Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-30
Trial Of Rev. Mr Harden for Wife, Murder
in New Jersey.

Correspondence Of the Newark Daily Advertiser
BELVIDERE, Warren County, Sept IA.
The trial Of the Rev. Jacob s Harden fnr
the murder OF his wife by poison, will com
mence here next wee.., before the Hon Ed
ward Whelply, the presiding Judge of this
circuit. The District Attorney. Jbseph Vliet.
ESD, will be assisted by the Hon VIM L. Day
ton, Attorney General Of the State. In behalf
of the prisoner, ex-ChaDcellor Williamson and
) u shlPmsn, Esq, will appear. The publ
cation of the details of this murder, embracing
an account of the death OF Mrs. Harden, at
AndersOntOwn, in March last, the investigation
Of its cause by the Coroner, the evidence i'm
plicsting her husband as her murderer and
the incidents connected with his flight and
subsequent capture, is of too recent date to
render repetition now necessary.
Ar interview with the prisoner has eOr-
yInced Inc that some Of my reporting brethren,
in their charitable endeavOrs To assiIniIate
their descriptions OF him 10 the popular idea of
what a murderer ought to look like have de-
parted long way from the truth
His long confinement has given to lis com
plexion a sickly hue, common to the inmates
of prisons; still be Informed me that he had
enjoyed excellent health aud that be had been
increasing in flesh. His seeming contentment
aud happiness astonishes all who visit him.
Although he Is quick An conversation and very
communicative (and ID is for this reason that
his lawyers endeavOr TO prevent bis having
any intercourse with strangers), vet neither by
word or took does he betray the slightest indi-
cation of fear as to the result of the impending
trial. but acts as If he thought it only an idle
iorle 10 run through with preparatory to re-
ceiving his liberty. The Attorney ttenersl
may give him u different impression
lie was born near B!airst0wn in this county
May III, 1871, and IS consequently but few
month over 81 years of age The common
schools afforded to him his only facilities for
education, but he seems to have advanced so
far in the winter of 1856 and 1856 as to have
been qualified for teaching, in which oecupa-
ton he was then engaged in Sussex county At
this time, also. he gained nOtoriety as prom
inent exhorter in the Methodist meetings.
In the following spring, mt the solicitation Of
several clerical friends, who thought him CO.
P@5ie 6. accomplishing much good for the
church, ne Quilted school teaching, became a
cOlp0rteur, and, during the ensuing summer
rsmbled through HunterdOn county and the
lower part Of the State. The next winter he
was licensed &c preach, and stationed on Mt
Lebanon mission, in Railway district
Here, through his zeal and energy, a revi-
val was sOO.- begun, which resulted in thirty
being sdded to the membership of the church
and awakened an interest in religion which
eventually caused the mission to be thrown
upon its own resources. At the expiration of
his first year he had become so popular with
the people Of that vicinity that they made ur-
gent requests to the Annual Conference that
he should be reappOinted to that station They
were granted their request, both that and the
following year, so that, under the supervision
Of Harden, the church continued to increase in
prosperity until the time of his arrest At one
revival seyenty-fve connected themsely YES with
the church Through his influence. also, some
personal difficulties existing between the mefn-
bers of his church, and which were detrimen-
tai TO Its interest, were satisfactorily arranged,
and the eOntending parties reeonciled to each
other. The church edifee was also enlarged
and improved. While engaged upon the Mt
Lebanon mission, he formed his intimacy with
his murdered wife. Her maiden name was
Hannah l. Dorfing- Although imperfectly
educated. she is said to have been girl of good
sense and much personal beauty She was the
daughter Of Samuel Borling an honest miller,
who lives near German Nslley. Harden seems
L. have been q sort of clerical LOthario, much
given to making love TO the fair country dam
sels. which the nature Of his profession gave
him many chances to do; for anxious mothers,
with robust daughters to marry, extended TO
the young minister warm welcomes to their
hOmes. II is said that he frequently abused
their hospitality by making marriage engage
ments which he never intended to fulfill His
marriage with Miss DOrling was a compulsory
one, brought about by tbreatenincs of suit
Tor breach OF promise. The prosecution will
argue from this, and the fact that he did not
live with her, that he disliked her, and that
such a dislike was to him a sufficient motive
for committing the crime. "
Ii is impossible at this time to tell how long
the trial will be. One hundred witnesses have
already been subpenaed Mach interest is man
ifested in the result by the people of tho sur
rounding country. and the landlords expect a
larger influx Of visitors than has occurred since
the memorable trials Of the Parks for the mur-
der Of the Cashier family, in 1643. -
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