The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-14
MYRA CLARK GAINES.

This pfuckieet Of ntigsnts, and q decided
ornament in many respects to her race and
sex, died at New Orleans ct 10 o'clock Fri.
day night. She always managed her own
lawsuits, and possessed q wonderful smoant
of grit and perseverance,, tact and superior
ability. She was eighty years of age, hsv-
ing been born in New Orleans in 1906.
Her father. Daniel Clark, was an Irishman.
He was born in Sligo, and emigrsted to New
Orleans, where he inherited some property,
and acted Is United States Consul there
when Louisiana was territory. He after
wards represented the territory in the United
States Congress. He died in New Orleans,
August 16, 1913, and his estate was disposed
OF under the provisions Of viii, which gave
the property to his mother, Mary
Clark, who had followed him to Amer.
lea, aud was living ut Germantown, Pa.
His business partners, Raif and Clew, were
the executors. Clark was reported bach
elor, but was known to have had q liaison
with young French woman during the abb
sence Of herreputed husband in Europe. Two
daughters were born Of this connection, one
in Philadelphia in April. 1902. the other,
Myrs, In New Orleans. The latter was taken
to the house Of Colonel Davis. friend of
Clsrk's, nursea by q Mrs. Harper, and in
1912 went with Davis family to resds In
Philadelphia, where she passed by the name
OF Myrs Davis. In 1880 Davis. being thsn
in the Legislature, sent home for certain
papers, and Myrs In searching for them dis
covered soneletsers which partially revealed
the circumstances of her birth.
In 1882 she married w. W. Whitney, of
New York, who in following up the dis
covery, received from Davis an old letter
which gave an account of a will made by
Daniel Clarke In 1918 Just before his death,
giving al his estate to Myra, and acknowl-
edging her ss his Legitimate daughter.
Whitney and his vita went to Mstsnzss,
Cuba, saw the writer OF the letter, and after
collecting other evidence instituted suit to
recover the estate, which included some Of
the most valuable property in New
Orleans On the trial Of ons Of
those cznses. Mrs Harper testified
that fenr weeks before his death, Clark
showed her the will be hsd iusr made In
l8ftL u @n1la5 DoAAAAltAlS LICK " ktao "
from beginning TO end, aud acknowledging
the child's legitimacy.
Baron Boisfontaine testified that Clark
told him the contents OF the will and &C
knowledged the child. On this and other
similar evidences the lost or destroyed will
was received by the Supreme Court Of Lou
isisns as the Last will Of David Clark. By
the law of Louisiana . testator can not
make devises TO his Legitimate offspring. II
was proved by two sisters of Myra's mother
that Clark privately married her in 1903. Q
Catholic priest officiating, she having pre-
viously learned that Des Oranges, her sup
posed husband, had prior wife living. and
wes therefore rot Legally her husband.
Clsrk's contemplated acknowledgment of
the marriage was said to have been frus-
trsted by suspicious of her fidelity, and de-
serted by hin she contracted third mar
riags. In another suit, another United States
=; prene Court decided that the fact Of the
marriage and the legitimacy was established.
Ms. Whitney survived her husband and
married General Gaines. and survived him
also. In 1856 she fled suit in the United
States Supreme Court to recover valuable