Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-30
The Career oru Isobber nud ,sur-

Ihe career OfH RObber nnd MUIR
tlerers ..aaa srssAa ~
A correspondent OF the Pensacola Ga
zette, referring TO. the tragedy in Green
county, Mississippi, Of which we published
an account taken from the Paulding Cla-
iion, some days ago, says that the name Of
the guilty person named in that article is
not Hardy, but is "John B. Harden
that, SO far from clipping with Florida
Planters wife, he eloped for having stolen
a buggy, likely marc, a splendid double
barrel shot gun, and negro boy. and for
being strongly suspected Of stealing $500
in money; and that he was accompanied
in his ignominious flight by his paramour,
worthless woman whom he had lived
with, and her child by him. The writer
then proceeds to give the following ac-
count OF Harden and his crimes
This freebooter, this savage beast in hu-
man shape, John b. Harden, was living in
Santa Rosa county, Florida, on the stage
road leading to Mariana, at place eknown
by the name Of States old place, about
II miles from Milton. Here he carried
on little traffic in liquor, and in his alb
sence his miss conducted his unholy busi-
ness, good one TO draw in darkics as
well as the weary and idler. He left
home and brought up at Geneva, Coffee
county, Ala, and while there, John II.
Chapman, Esq, formerly of Marianne, but
now of Pensacola, and while at Geneva
exhibited in a store In which Harden and
many others were present, roll ofmo-
ney containing upwards of $500. The
next day Chapman left for Pensacola,
himself on horseback and his little daugh-
ter and sonin an open buggy; all that day
this same man. if it be proper to call him
man, was seen dogging after Chapman.
That night the house in which Chapman
slept (the door beginning on the jar and no
fastening to it) was entered by some one,
unknown, and Chapman's money taken
John B. Harden was next day seen again
at Geneva. This, and other suspicious cir
cumstances, led 10 his arrest, and at Ge-
neva he was held in irons and custody,
awaiting the arrival Of testimony, until ore
night he made good his escape Next he
was seeni in Henry county, Alabama, and
at Abbeville, the courthouse of said coun-
ty: he stole likely young mare from John
w Harper, lawyer of that place, and a
buggy from Mr.. Skipper, the Sheriff of the
county, and double barrel gun from
some one else, and put out for Santa Rosa
Florida. Pursuit was made by III. +. Biz
zell, of Alabama, and getting on his track
he followed Harden into Santa Rosa coun.
ty, when it was found he had been to the
place where his miss and child were, and
had taken them and left About this time
Mr.. Forsyth, Of the firm of Forsyth 6
Simpson, Of tins county, had a Negro
boy missing. Bizzell came to Milton and
engaged Mr.. S. l.. Smith 10 go with him il
search of Harden. They left Milton, and
at Sparta they got such information as to be
satisfied that they We're on the right track
They next went to Fort Claiborne, Ala,
where they obtained certain information
of Harden, who was accompanied by his
miss and child, and who had the mare
the buggy, the double barrel gun, and the
negro boy; and here, too they learnt tha
he changed off two 500 bills for goods
Of the precise money which Chapman hat
| losl. Ilcrc, OF II niue Itcr tlls, blZZe1
| left Smith and returned home, and from
Suggsville, Ala, Mr. Hamilton accom-
panied Smith to the Chickasaw country
| When they We're about forty miles IN tn,
rear of Harden, Hamilton returned, bu
Smith continued the pursuit. On the route
Smith obtained the assistance Of man by
the name Of Davis, and another person; il
the county of Marion, Miss, at the resi-
dcnce Of Harden's mother, they arrested
Harden, first knocking him down with
gun. Here they secured him as stated
and as the negro boy seemed anxious tt
return, Smith let him come in company
loose. Smith had got near to the Alabama
State line, in Green county, Miss, or, per
haps, in Washington county, Ala, where
Davis stopped; it is believed where they
had taken dinner; abont two miles from
this place Smith was subsequently found
murdered, his throat cut, and he other
wise horribly gashed. A little off the
road not far from the body, near to creek
Or swamp, the buggy was found with ono
wheel off, with some other damagc-bu
the horses, Harden and the negro were al
gone.