Daily globe., 1883-07-29

mains, and commissions must be appojn-
ted to seize and appropriate revenues of
New Orleans, and apply them to the liqui-
datlon of the Judgment If the city re-
sists by open force, it inaugurates an in
surrection against the government, and
the whole military power of the govern
ment must be called out to enforce the de-
crees of the court.
Is New Orleans prepared to go to this
extremity? If the government hesitates
to do its duty, and its whole duty in this
case, then we are all at sea, and the peo-
pie have no governmental protection for
their rights.
In the light of these remarks, the follow
ing narrative can but be read with the
deepest interest. The controversy of
Mrs. Gaines goes beyond mere personal
interests, and assumes proportions involv-
ing national policy, and duty. A Wash
ington letter, makes the following state
ment:
1 see Myra Clark Gaines received last week
another decision from the United States court
compelling New Orleans to levy a tax of 81, ,000,-
600 to satisfy her last judgment, and that the
city council say they will go to jail before they
will obey it. For the last fifty-eight years this
indomitable woman has fought for her rights in
the courts of the United States. Her case is
one of the most remarkable on record. 1t in
wolves the title to millions of dollars of prop
erty in New Orleans, and it will probably not
be finally settled as long as the city can legally
fight against it. 1t is now eighty-two years
since Daniel Clark, handsome polished young
man who had been for some years leading the
60 o.Nf,, T,11
Philadelphia to spend the winter. Clark was a
gay fellow and he took in all the pleasures of
the then metropolis of America. In his rounds
he met French beauty, and fell in love with
her. This woman's name was Zulime Carrier,
and at the time she was living with French
man named La Grange, Clark met her.
Whether she was married to La Grange
or not is one of the points in
question. The defendants claim she
was his legal wife. At any rate when Clark met
her In 1876 she left La Grange and went to live
with Clark. The supreme court of the United
States has declared that she was privately mar
ried to Clark and that she was merely La
Graage's mistress.
In 1906, seventy years ago, Myra Clark
was born. She was the only child Zulime Car
rier had by Daniel Clark.
At this time Clark sent Zulime to New Orleans
and acted as bachelor. He engaged himself in
marriage and formed other connections pro-
ducing other offspring. He denied the fact
thathe had married Zulime, and when she came
back and pushed the case in the Philadelphia
court, she was unable to succeed. She finally
took up with DR.. Gardette and lived with him
until he died.
But while Clark would have nothing to do
with the mother he took good care of the child.
Myra Clark was well educated by him and was
treated by him as a daughter. He went again
into Indian trading at New Orleans and amassed
an immense fortune. In 1913, just seventy
years ago, he died, and a will was produced
showing that all of his property was left to his
mother and the city of New Orleans. Myra
Clark, then only seven years old, was apparent
ly penniless and the executors took charge of
the estate.
When Myra grew to the age of twenty she
| married Mr.. Whitney, and then she began to
contest the will. She claimed that she was the
only Legitimate daughter of Daniel Clark, and
| that his property was hers. The claim was at
| once hotly contested, and Mr. Whitney died be-
fore 1T was tried.
The widow continued to prosecute the suit
Shortly afterwards he married General Gaines,
and he entered into the case as warmly as her
self. The case was tried at New Orleans. 1t
| was lost, 1t was carried to the Supreme Court
at Washington. 1t was again lost. In 1852 it
seemed hopeless fight, and at this time Gener-
al Gaines died.
But Myra Clark Gaines was not discouraged,
and shortly after this time she discovered will
executed by her father certifying that Myra was
his only child and creating her his sole heir
Upon this will she again went before the courts
in New Orleans. She again lost. She again
| appealed to the Supreme Court at Washington,
and here, in 1861, she obtained judgment con-
ti1ming this will and giving her the whole prop
erty left her by her father and the rents thereof
for the past thirty years. Then the war broke
out, and justice was again delayed. Since then
she has, think, received something from the
city, but nothing in comparison with her rights.
She is now seVenty-seVen years of age and will
be perhaps the richest woman in the United
States if she ever comes into the property for
which she has SO pluckily fought for lifetime