The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-12

conclusive report supporting the evidence Of the pre-
claim naked fraud The trial for forgery accord
ngly opened in December last and the result is the
fearful and terrible denoument rected in the opening o.
this narrative.
The teegraphc reports Of yesterday sayon entering
the cell where Gardner confined he was observer
TO drink water throwing his head back, and IL Is
supposed that he took strychnine pill lie was seizea
with commissions almost Immediately After giving lei
ter to Charles Gardner his BROTHER he remarked t ne
was going before Judge who would not pronounce nun
guilty and expired in great agony. He SO years old,
had the education and manners Of gentleman and was
engaged to be married to a lady in Georgetown
From the Evening Post, March A.
THE CASE OF DR.. GARDNER.
The trial of Dr. George A. Gardner, who died yester-
day. in the prison at Washington as is supposed by
poison administered by his hand, is exraordina-
ry that it deserves place In any collection which may
hereafter be made of Remarkable Criminal Trials
Our readers will remember that by the treaty concud-
ed with Mexico about six years since, government
undertook compensate the American citizens who had
cms against Mexico for injuries done to their property
by the Mexicans during the Somewhat more than
three millions OF dollars appropriated for this pur-
pose and Board OF Commissioners appointed 10 de-
eide upon the claims for indemnity which should De pre-
sented large number of claimants appeared In conse
quence.
million of dollars tereabouts for the breaking up OF
promising enterprise in which he had been engaged He
laid before the Commissioners ingeniousy devised Sc
ries of documents showing that he had expended large
in opening silver mine in the state of San Luis
Potos from which he had been driven by the Mexcans
with the loss of all ne had invested in the undertaking
The claim supported by Mr. Corwin, then member
of the United States Senate acting counsel for DR.
Gardner and interested in the of the claim The
Commissioners required more ample proofs Gardner
went to Mexico where he had already resided some years
a dentist, and returned with them.
In the meantime Mr.. Corwin made Secretary OF
the Treasury and sold his interest in the Gardner claim
The Commissioners satisfied with Gardner's new
proofs and awarded him exceeding four hundred
thousand dollars
Soon after the award Of the commissioners who do not
seem to have investigated the affair very thoroughly
doubts expressed of the authenticity of Gardeners
claim. They grew strong that the government des
patched commission to Mexico. No trace of the mine
found, and it became clear that Gsrdners whole
story falsehood, and his documents forgeries.
He was indicted for the fraud and tried On the trial.
which took place nearly year since the ary disagreed
second trial was had the result of which convic
ion and the court sentenced him to imprisonment of
ten years, the highest punishment which the law allows
to be inflicted for the offence.
Gardner is represented of good manners, and
as more than commonly ingenious and plausible. The
story of his mine and his losses and the proofs with
which he sustained it, must have been forged with
siderable skill not to awaken any suspicion of the fraud
in the commissioners.
All the fruit of skill painfully exerted was the brief
enjoyment OF large fortune in the midst of constant
anxiety and fear Of detection followed by complete
posure of the fraud, verdict of guilty from the jury
gnomnious sentence from the court and escape from
the sentence by u dreadful expedent of suicide. He
could have borne it seems the reproaches of his
conscience but not the shame Of condemnation to the
pententiary. He closed his life by act which will be
regarded equivalent to confession Of the Grim of
which the jury has just found him guilty.