The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-17
NO. 81.
DR.. Gardiner.


The Washington Star has the following re.
marks on the extraordinary trial of Gardner:
"We apprehend that there is no question in
the minds of any among US, except immediate
personal friends Of the deceased, as 10 the justice
of the verdict Of the Jury, who have IN this action
rvindicated the majesty Of the law, after delay
Of years though il has been. The present Gov
ernment of the United States, in carrying out the
determination of exPresident Fillmore, to st this
matter to the bottom, deserve tho thanks OF all
who desire to have our public affairs conducted
on the principles of integrity which all conceive
necessary to be preserved IN transactions between
man and man.
Public Justice required its punishments, and
Washington jury in the face OF The most remark
atle efforts on record to its oStenslble chief
perpe1rator declared him guilty on the testimony
udduced. We repeat, there cannot be SAID TO be
a difference Of opinion in this community as 10 lhe
fact of his guilt. He sentenced 10 IL years
Imprisonment at hard labor, and died within lew
hours after being surrendered into the hands OF
the United States Marshal's officers, under cir
cumstances which, as far as known while we are
penning this article, warrant the existing public
impression that he committed suicide to escape
the punishment awarded by the court.
The circumstances attending his trial prove
him to have been a man OF extraordinary nerve
and sagacity. One who, had he pursued right
paths with the bnIdEtss, energy and shrewdness
he evinced in committing the devious frnud, and
subsequently in defending himself against tho
prosecution on that account, might have been any
thing in public estimation at which he could rea.
sonably have aimed. His remarkable talents, rs
developed in the course Of the trial, generated for
him sort OF public sympathy, which IN all civil
lied countries surrounds men OF genius even IN
The perpctration Of crimes. The abiding good
sense Of the American public, however will not
permit that sentiment 10 be carried 10 the extent
of forgetting that he has died thus tragcally in
cause a. which the minds oil honest men shohld
revolt.
We are free 10 confess, that hope that all
the means to that end at the command of the
Government will now be directed to the unravel-
ling Of the whole history of The Gardiner fraud
transactions, far persons OF nominal high
standing who were connected with the original OBJ
tanment of the money from the Treasury, who
have not yet been formally prosecuted, may have
been directly even indirectly involved IN The ar
fair. We are not among those who can believe
that lawyers of great experience, and with intel
ects admitted (On account Of what they had pre-
vousy achieved in other cases) TO be of the very
first order, could have managed the Gardiner
claim for years, without to a greater or less eX.
tent, obtaining knowledge Of its true character
The ends Of public justice require, If there be
laws which may authorize such an investigation,
that all such persons implicated in The original
case be prosecuted to the end. Their turn comes
next. The mere reclamation Of the portion of
the iraudulenlly obtained money, which has been
enjoincd in tie hands of third parties, appre-
head, has rot been the main object Of the Govern.
mcnt's proceedings; though that follows the ver-
dict rendered yesterday. The main purpose
TO make on example Of this fragrant transaction.
The laws hand has fallen hard, indeed, upon tho
nominal principal. Those who used him, how
ever, yet go "un"hiPt of justice" Shu!l they
escape much longer?
On the Gardiner award $428,75O was fraudu.
lentIy distracted from the Treasury; $23s,O00
Of which has been enjoncd-to be probably
turned into the Treasury. The deceased, Or.
George A. Gardiner, also drew from the Treasury
$l53, 900 on he claim of DR.. II. Mears $50, 900
of which went directly to his own endowment.
Mears, who is in Mexico, having been indicted,
boldly admits that his claim shameless
fraud, and unbIushingIy defes the Government
OF the United States; there being no extrndirion
convention or treaty between the two governments
under which he can be demanded of Mexico for
trial under indictment in this country.