The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-07

alluded to IL false In consequence let these writings
him in future to hav respect TO the judicial au
lhory that exercise than to attempt to surprise me
and make me accomplice in fraud such as Is now
'''s'p'sD = y A'' e'i ssiGN3R DOMINGO CHAv1s,
J. BIAes, Scribe. First Jurgsro Rio Verde.
The following is the brief but signif. ant tele-
graphic report of tn, proceedings in this trial
of April 1s, 1862
TESTIMONY OF COL. ABBOTT. 90.
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1858.
In the Gardner case to-day occupied in the exa-
mination of Col L. w. Abbott, who accompanied ".
Gardner and Capt slocum to Mexicc in November ihs
He described his journey to LAgunillas his visit 70 e
mines in that region identified the mining Deed &C,
substantially corroborang the Testimony OF capt $40
cum He Identified the letter he wrote to the comis
sioners in answer their ADVERT ing an offer oil re-
ward for the mines; their reply and his rejonder
of the examination it turned out that Gardner lid
personally point out his mines because ne haa cen
INSTRUCTED BY his counsel TO hold no communicate" " me
commissioners
1t appears THAI the cool self-possessior and
unexampled hardihood of the ill-fatel cr.mi-
nal was equal to all energen les. Mr.. Brad
lev, as the counsel for the defence bror ght for
ward, in his opening statement Of the case, the
following better from DR.. Gardner to Mr.. Fen
dali, the District Attorney at Wasf ington at
LONDON, JAY II, 1854.
DEAR alR.-The NEW ysRK WEEKLY HERALD, Of the 9th
instant contains report extremely offensive to me, and
of delicate nature volving honor and character-.he
main spring Of gent'eman's existence Is ms
lance of newsmongtss is styled forgery, as the
term contained no offence
Fam sorry journals so degraded as 10 make
Hight of any MANS character and were at home would
mo- notice it. fer all understand the base origin OF
ale referred to take passage in the first steamer
I'd che United States to vindicate my charac
and nd ~ t my sugreson Of fr
inducedao take the present course of addressing
you, requesting that an investigation has taken place
medatey of the result, and necessary viii proceed
without delay the United States to clear myself Of all
all in the United States and at disposal Of govern
ment should the courts Of my country decide against
In conclusion l would remark that what has induced
me to make light of this matter Is the entire fasty and
utter assurdity Of the statement have seen in the
HERArp Requesting that you will attend TO my request
convenient and address me under cover to
sansdy ES Of this city ran rssKpSssSsFaR
r. K. Kendall, Esq, U. S. Attorney, &c.
The article to which Gardner here REFERS we
presume is the following extract of telegraphie
despatch, which we copy from cur files, bearing
date
WASHINGTON July O. 1851.
The attention Of the President has been called to the
rumor of the fraud alleged to have been committed by
for nearly half million dollars allowed and day
Cabinet meeting was held to deliberate upon it.
fraud was committed The facts far these 1t is
stated that Gardner before leaving for Europe declared
gentleman in New York, who had formerly lived in
Mexico that all his papers forgeres, and intmatei
That his counsel knew the that he had been COM
So tp S on
forwin Coreoran, Curtis, Laly, and ihompeon-and
that they had squeezed him little too hard he did not
how soon the matter posed.
Edward Curtis hearing this at wrote to the Pre
dent demanding investigation and he has on here
TO follow up. doubtexceedingly whether Gardner
made any such statements is wholly different from his
character here; and he did, the high character Of the
gentlemen whom he has attempted to mplcae, well
Mr.. Curs's prompt action stamps that portion with
falsehood II Gardeners evidence is forgery, II is the
best got heard Of tine e,aGse
his proceedings; its minuteness alone throwing any
j. ii. Mears for a less amount and provedsby the same
witnesses Garners The public may rest that
every member Of the Cabinet here equally DESTROYS
that the should arrived 1t is also said that
Gardner stated that snibor OF the as
sisted him in getting up the evidence. The Attorney
General has adopted preliminary steps to trace the nat
ter but is clear that some competent person must
be sent Mexico before the truth be satisfactorily
explained.
The final verdict of the jury presents strange
and mel ncholy contrast to the GOODNESS with
which this report of the HERALD was treated by
poor Gardner in London but the despatch it
self is another striking illustration of the FACT
that when there is any great POPULATION or de-
falcation to be detected, the New YORK HERALD
is apt to be the first upon the track of the guilty
parties.
How this fraud first leaked out is stin some
what involved in mystery; but as far as We are
informed upon the subject, it was in this way
Mr.. Edward Curtis was one of Gardeners coun-
sci; and with Mr.. Webster, was, also, we learn,
of the counsel for Hargous Il Co., upon claim
for some two handred Thousand dollars, more or
less. From Gardner the fee of Mr.. Curtis Is
stated to have been $20,0o9, from Hargoas h
Co., something more. Hon. Thomas Corwin, as
q Senator, had secured an interest, amounting
to $4,000 as reported, in the Gardner claim,
which interest, upon his transfer to the Treasu-
ry Department, after some negotiations In his
behalf by other parties, he sold out, as under
stood, to George Law, for $50 900 or $4,000,
hard cash.
Mr. Corwin, as Secretary of the Treasury
promptly paid over the whole amount of the
Gardner claim; but there was hitch in the
Hargtus award. A certain Mr.. VGss, of Mex
leo, as an agent of that government, and as one
of the firm of Hargous Il Co., had failed, it APP
pears, in the payment to the United States of
former indemnity Of 100000 or so, due from
Mexico, and fer meeting which the money
had been advanced to Voss from the Mex
lean treasury Mr.. Corwin is said, therefore,
to have demanded this deduction from the
Hargous award. But some Of the parties inter-
ested threatening, if this was insisted upon, to
blow up the Gardner claim, the story goes that
Mr. Corwin, for the sake of peace and harmony,
forked over the whole amount of the Hargous
award leaving the unsettled voss indemnity
outstanding among the bad bills of the Treasury.
Unfortunately, in the meantime Mr.. Curtis had
broadly limited the Gardner fraud to President