The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-07
From the Baltimore Sun
a he Gardiner Case--Remarkable Develop
ments


msnts
But few cases have been adludicaied, To which the
United States government has been party, of 20 much
public importance as that against Dr. George A OaTdl-
ner who convicted Friday last, and Immediately
thereafter terminated his existence Ii stands forth IN
bold and imposing audaclIy, preeminenty illustrative OF
ingenious fraud, yenal subtley, and poigale daring II
moreover characteristic OF the Objects pursuits IN
trgues. and fIghtfu corruption peculiar TO class OF
Who regard the treasury OF the United States lhe
most available resource Tor the exercise oil their dertey
and craft In this respect the judicial result IA the case
OF Gardiner is OF ncalcuabe importance II il exem-
plary and admonory.
The recorded verdict OF honest intelligent taeorrup
ie jury, has vindcaed the essential truh that neither
the ingenuity OF the knaye nor The audacty OF the per,
iuer the influence OF the politician the zeal OF
counsel, the paRcy cfedulty OF the press nor the
utmost latitude OF legal favor, all these combined,
sufficient 10 overun the Just rgor and final integrity
of the law 1t is true that justice is 100 often foled, and
the impartial adminslI alton OF the law exposed 10 bad
repute through the successful evasion OF it's penalties by
The guilty But for these things the eproach almost IN.
yaraby belongs TO the jury. To the jury, therefore, IN
the OF Gardiner, the honor OF this great and import
vndication of the outraged law and public dignity OF
the United States attaches in very eminent degree
One plant corrupt. yena spirit there could have
successfully thwarted all the diligence OF the govern
men all the expenditure oil time and money, all tho labor
OF costly commission, all the skill, vigilance, arduous
and thankless toll OF legal prosecution The result has
proved The integrity OF the jury; and while we know
how appreciate the valuable services Of distinguished
who have contributed TO the thorough exposition OF
this enormous crime, we ascnbe the hrs need OF praise
10 the Jury.
The great importance Of the issue involved in this case,
together with the public ineres, which has been
kened by the legal result and the tragic sequel has in
duced 10 lay before readers outline of current
incidents associated with the affair, many OF which have
never before been published. vigant and well-in.
formed correspondent enables us 10 present the following
summary OF facts, which will be found intensely interest
ing 10 all classes OF our readers.
The origin, prosecution and detection OF the Gardiner
fraud abound with startling facts and the mind is puz
zed to determine sometimes where completely ends and
innocent participation with begins By the treaty OF
Guadalupe Hdalgo. between the United States and Mex
co concluded in lS4S Sll 900 900 TO be paid TO
Mexico indemnity for the cession OF territory 10 the
United States Out OF that ,l25 900 was reserved
for the satisfaction OF the claims OF American citizens
who damaged and interrupted in the prosecution OF
business affairs in Mexico by the act OF war Prominent
among the claimants Tor portion OF this sum were DR.
George A. Gardiner and Dr. John A. Mears;
board OF commissioners appointed by Congress
TO adudcae these claims, who were TO SIT at Washing
ton. Their decision be final and conclusive T4e
board consisted of George Evans OF Maines Robert T.
Paine, of North Carolina and Caleb b. Smith, OF tnd
Before this commission Gardiner presented his
claims aided BY distinguished counsel AT The same time
Gardiner presented and advocated the claim OF Mears
In his behalf be demanded as indemnity Tor the loss
OF a silver mine, which he obliged to abandon in
San Luis Potos the OF S42o, 900; and in behalf OF
Mears for quicksilver mine in the vicinity, the
sum OF S530o0 Gardiner had resided for several years
in Mexico, had practlsed nerant dentist, and in
that capacity had visited the most important mining dis
trics and acquainted himself with their geographical po
s,ion their respective values and the system OF mining
operations IN the diferen, departments.
