Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-03-22
History OF the Gardlner claim.

/ Garulner- Ease, the nlSLOTY VI HhLOu uas
heretofore been given by the press. It is
well. however. to review this great fraud,
as another warning to those who would
prey upon the government. and an evil
dence that, however well devised the plot,
Justice wilfeventually reach the most sue
cessful villain. 80,
By the treaty of 1848. with Mexico. of
The eleven millions to be paid to. Mexico,
three and quarter millions were reser-
we'd to compensate American citizens for
damages sustained from that county,
These claims were passed upon by a board
of Commissioners, before. whom DIR.
George A. Gardiner appeared, claiming
1920, 900 for being elected from valua-
BILE silver mine, in San Louis Potosi and
81 SO, 0OO more on behalf of DR.. John IL.
Mears, for the loss of quicksilver mine
in Mexico. Both these claims, sustained
by wholesale forgery and perjury were pas
sed for the full amount asked.
1t now appears. from disclosures made
by one Manuel VerasLigui, Mexican ac-
complete, that this whole affair originated
with Mears, who admitted Gardner as a
party. on account Of his skill and suppo
sed influence.
He received 1888, 900 of Mears award,
and paid over but halfto his partner, which
led to quarrel between them Jose
Pando drew S36So0O, and Fernando dc la
Cuesta, an attache of the Mexican Legis
lation, got $28, 900. 4 Ffz
The Gardiner award was divided be-
tween himself and his counsel, and flea
wing $4,000 on deposit in this coun-
try, he started for Europe.
| Tho diScoVnrU of thiS Fraul was rou6o
! by Dr. Charles w. Davis Of Washington
city. who had resided many years in Mex
leo. and was familiar with the language and
customs of that country. Snou after he was
appointed secretary to the Board,it became,
department., and in overhauling them he
became s"tiheI that many of them were
forgeries. He Enew that MearS was Of bad
reputation in Mexico. and that no such
mines as were described existed in San
/ Louis Potosi.
DR.. Davis at once wrotc.!o the Attorney
General on the subject, but his letter was
not attended to-; that officer, forgetting
the Doctors official position, supposed the
communication but one of hundreds he
had received from disappointment claim
ants. complaining of the action of the
Board OF Commissioners, and threw it
aside.
Henry May and others were sent to
Mexico. to make further Investigations
They visited San Louis PO;o>i, explored the
whole Of the vicinity in which the mine Of
Gardiner was said to be located. They
examined records, mining titles, persons,
places and used Rll1posSible diligence to
discover the vacated silver mine, but in
vain. They succeeded in discovering the
Mexican accomplish of Mears and Gardi-
ner, and while there obtained the cores
pondence, which, it is alleged, transpired
between Gardiner and his brother, and their
Mexican accomplish. The commission
was empowered to bring witness back
with them. upon such terms as they might
deem eXpedient, ?
In May, 1851, DR.. Davis published a
statement Of the fraud, which attracted
The attention Of President Fillmore, to
whom he disclosed all he knew of the
matter, convincing the president that the
Treasury had been robbed, and its officers
imposed upon. A month later Mr.. Ed,
ward Curtis, At one time counsel for Gar
diner, informed The president of his own
suspicious Of the claim having been frau
dulent, and the government SOON procu-
red evidence upon which Gardiner was
indicted, in the District Of Columbia, for
perjury.
The administration now strained every
nerve to procure the necessary evidence
for his conviction.
George W. Slacum, then in Mexico,
was sent to San Luis Potosi, where he
found no mines Of the kind described, but
written and paroRevidence of the fraud,
upon which Gardiner was indicted for for.
gerry. .....
The commission returned with evidence
enough apparently, to carry conviction
home to every unprcjudiced mind. 1t was
presented at trial Of The case which soon
: afterwards came on. Much Of it was ru-
: led out. and all of it was so adroitly as
sailed by the defence that the jury did
not yield their conviction TO what was
brought before them. They failed to
agree and it was understood that nine
were for acquittal, and three who fortu-
nately stood firm in their belief, were for
conviction.
Previous to another trial, another com
mission visited Mexico, having the evi.
dence of the defence as to the precise loca-
ton of the mines, (elcited on the first tri-
a3 DO guIue' 4hey pIaceu u ten mIleS
south of Langunillos-but the commits
sion found none within fifty miles of tina,
place. Proof was heaped on proof, that
no such mines were in existence-and on
the second trial for perjury, Gardiner was
convicted, sentenced to ten years impris-
onment. remadcd to Jail. at once took
strychnine, and died. May his fate be a
warning to others, who would grasp at
wealth. regardless of the means by which
it is acquired.