Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-03-17
The Case ofDr. Gardiner.

The trial Of DR.. George \. Gardiner, who
died recently. IN the prison at Washington
gs Is supposed, by poison administered by
his own hand, Is so eXtrao binary, that it de-
serves place N any collection which may
hereafter be made OF Remarkable Criminal
Trials.
Our readers viii remember that, BY the
treaty concluded with Mexico about SIX
years since, our government undertook to
compensate the American citizens who had
claims against Mexico for injuries done TO
their property by the ilexicans during the
war. Somewhat more than three millions Of
dollars were Appropriated for this purpose,
and a Board of Commissioners was appoint
ed to decide upon the claims for indemnity
which should be presented. A large num-
Der OF claimants appeared in consequence.
Among these were DIR. Gardiner, who de-
mauded halt a million Of dollars, or there
abouis. for the breaking up of promising
enterprise in which he had been engaged
He laid before the commissioners an iugen-
iousy devised series Of documents, showing
that he had expended large sums in opening
silver mine IN the State Of San Luis Poto-
81, from which he had been driven by the
Mexic1ns, with the loss of all he had invest
ed in the undertaking. The claim was sup
ported by Mr.. COrwin, then "A member of the
United States Senate, acting as counsel for
Gardiner, and interested in the success of
the claim. The commissioners required
more ample proofs. DIR. Gardiner went 10
Mexico, where he had already resided some
years as dentist, and returned with them.
In the meantime Mr.. Corwin was made
Secretary of the Treasury. snd sold his in
terest in the clam. The commissioners
were satisfied with DR.. GARDENERS new
proofs, and awarded him a sum exceeding
four hundred thousand dollars
Soon after the award of the Commission
ors, who do not seem 10 have investigated
the affair very thoroughly, doubts were ex-
pressed of the authenticity of Gardiners
claim. They grew So strong, that the gov
eminent despatched a Commissioner to Mex
ico No trace of the mine was found, and II
became clear that GARDENERS whole story
was a falsehood, and his documents. forger-
les.
lie was indicted for the fraud and tried
On the trial, which took place nearly year
since, the iuy disagreed \ second trial
was had, the result OF which was a convic-
ton, and the court sentenced him 10 an iu.-
prisonnent Ton ten years, the highest punish
ment which the law allows for the offence.
Gardiner is represented as a man OF good
manners, and as more than commonly ingen
ious and plausible. The story OF hls mine
and his losses, and the proofs with which he
sustained II, must have been forged with con
siderable skill, not TO awaken any suspicion
of the fraud IN the commissioners.
All the frui; Of skill so painfully exerted
was the brief enjoyment of large fortune,
in the midst Of constant anxiety and fear of
detection, followed by complete exposure
Of the fraud, verdict of guilty FROM the
jury, an ignomihons sentence from the court,
and an escape from the sentence by the
dreadful expedient of suicide. lie could
have borne, It seems, the reproaches OF his
own conscience, but not the shame ola con
demnation TO the peniientiary. lie closed
his life by an act which will be regarded as
equivalent To a confession of the CRIME OF
which the jury has just round him guilty.
.NsW York Erening Post.