botb, We do
deem Il TO be Iact strong enough To set aside
the testimony OF witness who swears positively
10 her marriage with Mr. Clark and all the corrobora
ing proofs OF that fact In the case. IL will RAISE a
curious suspicion against the marriage this most
curious aud gnal chapter OIL domestic HE not easily
removed iron the minds Of those VINO indulge H. But
we cannot permit IL 10 prevail over tho legitimacy OF
i'd established II has been IN conformity with
those rules oil evidence which long experience and the
y lsdom Of those who gone before US In courts OF
have deemed tho best to ascertain IN cages OF
1uuu the affinity aud blood relationship Of social ic"
DESTROYING WILL.
Accounting then the complete Legitimacy OF Mrs.
paincs We next come 10 the disposition oi tho Clark
property when gave rise TO the suit VINO. hss Just
,ccn finally decided. 1t Is stated that IN 1911 Clark
made will making his mother, Mary, universal lcg'-
i'"-e = charge OF the