The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-05-14
ut P"n:onvile: Maur,i Oh tn. Duke d Wei
!ngton.
Correspondence Of the Caiedonian.
FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsHINGrON, May 9, IS:

The Gardiner trial is attracting a ercat
deal OF attention Al the present time iii the
city Hardly man doubts but DR.. Geo 4.
Gardiner is guilty of fraud upon the Gov
ernment; but the general impression is that
he will not be convicted that there is SO
much money at stake-thc fraud IS 50 mag
is surrounded by so many
prominent men interested in his being cleared
that he cannot be convicted no matter how
strong the testimony brought to bear against
him.
The charge against Dr. Gardiner upon
which he is now tried is that of false swearing
In 1919 4 commission was appointed, called
the Mexican commission. to settle all claims
for losses sustained during the Mexican war
on account Of breaking up in business BY be-
ing expelled from tie country or coniiscation
and destruction OF property by the enemy
DR., g. preferred 4 claim before the commits
sion inr losses sustained in beng compelled
10 leave TIE country, and the destruction Of
property, while engaged in working mines in
which he had invested $500, 900, and which
were yielding him al the time of his eXpul-
sion some 100000 per month Inc Mexican
commission awarded Gardiner Sl2S,"o0.
1t has been proved by witnesses and locu-
ments that he never owned nine had no
interest III mine in the county III which
he located his mine and further. that there
was no mine in the county for anybody TO
own: that the title deed to the mine and the
mining papers were all forged through the
aid of Mexican officials who We're Interested
in tie claim.
Last week there were read to the court Nv
the District Attorney some papers and letters
identified as in the handwriting OF John
tIarl1S GuuGi,.er. brother Of DR.. Geo. y.
Gardiner. written BY him to Don Manuel
Nrra>tcgu formerly project Of h'o !'rt',
the county in which DR.. G.. locates his minrs.
Ncra>tcru assisted Gardiner IN forging the
paprrs upon which he got his claim. and was
to receive one fourth of the award allowed
He never received the promised >har" though
4 portion of it was pat in the hands OF a mcn-
Der of the Mexican legation in this cry 10
give to i!lm.
When the commission sent ont 10y tn" Sen
ate to investigate the validity o. Gardiner :
yIA;m were in MrNiro. Ncra>tcgui, through
fear Of his own Government upon whom the
United States miaht MAKE demand for hi
delivery up, and because Ar had never rc-
criycl an, thing Tor his services in torginG
rapcr>. e.. TO AID IN obtaining the reward
from the l. =. Government, exposed certain
icttr.> which gave c,uc 10 the fraud These
letters were written in 1871 to Ncra>tcgul
by John e. Gardner. about the time the y
cents OF Tie Government were IN Mexico IN
ycsti.aiin. tie matter, and written for t'c
purpose Of urging upon Nrra>tr-m to assist
him NGar,iinrr) III every way in his power
by tor.in- papers. &C., to cover W the fraud
and ha.liu.: TIE Efforts q t." commissioner
to discover i;
The contents # tn" letters written hy one
rollc,lrr.'r IN a crime to another, and lntrn
led to h.. >tlictlv couti.!rnta', exhibit con
c,usiyrly the guilt Of Gardiner. II one OF
the letters J. &. Gardiner ur.-c> \rra~t"~u
. to have rauIo a very wealthy man an! in
, t"rc~trd in the traud) to write to the M"Ni"ar
} Mint, and request the Director OF the Min
, to have put to Or. GARDENERS credit the sl
r yer that he (Pauln) deposited in such year
r saving that this would be very excellent II
: another letter referring 10 the same siIbicc
2 he saws the silver that Paudo sent to the Min
2 was deposited in ~; bat yourt Vrra>tegui'~
; receipt ofdcposit of silver by my brother va
=. in '46. know positively that the Agent Of
{ the Government will inquire at the Mint Ct,
: see whether DR.. Gardiner deposited si!yc
n thrrc) and do not know how to remedy thu
i discrepancy. In another place he speaks OF
= The necessity OF forging papers for deposit il
: the Alcalde's "ilirc at i.aGuilas, In anothr
r place he SAYS: The affair that is the attemp
to cover up tn" traud) will 20 well if all b
d done with qlickncSs and tact; but one falls
J. step will send us all rolling TO the deepest a
h hvsses of he'll Firmness and courage, tw'
t qualities which Won possess and we will Iaugl
Il at the world
n These letters conclusive of the cuilt Of
i Gardiner, are not admitted in evidence a
< gainst him. The counsel for the defense op
$ posed their publication, and one or two pa
Il pers refused point blank to publish them
l. The general impression is that editors, lette
s. writer's and all are bought up by Gardiner
r and every one is saying that the fraud is to-
If magnificent for its perpetrators to be punish
Il ed. If Gardner had swindled man on. Of
E. $50 then of course he would be sent to tn
pcnitentiarv, but to think of furnishing hin
: for swindling the Government out of $500
A. coo is prcpo>terous.
NJ a British company has been formed 70
is the construction of ship canal across tn
4 Isthmus of Darien The route has been sur
+ vered by engineers Osborne and Ford, an
maps of the survey deposited in the State dc
" partment The length of the route surveye
II for the canal is 30 miles The width of tn
n canal is to be 100 feet and depth 80 feet
f. The estimated cost of it is SG0,0OO.oOo. s.