Washington sentinel., 1854-03-04
4Otal ann YsrsOnaI.
Conviction Of DIR. GardIner-HIs sentence

years ago. charged with having obtained by fraud
100000 from the general government, under an
award of the Mexican board of commissioners
established in pursuance of the treaty OF Guada-
oup Hdalgo he presenting claim 10 be reim-
bursed for alleged losses in Mexico, connected
with the working of certain silver mines.
| Last spring he tried on the charge of ''false
swearing" but after the jury had been confined
| for about week, they were unable 10 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
arraigned on the same indictment, at the bar Of
Criminal Court. The trial continued until Thurs
day afternoon, when the 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 Z.
Waugh, William Van Reswick, Alfred Ray, Charles
l. Queen, John Howser, David Fauble, William
Cammack, John Dawson, John E. Evans, Joseph
i Lyon, Thomas A. Talson, and John Murphy.
In response to the usual question of the clerk,
the foreman replied that they had agreed upon
the verdict.
! Many spectators were present, exhibiting in
tense anxiety 10 hear il ; but there was an awful
pause in the proceedings until the arrival OF Mr.
Bradley one ofthe counsel Of the accused When
this gentleman came into court, he, together with
his associate in the case, took position near Dr.
Gardiner, who, it appeared to us from his manner
andappearance, had fearful apprehension of what
the verdict was But when he was directed TO stand
up and heard "GuILTY' distinctly pronounced, his
strength almost forsook him, and his countenance
underwent change, and wore deathlike pale
ness. All hope now had deserted him The
dreadful word had fallen like the doom OF death
upon his ear and shattered his heart, but late so
hopeful
/ The spectators were far from being Indifferent
their temporarily stern and pallid faces afforded an
index toihe feelings which possessed 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. Accordingly
DR.. Gardiner being required to stand up and re
ceive the sentence Oft the law, Judge Crawford ad-
dressed him as follows
You have been convicted by Jury OF your
country Of the crime of false swearing, touching
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 to extend
10 and maintain around the citizen. The partlcu-
lar offence charged upon you and upon which the
jury have passed, whether considered in refer
ence to the complicated plot by which its objects
were consummated, or 10 the amount OF money OBJ
tanned from the Treasury on the award OF the
commissioners appointedto 10 decide upon the claims
under the treaty with Mexico OF February, lS1S,
is one of unusual enormty.
"To address such observations, as must seem
TO every man who knows the circumstances that
surrounded you, 10 a person OF your conceded
ability would be useless 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 it's origin, with whatever
forecast laid, however stealthily adroitly pur-
sued for years, and at length executed, or with
whatever Success for time attended, can be so
cunningly devised as TO escape detection. The
unexamped ingenuity, the network spread
out on this trial. and the fact that il has been ex-
posed at the last stage, ought not TO fail OF bene
fetal effect in convincing all men that II they will
trample ON laws, human and divine they shall
suffer for IT.
"The sentence of the court is, that you suffer
in the penitentiary for the District Of Columbia.
imprisonment and labor for the period of ten
years"
The Judge than requested the Marshal 10 take
the prisoner into custody, and he was subsequent
ly 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 woule
, be carried on bill of exceptions. The court as
sented, and minute was ordered TO be made Oh
the record accordingly
The intelligence Of the finding Of the jury i'm
mediatey spread throughout the city and occasion
ed not little surprise, the community being un-
prepared for the verdict, well remembering the
history of the past in this
The public had scarcely. recovered from their
surprise before it became known that short time
only after his arrival at the Jail, the prisoner was
seized with violent convulsions, which continued
several hours, and ended in DEATH!
i Ii is suspected that he swallowed poison, but Of
this there is no proof. Before venturing an opin-
ion on this subject, prefer to await the post
mortem examination Of the body, which will take
place to-day, by DR.. Semmes, the physician of the
Jail, together with Drs. Miller and Steiner.
The deceased was. thirty-six years of age, of
good appearance, and highly intelligent. His man.
ners were courteous, and, apart from the crime
with which he was charged he would probably
have been considered gentleman in any circle OF
society.
The sad occurrence has excited much commits
| seraiion IN MS penal ana aHorus SAD topic OIL
comment among all classes of society.
A coronor's jury were summoned, and they ex-
amincd several witnesses yesterday evening at
the jail, but their verdict will necessarily be de-
ferred until after the contemplated post mortem
examination
The corpse is laid out in that prsonhousc.
Washin pton National Monument.-,The con-
tributions received at the monument office. from
the I'd of February to the third of March, amount
ed, in the aggregate 10 S7,0ll "A. Ofths amount,
S4lS SIS were from the members of the Legislature
of Massachusetts, governor and councillors, one