Thus furnished with material Tor his purpose, be pro-
ceeded TO elaborate it, and eventually wrought the in
irlcate fraud by which he imposed the commission
II is proper remark here that according TO statements
derived from Manuel Verastegu the Mexican accomphce
of the party, the whole fraud originated with Mears,
with whom Gardiner was acquainted in Mexico. Mears
said TO have sprung the design but not equal TO
It's fuhment, and BY his own statement admitted Gard
ner a party, 'bet ause he skilful man and
great friend of General Scott" Gardiner, however, grew
ambitious upon his estimate OF the material within his
grasp, and in addition the quicksilver mine OF his
frie Near lueda al he set I'm sill ypr
mine OF his own at nearly half million.
After about year spent IN preparing his mining title,
testimonials and other vouchers, Gardiner came fully
armed before the board OF commissioners having visited
Mexico in the interim. Gardiner was aided as counsel
by the Hon. Thomas Corwin, OF Ohio, General Wae1y
Thompson, OF South Carolina and Edward Curtis esq
formerly collector OF New York, and ex-Inember of
Congress The case heard, also that OF
Mears and both adudicated iavorably for the full
amounts claimed Mears's claim was drawn entirely
Gardiner received $4,000 OF IT, half of which he said
to have kept himself his share, which led TO a rup
ture between him and Mears. Under power OF attorney
10 Washington SOS 900 received 10 the OF Jose
pando an accomplish in Mexico; and $4,000 paid
TO Fernando de Ia Cuesia attache OF the Mexican le
CATION The other 81 600 are not able 10 account
for. All oil this money Is gone past recovery.
OF GARDENERS award. Mr. Corwin is understood TO
have received large amount, but sold his lee, whatever
il amounted TO, for $4,000. Gen: Waddy Thompson is
understood 10 have received considerable sum Whelh
MIR Curtis received anything are not informed, He
in the bat short tme and after be out OF
it, rendered important service to ibe government, we
shall show hereafter, IN the detection Of the fraud Gar
diner with his share in the Mears award left this coun
Try for Europe. with $500 600 subject 10 bis order
on deposite with Corcoran l. Riggs and others in Wash
ington and New York Thus the whole matter seemed
eGsclualy closed, Gardiner himself being evidently con-
hdenty secure And now approach the accident OF
detection and shall present the history OF that important
circumstance, which has never been published until this
day We have reason to believe that our correspondent
is accurately informed the event. IL not literally al
least generally as 10 persons and details.
The hrst secretary OF The board OF commissioners was
Edward w. Johnson, formerly oil the National lnte.
gencer, and recently connected with The Richmond
press He occupied his position until the whole OF the
Mexican claims believe, had been adudicaied, and
then resigned. Dr. Chas w. Davis was appointed his
successor. This gentleman Is native OF Washington
but had resided rs years IN Mexico. To him, we have
reason 70 believe, belongs exclusively The credit Of De-
teciing the Gardiner fraud. Il ordered that the
whole OF the papers in the Mexican claims should afi,
adjudication, be hed in the State Department and il be-
the duty OF Mr. Davis 10 perform this part Of The
work. On proceeding 10 the examination OF the Gard
papers, with view 10 their endorsement and arrange
men hi. attention arrested by the papable evidences
Of fraud he al once made more thorough examlna
ton, and satisfied himself that they utterly spurious
The Mears claim, moreover, under his observation
and u happened that he knew him 10 Mexico a fugi.
tive from Justice and man OF bad repue. He also
acquainted with the mining localities 10 San Luis Poios
There was, perhaps, no other in Washington who
could have been so appropriately appointed to hAlsi,ua
ton al that particular tine Tie once and almost in
tulvey, arrived AT just estimate OF the whole fraud
Upon this conviction be addressed letter. stating the
fact, 10 Mr. Crienden then Attorney General but end
ing that his communication was unnoced, be published
letter In the National lniegencer boldly ayowing his
detection OF the fraud over bis own name This was
the 18th May, 1881.
he affan nnFp