New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-03-13
Conviction of DR.. Gardiner
HIs SENTENCE AND pEAr


The Washington correspondent of the Baltic
more Sun gives the following particulars of the
conviction OF Dr.. Gardiner and his subsequent
death: a.-... 5o4. s#rg.f
Quite unexpectedly to every body, the jury
in the case OF George A. Gardiner, this morning
entered the court room about half-past eleven
o'clock with verdict. The prisoner was seated
in the court room, and as the jury took their
places he peered scrutinizing1y into their faces.
as if to elicit one favorable Indication. Disau u
pointed in this, death-like paleness spread
over his features; modification and despair ap-
peared to paralyze his whole system. The YER
dict was guilty.
After the verdict was announced, Mr.. Brad
ley, one Of the counsel for the defense, stated
that the counsel had prepared to file q bill OF
exceptions, and they would prefer to have judg-
ment pronounced Immediately.
DE- George A. Gardiner was then called upon
70 stand up and receive the sentence of the
law; which Judge Crawford pronounced as
follows:
You have been convicted by jury of your
country Of the crime of false swearing, touch
ing the expenditure of public money. and in
support of a claim against the United States
Perjury, in its nature and general sense strikes
At the root of all the securities which soctetv i
bound to extend to and maintain around the
citizen. The particular offense charged upon
you, and upon which the jury have passed,
whether considered in reference to the compli-
Gated plot by which its objects were consum-
mated, or to the amount of money obtained
from the Treasury on the award of the commits
sioners appointed to decide upon the claims
under the treaty with Mexico of February,
1o4o, is one of unusual enormity.
s' To address such observations, as must seem
| to every man who knows the circumstances that
surrounded you, to person Of your conceded
| ability it would be useless or vain-useless, if
| they have arisen in your own mind; vain if
| they have not From your fate others should
learn, that no plan, however remote its origin,
| with whatever forecast laid, however steaIthily
| OF adroitly pursued for years, and at length
executed, or with whatever success for time
attended, can be so cunningly devised as to
| escape detection. The unexampIed ingenuity,
| OF the network spread out on this trial, and
| the fact that it mas been exposed at the last
stage, ought not to fail of beneficial effect in
convincing all men that if they will trample on
laws, human and divine. they shall suffer for it.
| 'sThe sentence of the Court is, that you
| suffer In the penitenuiary for the District of
Columbia imprisonment and labor for the period
| of ten years.
After the sentence was pronounced the pri-
soner was taken to the Jail in custody of the
! proper officers.
| Mr.. Bradley, the prisoners counsel, was pre-
| sent--and, having been seated, some CONVERSE
| tion took place between them Gardiner then
| took glass Of water and signifed his readiness
| to go to Jail. Mr.. Smith, the warden Of the
| Jail, and Mr.. Wilson, bailitf of the court, then
| accompanied him over. In entering the guard
! room, Mr.. Gardiner took chair, and in about
| five minutes was seized with q severe fit, and
| fell to the ground, cutting his head. Physi-
clans were soon sent for and he soon recovered.
| Several fits IN quick succession followed He
| was cupped, and every remedy used without
| effect. During these sufferings, Gardiner called
| Mr.. Bradley to his side. told him he was dying,
and that he died innocent
1 Gardiner died about three o'clock This mel
ancholy occurrence has shocked our citizens,
and as this is closed we are waiting for Coroner
Woodward to convene jury of inquest, and
the physicians arc preparing to hold a post NOR
tenn examination on the body.
The court, after sentencing Gardiner, ad-
journed until Monday next, when it commences
new term, and the spectators present cleared
OUT Not more than half an hour elapsed be-
tween the appearance of the jury in the court
and the final closing of the scene Gardeners
counsel had fled bill Of exceptions before the
| District Court.
1t appears that this morning Gardiner knew
that the jury had stood ten opposed to him and
two in favor of him; but their subsequent delay
created high hopes in him of final and contin-
ued disagreement. He was cheerful, and hav-
ing dressed himself neatly and handsomely,
proceeded to the court room. The first emotion
he has ever eyinced during the trial was when
the jury came into the guard room He then
took chair, drew up to the table. and took out
t5of his pocket the letters which he DESTROYED
He then wrote letter, put it in his pocket, and
| commenced another, when he was suddenly
seized with spasms and fell back, cutting the
side of his head against the desk
Gardiner Immediately called for water and
then for brandy There being none, he drew
from his pocket quarter dollar, and Dr. Birch
sant f,r 49,
the messenger, Gardiner reviving, refused the
brandy He then gave his brother the letters,
and others the contents of his pockets. Shortly
after convulsions commenced. Gardiner and
his brother wished no physician, because, as
they stated, he was subject to commissions.
Several physicians came, however, and used
| every means for his relief but without avail
The inquest adjourned until to- morrow MORN
ing, when post mortem examination will be
held, The public opinion is at this time very
confident that he poisoned himself Crowds sur
rounded the jail until dark, and there is con
siderable excitement on every hand.
His counsel's exceptions to the bill were con-
+. tanned IN twenty nine counts The general
opinion is that the Circuit Court would have
granted o new trial
4 On the 4th post mortem examination was
1 held, when the jury came to the conclusion that
he died from the effects of strychnine. The Sem
tinel says witnesses testified on various points
affecting the clrcumsta ces of his death Two
of them said they noticed that DIR. Gardiner,
while in the court house, put some small sub
stance into his mouth, which they at first sup
posed to be tobacco crumbs, and then touched
his lips witt water; aud from this they suppose
he at that time swallowed the fatal drug
i The EXPLOSION AT HARTFoRD--A telegraphie
dispatch from Hartford, Conn, dated the I'd
inst, gives the following of the explosion and
loss of life at Hartford, which we have before
noticed: At two O'clock to- day the new steam
boiler in Fales & Gray's car factory exploded,
destroying the blacksmith shop and engine
room, and badly shattering the main building.
Over 100 persons were in that part of the build
ing. The explosion was terrific, wrenching the
powerful machinery, breaking the timbers, and
prostrating the walls and roof. The workmen
were buried beneath the ruins, The citizens
were quickly on the spot to rescue the sufferers,
nine of whom were instantly killed, and seven
have since died Many others are badly in
jured, some of whom viii die The boiler was q
new one of so horse power, and built in the best
manner. Over 800 persons were employed in
the whole building. and those killed were chiefly
employed in the blacksmith shop. The scene
was heart reuding. Hundreds of the wives and
children of the werkmen rushed to the spot
venting their grief in tears and piteous cries,
The excitement spread to the schools in the South
-..,k I'D Al