Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-03-17

How fully the truth oftbe above Is proven
by the following case Of Dr. Gardiner This
case has excited great deal of interest in
The United States But the Doctor has clos
ed up the whole matter. so far as he is acon-
eerned, by committing suicide - u 80
The Case Of Dr. Gardiner.
The trial of DR.. George A. Gardiner who
died yesterday, in the prison at Washington.
is supposed, by poieon administered by his
own hand, is so extraordinary, that Il deserves
a place in any collection which may hereafter
be made Of Remarkable Criminal Trials
Our readers will remember that. by The
treaty concluded with Mexico about six years
since, our government undertook TO connpcn-
safe the American citizens who had claims
| against Mexico for injuries done TO their rrop.
crty by the Mexicans during the war. some
what more than three millions ofdollars stere
appropriated for this purpose, and Board Of
Commissioners was appointed to decide mon
the claims for indemnity which should be
presented. A large number Of claima0ts an
peared in consequence Ns
Among these were DR.. Gardiner, wholde-
manded half million of dollars, or tberea-
bouts, for The breaking up of q promising EN-
lerwlse in which he had been engaged He
la'd before the commissioners On ingeriously
devised series of documents, showing that he
had expended large sums in opening silver
mine in the State Of San Luis Potosi, from
which he had been driven by the Mexicans,
with the loss of all he had invested in the
undertaking. The claim was supported by
MIR. Corwin, then member of the U. s. SEN
ate, acting as counsel for Gardiner, and inter-
ested in the success of the claim The COM
missoners required more ample proofs. Gar
diner went 10 Mexico where he had already
resided some years as a dentist, and returned
with them. aasn -
In the mean time, Mr.. Corwn was made
Secretary Of the Treasury, and sold his inter-
est in the Gardiner claim. The commission
ers were satisfied with GARDENERS ne W proofs,
and awarded him sum exceeding four hun
dred thousand dollars.
Soon after the award Of the commissioners.
who do not seem to have investigated the affair
very thoroughly doubts were expressed Of the
authenticity of GARDENERS claim. They grew
so strong, that the government dispatched
commissioners 10 Mexico. No trace Of the
mine was found, and it become clear that
iardiner's whole story was falsehood, and
his documents were forgeries. 4
he was indicted for the fraud, and tried.
On the trial, which took place nearly year
since, the jury disagreed. A second trial was
had, the result Of which was conviction, and
the court sentenced him to an imprisonment
of ten years, the highest punishment which
the law allows to be inflicted for the offence.
Gardiner is represented as a man of good
manners, and as more than commonly inge.
nous and plausible. The story of his mine
and his losses. and the proofs with which he
sustained il, must have been forged with con-
siderable skill, not to awaken any suspicion
of the fraud in the commissioners.
All the fruit of skill so painfully exerted,
was the brief enjoyment of large fortune, in
the midst OF constan, anxiety and fear of de.
lection. followed by complete exposure Of
the fraud, verdict Of guilty from the jury,
an ignominious sentence from the court, and
an escape from the sentence by the dreadful
expedient of sucide.-He could have borne,
it seems, the reproaches of his own conscience
but not the shame Of condemnation to the
penitentiary. He closed his life by an aos
which will be regarded as equivalent to con-
fession of the crime of which the Jury has Just
found him guilty.-N Y. Eve Post.