The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-11

New Orleans.
NEW OnLrAxs, January TO- Mrs. Myra
Clarke Gaines, whose litigation to establish
her claim to the ground on which the City
Of New Orleans stands, has engaged the at
tention of the courts for fifty years and
sunk many fortunes, died at the residence
of her friend, Mrs. Davis, last night. Her
mother, q beautiful Creole, was married to
brilliant young French officer named La
Grange, who had fed from France to this
city to escape tn, guillotine. She discover
ed that her husband already had wife,
and, Abandoning him, went to live with
Daniel Clarke, dashing young Irishman,
who afterwards vas Delegate to Congress.
1t was said that secret marriage lad been
performed between the beautiful Zulime
and Clarke; but he never introduced her
into the society he frequented, and she
lived secluded upon his plantation. After
time Myra was born. He persuaded the
mother to surrender her, and sent her to
Baltimore to live under the guardianship Of
his partner. subsequently,, when he was
threatened with bankruptcy, Clarke set
tied 100000 upon his daughter, and the
partner became the trustee of the money.
money so fast that he never recalled his
became possessed of most of the
property on which the city of New
Orleans now stands. Her father made no
further provision for his daughter in the
first will, but in one he made subsequently
he bequeathed her the whole of his estate.
Both documents were left by Clark in the
hands of his partner. After his death only
one of the wills was produced. An aged
negro man in Ciark's service declared that
he had seen this partner open Clark's Sec
rotary after his death, and take from it a
sealed document, which he Immediately
burned on the hearth. This was believed
to be the last will and testament of Daniel
Clark, which gave. to his daughter Myra
the whole of his immense property, which
would at once have been secured To her had
the will remained in existence. 1t will be
clearly seen how much it was to the man S
advantage to suppress this will and pro-
duce the first one. Thus he gained control
of the vast estate, which he sold from time
to time, chiefly to the city of New Orleans.
Years afterwards this partner was informed
that Myra had declared in open court her
belief that she could prove that her father
had made later will, which was destroyed
by an interested party. "Good God! did
she say that?" he exclaimed, and throwing
up his hands fell dead from apoplexy.
During his guardianship the partner had
carefully concealed her fortune from his
ward, and secluded her from society and
gave her but a limited education. 10 SO
great an extent did the rgors of his disci-
pine go, with view of retaining control
over her and her fortune, that when her
hand was sought In marriage by William
Whitney, the son of wealthy Philadel-
phian, he few into rage, but finally re-
luctantly gave his consent. With his aid
she commenced proceedings to establish
her mothers marriage to Clarke, and her
own heirship to his vast estate. While the
litigation was in progress Whitney died,
and she subsequently married Gen.
Gaines, the hero of Fort Erie. She fought
her case to the United States Supreme
Court, where she won decision
in her favor.
To secure the property she had to COM
mence ejectment proceedings against each
of the thousand tenants occupying the
land. Then the question of the marriage
was brought up again, and the United
States Supreme Court reversed its former
decision and non-suited her. She then
commenced suit under the second will,
Clarkes partner is supposed to have de-
stroyed. The United States Supreme
Court ordered the will probated, but just
as she was about to enter upon her posses
sions the fruit of her victory was snatched
from her by the outbreak of the Rebellion.
Since that time the litigation has been go
ing on in countless shapes.
Mrs. Gaines was a delicate looking
woman, with brilliant eyes, viyacious man.
ners, and witty and eloquent talker. She
was once arked what she would do with her
property when she gained it, and replied:
s'Sir, / have ever striven to pursue the
path of duty. aud to quote the words Of
nay noble hearted husband, the General,
the path of duty is ever the path of honor,
safety, and glory. When | get possession
of my estate, my path will be more than
ever crowded with duties, and to the dis
charge of these, especially my duty to the
poor people who purchased my land in
good faith, / will devote myself and my
means"
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