Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-30


his mining title, testimonials and o.he
1 vouchers, Gardner came fully armed be
fore the Board of Commissioners, ha.in.
vsl,e! Mexico in lhe interim. Gardine
was aided as counsel by The Hon. Thos
Corwin, of Ohio. Gen. Waddy Thomp
son, Of 5. g.. aud Edward Curtis, ESQ
formerly collector of New York, ant
IN ex.member of Congress. The cas-.
was heard as was also that of Mears
and both adjudica,ed favorabIy for the
full amounts claimed. Mears' claim
was drawn entirely. Gardiner received
$4,000 Of il, half Of " hich he is said
10 have kept himself. which led TO rup.
lure between him and Mears. Under
power Of attorney in Washington. $685..
600 was received in the name of Jose
Pando. an accomplce in Mexico; and
S2s.OO0 was paid to Fernando de la
Cuesta an attache of The Mexican LIE.
CATION. The Other $4,000 we are no,
able to account for. All of this none
is gone past recovery.
Of Gardiner's award. Mr.. Corwin is
understood 10 have received large a.
mount. but sold his fee. Whatever i. was,
for $4,000. General Waddy Thomp-
son is understood to have received a
considerable sum. Whether Mr.. Cur.
tbs received any thing we are not inform
ed. lie was in the case but a short
time, and after he was out Of il, rendered
important service to the government, as
We shall show hereafter, in the detection
OF the fraud. Gardiner, with his share
in the Mears' award. left this country
for Europe, with some $500, 900 subject
TO his order on deposit with Corcoran &
Riggs, and others in Washington aud
New York. Thus The whole una tier
seemed efIeclualiy closed. Gardiner him.
self being evidently confidently secure.
And now we approach the accident of
detection, and shall present The history
OF that important circumstances, which
has never been published until This day.
We have reason to believe that our COR
respondent is accurately informed as to
ihe event. if not literally, a, least gener-
ally. as to persons and details.
The first Secretary o. the Board Of
Commissioners was Edward w. John
son. formerly Of the National lntelligen-
Ger. aud more recently connected with
the Richmond press. He occupied his
position until the whole of The Mexican
claims, we believe. had been adiudica,ed,
ard then resigned. DR.. G.. w. Davis
was appointed his successor. This gem
,leman is a native of Washington, but
had resided is years in Mexico. To
him, we have reason 10 believe, belongs
exclusively The credi, of detecting the
fraud. IL was ordered that the whole of
the papers in the Mexican claims should,
after adjudication, be filed in the State
department, and it became The duty of
Mr.. Davis to perform this par, of the
work. On proceeding to the examina-
ton Of the Gardiner papers, with view
to their endorsement aud arrangement,
his attention was arrested by the palpa-
bic evidences of fraud. He at once
made more thorough examination, and
satisfied himself that they were utterly
spurious. The Mears claim moreover,
came under his observation, and it hap
pened that he knew him in Mexico as
tugi,ive from justice, and man of bad
repute. He was also acquainted with
the mining localities in San Louis Poto-
81. There was, perhaps, no other man
in Washington who could have been so
appropriately appointed to that situation
at that particular time. lie at once. and
almost in,uitively, arrived al a just es,-
mate of the whole fraud. Upon this
conviction. he addressed letter. stating
the fact. TO Mr.. Crittenden. then Auor-
ney General; but finding that his COM
munic alton was unnoticed, he published
a letter in the National Inielligencer,
boldly avowing his detection of the
fraud, over his own name. This was on
the 18th of May. 1851.
This letter engaged the attention of
President Fillmore. and at cabinet
council either called for the purpose or
otherwise Immediately occurring, the
subject was discussed, and DR.. Davis
summoned to appear. He was asked
what Information he had to justify ,be
publication in question, when he explain
ed the nature of his duties. his acquaint-
ance with the subject. and his convic.
iions that the Gardiner claim was bold
and daring frald. Presiden, Fillmore
reproved him for his hasty publication OF
the fact, and asked why lie had not COM
municated with the proper officers Of
the government prior to such proceed
ing. He answered that ne had done SO
-,hat he had fully informed the Auor-
ney General OF the fact. Mr.. Crilten-
den had no recollection of ever receiv-
ing anything from Mr.. Davis on the
subject. and asked in what way he had
made the communication.
Mr.. Davis replied that he wrote to
him. The letter contained an explicit
statement Of the fraud. He confded
The letter TO q messenger, who was d.
rected to insure its delivery 10 Mr.. Crit
tenden's own hand. His messenger, on
reaching Mr.. C.'s Office. learned that ne
was at The Supreme Court. arguing a
case there. He waited until Mr.. C.'s
return, when the letter was delivered. -