Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-04


and Walker-l4.
So the bill was passed.
Tho Senate then adjourned TO Tuesday
THE GARDINER TRAGEDY.
Dr. George A. Gardiner was arrested between
two and three years ago. charged with having
obtained by fraud $42O0 900 from the General
Government, under an award Of the Mexican
Board Of Commissioners, established in pursu-
ance Of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalg0; he
presenting claim to be reimbursed for alleged
losses in Mexico, connected with tho working
of certain silver mines.
Last spring he was tried on the charge Of
g false swearing but after the jury had been
confined for about week, they were unable to
agree upon verdict and were discharged,
nine being in favor of his acquittal, and three
for conviction.
On the twelfth Of December last, he was
again airaigned on the Same indictment, at
the bar of the Criminal Court. The trial con-
case was given to the jury, who yesterday
morning after an absence Of twenty-five hours
returned 10 the court room.
Their names were called, as follows: Albert
p. Waugh, William Van Reswiok Alfred Ray,
Charles T. Queen, John Howser David Fauble
VIM Cammack, John Dawson, John 4. Evans
Joseph Lyon, Thomas A. Talson, and John
Murphy.
In response to the usual question of the clerk,
the foreman replied that they had agreed upon
tho verdict
Many spectators were present exhibiting
intense anxiety TO hear it; but there was an
awful pause in the proceedings until the arri-
val of Mr.. Bradley, one Of the counsel of the
accused. When this gentleman came into
court, he, together with his associate in the
case, took position near DIR. Gardiner who
il appeared to us from his manner and appear
ance, had q fearful apprehension Of what the
verdict was. But when he was directed to
stand up, and heard seGUILTyn distinctly pro-
nounced, his strength almost forsook him, and
his c0untenance underwent q change, and wore
deathlike paleness. All hope now had de-
serted him The dreadful word had fallen
like the doom of death upon his ear, and shat
tered his heart but late 90 hopeful.
+ The spectators were far from being indiffer-
emit; their temporary stern and pallid faces
afforded an index to the feelings which pos
sessed them ON that most painful occasion.
Mr.. Bradley stated that the counsel had pre-
pared to file bill Of exceptions and preferred
to have Judgment pronounced at once. Ac-
cordingly, DR.. Gardner being required to
stand up and receive the sentence Of the law
Judge Crawford addressed him as follows
aYon 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 claim against the United States
Perjury, in its nature and general sense, strikes
at the root Of all the securities which society is
bound 10 extend to and maintain around the
citizen. The particular offence 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 10 the amount Of money obtained
from the Treasury on the award Of the Com
misionen appointed to decide upon claims
under the treaty with Mexico, Of February,
1846, is one Of unusual enOrmity.
"To address such observations as must seem
10 every man who knows the circumstances
that surround you to person Of your conce-
ded ability, would be useless or vain; useless,
if they have arisen in your own mind, vain, ii
they have not From your fate others should
learn that no plan, however remote its origin,
with whatever forecast laid, however stoalthily
and sdroitly pursued for years, and at length
executed, with whatever success for q time at
tended, osn be 30 cunningly devised as to es-
oape detection. The unexampled ingenuity
exhibited in the network spread out on this
LFl0l, anu tu6 t6ot thns " nSS bCCn CAkSooN ~
tho last stage, ought not to fail of beneficial
eject in convincing all men that if they will
trample on laws human and divine, they shall
suffer for It,
"The sentence Of the court is, that you suf-
far, in the Penitentiary for the District of Co
lumbia, imprisonment and labor for tho period
Of ten years"
The Judge then requested the Marshal to
tako the prisoner into custody, and he was sub
ssouently conveyed to the jail, but not until
after Mr.. Bradley had asked that the execution
of the sentence be postponed until two days
after tho rising Of the Circuit Court, TO which
the case would be carried on bill of cxccp-
tions. Tho court assented, and minute was
ordered to be made on the record accordingly.
The public had scarcely recovered from their
surprise before Il became known that short
time only alter his arrival at the jail, the prs-
oner was seized with violent commissions, which
continued several hours and ended in death
The deceased was thirty-six years Of age, Of
good appearance, and highly intelligent. His
manners were courteous, and, apart from the
crime with which he was charged, he would
probably have been considered . gentleman In
any circle Of society.
A corouer's jury were summoned, and they
examined several witnesses yesterday evening
at tho iail, but their verdict will necessarily be
deferred until after tho contemplated post NOR
tenn examination.
The corpse is laid out in that prison house.
Sentinel
The inquest in the case Of the late DR.. Gar
diner is in progress to-day but it is not prob
able that it's labors win terminate before our
paper goes 10 prcss A post norton examina-
ton has been held but at the time we are
writing tho conclusions at which the physicians
have arrived have not been revealed
On Thursday evening, although the jury
had retired to Deliberate Dr. Gardiner APP