The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-05-17
The Battle and Victory of Mrs. Gains

HtllllcIouS pdIlltS' 1uCluuillS tHt Cit! "
New Orleans, to obtain possession of
property claimed under a will made by
her father, Daniel Clark. Her history is
one of romantic interest. Her father,
Daniel Clark, native Of Ireland emf
grated to New Orleans, where in 1890 he
inherited large estate of his uncle. He
died in 1873 after making a will be-
queathing his property to his mother.
While in New Orleans Clark was report
ed bachelor, but was known to have
had Hais0n with a woman, as a result
of which two daughters We're born, one
Of whom, (MyraD Mrs. General Gains still
survives. Subsequent to the settlement
of the estate under the will mentioned,
Mvra, who having been brought up in
the family of Colonel Davis a friend OF
Clark's, was Ignorant of her relationship
to Clark until the fact was accidentally
discovered while looking over some old
papers in the possession Of Colonel Davis.
In 1882 she married Mr.. Whitney, and
then began the preparations for the suit
to establish her legitimacy and obtain
possession of the property Of her father,
contest which in very many regards is
the most celebrated in American law re-
ports. A Drawer woman never lived. Her
first husband entered enthusiastically in
to all of her plans to remove all doubts
as to her legitimacy, and General Gains,
her second husband, was equally deter
mined to achieve success in the same di-
rection. For ten years the gallant old gen
tleman contributed largely Of his means
to carry forward the prosecution, and
since his death the widow, now ~ years
Of age, has fought the battle single hand
ed against terrible odds. The case was
taken to the Supreme Court of the United
States in 1859. Mrs. Gains always APP
peared in Washington to sllperintend her
interest, and in 1867 she achieved tri-
umph which substantially ended the
case. 1t became necessary, however, for
a rehearing in New Orleans. and :. on
Monday says the New Orleans Times,
" Judge Billings, of the United States
District Court, rendered Il lengthy de
cision in the case of Myra Clark Gains
VS.. the city Of New Orleans and others,
in which the court sustains the claims OF
the plaintiff and recognizes the probate
of the will of Daniel Clark. of 1913 The
decree of the court commands the de-
PENDANTS to account to Il master in chan
cherry for all the income from this proper
ty during their long possession. They are
ousted from their titles and from all the
accumulation theretrom. This decision
involves also heavy claims against the
city, which has sold Il large amount OF
the property in question with a full Wal
ranty OF title"
The value Of the property claimed W;ls
estimated in 1861 at $50, 600 900, of which
up to 1864, Mrs. Gains had received So,
O00,0O 1t is safe 10 say that OF all The
women in the world there are not dozel
who would have held on to their right,
with the tenacity that has distinguished
Mrs. Gans's career, and it is fair to as
sumo that she has believed that IL goot
name was better than great riches, ant
has fought harder to establish her legiti-
macy and the good name of her mother
than for the wealth which has at last
fallen into her possession.
On the 18th of February last there was
mailed at Philadelphia a large envelope
intended for the editor of this paper, but
which, 10y a slip of the pen of the writer
was addressed to "Beltast, Louisiana.
Last Monday this cpistle came to Ii
through the mail, bearing numerous post
marks and the evidences of long an(
weary travel. 1t had been sent to the
dead letter office, and there opened. A.
there was something to show that it was
intended for the editor of a paper called
the Journal, at Belfast, there must have
been careful inquiry about all the Bel
fasts in the post office register, until the
right one was found. Then the original
letter and envelope were carefully put il
a new and clean wrapper, and sent in tbs
right direction. If thus recOncillnU the
errors regarding the extremes OF the Tn
ion is a part Of our new Presidents pol
icy, it certainly seems to be working we'll
Sometimes it's well enough to see our
selves as foreigners see us, and this is the
way the political situation here looks to
the London Pail Mall Gazette: "The dis
appearance of the negro question makes
it certain that the South will in few
wears be broken I'D into sections upon