THE FAMOUS CASE OF MYRA CLARK GAINES

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1946

The life-long litigation of Myra C. Gaines, and her attempt to establish her patrimony as a step to securing her father's fabulous estate in a presentation which shows monumental research, but is largely legalistic. (Harnett Kane will do a fictionization of this story on Doubleday's list this fall.) Myra, daughter of rich, eligible Daniel Clark and his New Orleans mistress, grew up in Baltimore as the daughter of Delaware hero, Col. Samuel Davis. Her career started when she eloped with a New York Whitney, and discovered she was heiress to her father's huge New Orleans holdings though his partners had destroyed the will. Myra started legal proceedings to prove the validity of her mother's marriage; she fought all her life, aided by Whitney, and after his death, by her second husband. She appeared before the Supreme Court eleven times until she finally won her case, but victory came at the outbreak of the Civil War and she herself was never able to collect her inheritance. For lawyers, followers of the profession.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1946

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Louisiana State Univ.

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1946

Categories: NONFICTION