The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-10-15
The Gardiner Claim b Officially Decleisd
4 Fraud.

IiaIIvesappointed 10 Investigate the connec
tion Of Mr. Secretary Corwin with the Gar
diner claim, before tbe late Board Of Com
missioners under the Mexican Treaty, have
brought their labors 10 close, and on THEIRS
ltiay, The 7th inst, made unanimous reporl
by all the members Of the committee present
| in Washington city, viz: Hon. Preston Kinp
of New York; Hon. Volney 3. Howsrd, O
Texas; and Hon. Charles Chapman, Of Con.
necticut; the Hon J0hn 2. Goodrich, Of Mass
and the Hon. Andrew johnson, Of Tenn. be-
ing absent. This report they file with the
clerk OF the House Of Representatives, un'
der the resolution whiehsuthorized them tC
sit during the recess. They say .he inves:i-
gstion ordered presents two inquiries:
LIST. Wssthe caimof George A. Ganli-
ne., as allowed by the board ofscommission'
ers under the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo
meritorious or fraudulent. 4 ,is 9{
| 3D. What was the connection Of the Hon
Thomas Corwin, The present Secretary Of the
Treasury, with said claim. ff 's II aad
They then go on 10 give an absipctof the
testimony taken during the Investigation, the
substance Of which we have, in great part
heretofore published in one form or other
showing BY Mexican witnesses q. B. Barra-
gun and Pantslean CALVIN that Gardinef's
documentary evidence was forged. or thai
there was no silver mine ct Saguinillas, in
the State ofSan Luis Potosi, where Gardiner
alleged the one from which he was driven
was situated ~
Edward Wm. Johnson testifies that he was
the Secretary OF the board of commissioner
from July. l849, to April, 1851 that the Gar.
diner claim was regarded by The board will
some suspicious from the beginning. Thest
suspicions arose from rumors thatreached th,
board in regard 10 the case, as one eilhel
without merit originally, or founded on Sigh
merit, and grossly exaggerated. The proofs
and papers, and the explanations OF Dr. Gar
diner, ". re such that the board was satisfied
Snd allowed it.
George w. Slacum testifies that at the re.
quest OF Mr.. Letcher, the American Minis
Ter in Mexico. he proceeded to San Luis Po.
tosi TO investigate the case of Mr.. Gardiner
that he made due inquiry, and examined sew.
eral witnesses, became satisfied that there
was no such mine as Gardner SET out in hi.
claim, and reported the fact, accompanied BY
The testimony, 10 the G G,yernm4nt at Wash
| inglon
Waddy Thompson testifies that he wa.
acquainted with DR.. George A. Gardiner il
lh'' City of Mexico il 1912; that Gardner wa.
The chairman Of committee of American
citizens TO invite him (then U. S. Mnisiei
20 Mrxico) 10 public dinner. Gsrdipel
was then dentist and physician. 81 s.gci
/ Gardiner left The city Of Mexico in the fall
Iof l843, and he did no: sfe him again unit
he met him in the city Of Washington In De.
cember, l648, or January, lS49. DR.. Gur,li
ner then informed him that he had claim
growing out Of his expulsion from mines ii
Mexico; that he soon after called upon HIN
and submitted his papers. and employed hin
ds counsel. The wilnr IS says his connection
with the case was strictly and exclusivel,
professional, and confined to written instruc
lions given TO DR. Gardinpras as 10 the form
and character OF the TESTIMONY which h
should gel, (these instructions, dated Apri
30, l849. are appended TO the testimony, Il
led as exhibited No 10Y TO written argu
ments submitted to the board, &c. His fee
were to be ID per cent. Of the amount whicl
might be awarded. ,,, This witness employs,
Hon. THIS. Corwin, then Senator, and wa
to give him per cent. out Of the Is pe
cent, Witness, when Gdrdinerretsined him
rgreed to employ and pay any additions
counsel he, the witness. SHOULD dee m neces
sary. Witness fee, to wil--his 10 per cent
remaining-which he received, were S42.
$40. pss ~ tai BIS ldM
"He says he had frequent consultation
with Mr.. Corwin before he accepted be pres
ent office as Secretary, never afterwards. =
Once after Mr.. Corwin was appoilted Secre
tory he called TO consult. Nv. Corwin de
clined consultation, stating that he had clio,
ed his connection with The case. The frs
six de positions in the Gardiner case wer
presented to the board about the tire ii.
memorial was p esenfed, November 30, l9
49, )and were NIL the depositions in the cas
when it was declared valid by the board :
These depositions were taken subseoup MI
10 the instructions given to Gardiner by thi
witness. Mr.. Gown also gave Gardine
written instructions as TO the form and char
acler of the testimony required. DR.. Gar
diner went twice to Mexico for testimony
once in the summer Of 1919, and afterwu I'd
in March or April. 1892 - - =
The committee then announced the follow
ing important conclusions: nj seas
"From the evidence before the Commits
(lhe above being only summary OF the NOR
IimporIent facts testified to by the witness.
ns eoh'n.''ee a'' constrained 10 believe
| upon lne nrst brdncn' OF the investigation