The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-29
TEE HARDEN WIFE POISONING CASE.

TEE HARDEN WIFE POlSUNlMG CASE
II iaI of the Rev. Jacob ssover Harden,
tor the Murder OF His Wife, at ADDER
sortowu, NJ. J.-Inter-sting History or
the Case--Sket. hes or Harden and nIiss
Duriar,d, Ills yysfs-A Material WItness
Absen,-Post pOnememt OF the Case uatia
she April Term-stOries, Rum0rs, So.
SfECIAL REPORT FOR THE NEW YORK HERALD.
BfIyIDERE WARREN COUNTY, N. J., Dco n, 1859.
This pleasant little place, which the shire town Of
Warren county al the present writing all agog respect
ug the trial. for this day, Of the Rev jacob
Shower Harden, Methodist minister preacher, well
known in these parts who az most OF your readers are
doubtless aware, snds charged with the heinous crime
a Having poisoned bus vito, about year ago. by means
OF arsenic. The have been proceeded with
three months ago (ast Septente aud the Court OF Oyer
had accordingly convened for that purpose
but owing the unavoidable Absence caused by sick
nese OF an important wtueseDr Chiffon, the en-
chemist of New York; postporenent was granted on the
application Of the prosecuting officer until the present term
During the long interval that has since occurred the
-men,, far from in any way aba.iug, has rather in
creased the most extraordinary and contradictory
ruuaors are anoa, touching delay which BY many
regarded as an undoubted proof that is loose
soaeu here and that the scales Of justice wilt not DO
good working during this trial In other words,
the Paul Pys Of this region have been pokng their
very extensvcly into what some suppose to be cxcu
sively the business OF the lawyers and the consequence
that the most mysterious and solemn hints and shakings
" the head heard and every side teudng
compromise the good Of certain individuals and
altogether that somebody has been ana gone and
Thug that he oughtntp or course, IN the alb
OF anything more reliable than the crcuatons of
Madame Gossip would be nore than idle u notice this
fuier manner, by direct Specialization, and
therefore, dismiss the subject a once aud come to
thug more tangible.
The story q, The delinquent minister's gut- indeed he
guhy which the charity OF the a~ vecy properly holds
until established Oy competent eydence-reSeals
series Of facts which, IN narrowing interest," almost
suypass those Of many high wrought fiction that the
reader is tho habit OF rejecting as tue pure crea
of fancy. In many respects il resembles that OF
stephens, the pols0er wnoB under sentence IN the
City Prison New York, will be shortly executed
very account OF the circumstances oil Hardens
case has already been published IN the HaRALD but
brief iue just now with few additional facts since
brought 10 light will not DC considered iuopportune.
jacob Shower Harden the prisoner IS quite young
man, beng than about twenty three years or
age native Of Blairstown, in this county Hannah
Louisa Dvriand, his wife, whose death no Is charged
with having criminaiy effected, was about the
same age, and born Ia the pretty little
village. The two grew up together as play mates, Sharing
their youthful sports and rocs IN the sweet OF
childhood hence early period Of their lives
sown the Of mutual as cton, which should naturally
lead the joys Of welded felicity but which, would APP
pear only to IN and violent death
Tor the one and perhaps, shame and gnOmly tor the
other Jacobs father was the possessor OF comfortable
farm 90 the Paun's Kill, Blairstown, ana Mr.
Samuel Dorand, the father OF Hannah Louisa, was
worthy miller in the neighborhood. While the old
folks and patronzed each other in their respective
cangs the young couple occupied their time in juvenile
attending together village school, giving
abundant testimony OF 81, ong mutual attachment Ia1
state Of things lasted until tue boy reached his ten year.
when he sent to the BairsIown Academy, where he
the best county school education aainaoe and
then sailed forth into the world us wandering
ding IN books probably as an agent Ia the pursuit Of
his new avocati0n, jacob ono day came TO halt near
Mount Lebanon church, Schooey 8 mountain, about
three from tho IMMORAL springs Here the serious
houeht of Joining the CHURCH struck him. and learning
that Mount Lebanon without officiating clergyman
he quickly cast aside his knapsack and the
mundane insignia OF tho minister. His Grs
decided hit and his star seemed to be Ia the ascendant
Hc became object OF favor from the eldcrs Of the
church. and being In his nineteenth year, aud w!thal
very presenable young preacher of the Gospel be was
naturally still more interesting object Of attention from
mammas with manageable daughters But, 10 said, no
was for long time nsble the approaches of atte
~ scornng the society Of tho great and seeking only
those whom be believed to be in need Of spiritual COM
fort.
