Evening star., 1945-09-30

j. 4 SSSsS M
Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines,
the NeW Orleans claimant.
Supreme Court deny her legitimacy,
only later to have 1t reverse itself and
sustain her contention upon the presen-
tation of additional and new evidence
that she was the rightful heir 10 the
immense fortune of Daniel Clark, q
native Of Ireland and . delegate In
Congress from the Territory Of Orleans
from 1906 to 1909.
In looking up this case the writer
found several different versions, all OF
which seemed to be colored to make
more attractive what was already good
reading.
Myra Clark Gaines left Washington
shortly after the tragic death of her
son and went to New Orleans to re-
side, and there she passed away on
January 8, 1885. It occurred to the
writer that reliable sketch Of this
remarkable woman would follow her
death, and II so 1t could be found in
one of the New Orleans newspapers.
And so the following sketch is taken
10, 1885:
The death of Mrs. Myra Clark
Gaines Is an important event In the
history Of this State and Of juris-
prudence.
She was born. according to the most
authentic records, In this city in 1906.
Whether her parentage was legitimate,
and her father was the celebrated DAN
iel Clark, have been problems upon
which all our State and Federal courts
have been assiduously employed for
half a century.
Various and conflicting have been
the decisions of courts on these Ques-
tons The State courts have uniformly
decided against her legitimacy as q
claimant of the large estate once owned
by Daniel Clark. The Supreme Court
OF the United States followed their
decision, and In 1881 decided that she
was not the offspring OF a legitimate
marriage of Daniel Clark, that II she
was his child there had been no proof
of marriage OF her mother to Clark,
no satisfactory showing Of any will
made by Clark in her favor.
Decision Reversed
This decision, however did not dis
concert the domitable and heroic little
lady. She continued TO prosecute her
case until she obtained \ majority Of
one OF this high tribunal, reversing its
former conclusions.
This judgment WAS rendered in 1851.
She then stood before the world vindi-
Gated as to her legitimacy by the highest
tribunal in our republic.
"Myra was raised by Capt Samuel B.
Davis, then living in Philadelphia. 70
Capt Davis she had been confded by
his old friend, Daniel Clark, to be
brought up as one OF his own, to be
kept in ignorance Of her real parentage.
capt. Davis faithfully fulfilled his
obligation and Myra grew up and de-
veloped into q beautiful and accom-
plished young lady. In full maturity
she reciprocated the passion of an
ardent and high spirited young gentle
man named William Wallace Whitney
and was affianced to him. Capt. Davis
did not approve the marriage and on
the eve of it revealed the fact that she
was not his daughter, but that her real
father, Daniel Clark, had placed her In
his charge to educate and train.
The young married people were
greatly excited by this intelligence and
the husband set out to work with great
ardor to inquire into the history and
ascertain the status of his spouse. The
first object Of their investigation was to
fix the maternity Of Myra. This was
easily done and Myra found that her
mother was a well-preserved matron,
happily married to a very respectable
gentleman; that she had two aunts who
we're familiar with all the incidents of
that mothers life.
Marie Zulime Carriere
The history of that mother and her
relation to Clark were of very interest
name and that of her two sisters was
Carriere-Marie Zulime her Christian
name They were great beauties in their
day; we're born in Biloxi when that was
an old French colony. There was a
strain of gypsy blood in their viens
There had been large immigrations of
that race to this ancient French colony.
The lovely features, the clear -cut physi-
ognomy, olive complexion, grace Of form
and movement and bright, glttering
eyes Of the Miles. Carrirere betrayed
this tinge. Moving to New Orleans, they
were eagerly sought and courted by the
gallant young cavaliers who then held
and directed the destinies of the city.
Zulime soon attracted the attention and
aroused the ardent admiration. of 4
thrifty and successful confectioner of
the city and became Nine. De Grange
at the early age OF Is.
"It was while assisting her husband
in his business that Nine De Grange
met Daniel Clark, dashing, high
spirited Irishman, who came to New
Orleans as representative Of a large
and wealthy firm in Philadelphia.
CLARK, greatly impressed by the
beauty of Zulime, formed intimate re-
lations with her and also with her hus-
band, whom he befriended in material
way, while to the wife he rendered the
tribute of devoted lover and admirer
This relation revealed the appalling fact
that De Grange was an imposter, that
he had been married several times and
that one, II not others of his wives was
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