II 60 Glanced that just about this time, rather little
later the Dorlan1 family removed from their former
sdence Andersontown tho vicinity Of Mt Lebanon
church, aud Miss Hannah Louisa, being now blooming
girl Of nineteen with considerable personal attractions
and amaSiy Q, temper s the intimacy o. chanop was
finally made formal proposal OF Marriage was joyfulty
accepted, and for short time all went smoothly But
To- alleged ale sds y % 'S "a 1850
Contracted with The flame Of bis Youth and asked
10 be released from It's rulaIneni On being re-
fused bio reluctantly led his betrothed 70 the altar,
duly united her husband by the hands OF Rev
Mr. Herr OF Washington, the 26sh of October. 1863
Although welded Miss Dorland wife, for she
Instantly conducted 10 the home OF her father In law and
there left coldy and neglected. while her husband fixed
his lodging in the house Of Mr.. Ramsay respectable
farmer Of Andersontown Thus sighted, the young wife
fed for consolation TO her father with whom she remained
until tho LIST Of March, 1859 Here she would is said,
occasionally sadly aud alone, visit her husbands church
to hear him preach, probably merely To get view Of
q
and had sworn at the altar to love and che
rh her To add 70 her pang, is also alleged that she
had the modification Of behodng him in the act Of paying
attention to other young females OF her age On this
head great many stories told Of Parson Hardens do
ngs, but would be hardly fair to repeat them 1t is
stated as fact that on one occasion he ocy
drove to church Miss Smith, who boarded at Ramssys,
and that he recouveyed her back the after
services before the eyes Of his wife.
On the day above the 1st of March
messenger arrived in Carriage at the house of Mr. Dor
land with the unexpected news that Harden was unwell
and wished his wife to come TO him for tho purpose Of
nursing him and ministerng to his wants. Hailng tho
indication of returning love, Mrs Harden
tened to obey the and was there for tea the
same evening 1t strangely occurred that that very
night Mrs. Harden seized with violent t Of sickness
which lasted four five days. and characterized by
excessive and vomiting On Saturday she rallied
little, and we'll Sunday that she accompanied
happy The next evening, however, (Monday) she was
again seized with the vomiting, which continued with
more or less violence for two days, Harden constantly
attending upon her, and none is sad, except the in
mates OF the house, knowing OF her illness. Towards the
approach Of the morning Of Wednesday, March 8, 1t be-
evident that the hand Of death upon the suffer
err and that her agones would be forever. In
this extremity few female neighbors called in and
physician sent for. But the latter reached the
couch sickness at two O'Clock the morning tho poor
neglected wife became blackened corpse She expired
| in the most excrutating agony.
The peculiar circumstances Of Mrs. Hardens death,
and the strange department Of her husband gave rise
tho suspicion that foul play had been ued and according
~ Justice Wilson summoned Jury 70 hold an inquest on
the body Tho verdict Of the jury was TO the effect that
tho deceased had been murdered by arseuical poison,
| administered by the Rev. Mr.. Harden, her husband.
Pending this investigation, and day Of his wfes
cused himself by the plea Of ndsposition, he fled New
| York city, thence TO Philadelphia, and finally 10 FAIR
mount, little virgnian vllnge where he discovered
last April under the assumed name OF Austin, engaged IN
the daguerreotype business. Five hundred dollars had
been previously offered by the Governor Of New Jersey
Tor the apprehension Of the fugitive and hkenesses
bad he Dx Of fhaaa