The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-05-05

distance of Wheeling from the scene of the late
tragedy and the early request from an apparent
stranger to be made acquainted with the judi
cial proceedings in relation thereto, aroused q
suspicion that the newspaper subscriber was no
other than Jacob S. Harden himself As da-
guerreotype likeness of Harden, of which some
two hundred had been photographed, together
with the letter, and copy Of the Governors
proclamation offering $500 for his arrest, was
forthwith directed to the police at Wheeling,
which led to his Identification and arrest as
above stated.
9" In Che neighborhood of Belvidere number
ofrumors are in circulation: One of which is
that Harden admits that he purchased the arse
mic with which his wife was poisoned, in Easton
but denies that he mixed it or administered it
himself! This of course duplicates others, but
] we forbear remarking furtherRntil judicial pro-
ceedings are had There seems to be strange
faulty in the conduct and proceedings of this
wretched man throughout his whole career
The very fact that he should have sought refuge
in place so public as Wheeling and its vicini-
ty and the solicitude manifested to know what
had taken place at home during his Absence
which exposed him and led to his arrest, togeth-
er with his hesitancy of pntting in plea of
Not Guilty" Though probably under advice
of counsel,) when arraigned before the magis-
trate at Belvidere, shows that he is not thorough
ly master of his own position" and presents
his case in most unfortunate aspect before the
public"
Coming to the appointment near Anderson
town, N. j., he was invited to stop at the house
of Mrs Harden's parents Though they were
members of another church, where he formed an
acquaintance with her, which grew into intima.
cy, and it appears he had promised to marry
her. which he afterwards regretted but in his
poction DC a ninictar he kne wv not how to avoid .
1.-THE young lady and her parents holding him
to his promise. Letters that were found in his
possession and produced by her parents, showed
a correspondence of very unfavorable character
for the future happiness of persons who propose
to unite together for life. In one letter he had
written he wished to be released from his engage
ment. He stated in the letter that if they mar
ried they would neither of them ever see another
days happiness, and said as much as though he
would put an end to his own existence but
they held him to his promise, and the unfortu-
nate pair were married about six months ago, and
for time appeared to all to live agreeably to-
gether. Part of the time his wife was with him
at his boarding house, where she died. About
week previous to her death she was taken
violently sick, and was very i'll for some days,
but recovered so that she was out at church on
the next Sabbath On the following Monday
|
On Monday Harden went to Easton and procured
some arsenic, stating that he wanted to kill rats
! After purchasing it he sat down and entered
into conversation with the druggist, and stated
that woman over in Jersey had taken arsenic
once or twice. and it had not killed her. He
inquired whether, if she took another dose it
would not cause her to throw it all up. The
druggist told him that where poison was taken
once and repeated, it would be certain DEATH
This conversation caused the druggist to notice
him very particularly, ESQ much so that he Sc
lected his daguerreotype from seven others which
person took to him afterwards.) On Monday
evening, after he returned home he went to the
store in the village and bought vial of God
frey's cordial which he opened before he went
up to the room where his wife was, and, tasting
it himself, remarked how pleasant it was, and
then passed it around among the family, and
pressed them all to taste it. After this he went
up to his room, and it is supposed he put the
powder in the remainder of the cordial and gave
it to his wife, About eleven o'clock that night
she was taken sick again. and died about eight
O'Clock on Wednesday morning. The neigh
bors who were with her wished to send for a
physician but he objected, stating that he thought
she would get along without one. After she
died, he wished her buried soonea than custom
airy, stating that she mad died in full strength,
and that it would not do to keep her. This
created some suspicion that all was not right,
and a post-mortem examination was proposed,
to which he objected but upon the examination
by physicians, they stated that there were symp-
toms of her being poisoned two or three times,
and all her sickness indicated the same facts.
After the examination, Harden asked the pri-
vilege of stating what he knew about the case,
and said that she had taden poison, as she stated
to him-about six o'clock in the morning-giv-
ing as reason the difference between her moth
er and him which circumstance he was not to
reveal, except to save his own life This state
ment impressed all present that he was guilty Of
the act himself and his best friends told him
that he had cut his own throat, upon which he
Immediately made arrangements to make his es-
cape, and got person to take him that night
to the railroad putting on suit of drab clothes
and an oil cloth cap, which this person purchased
| for him. About one week from that night he
preached for minister somewhere on the Cana
da line, stating that he was . young minister
who had been preaching about two years at An
dersontown, New Jersey that his health had
failed and he had been travelling in Canada for
the benefit of his he alth, and was now on his
way home He also stated that he had been
robbed of his pocket book containing about $40,
and wished the minister to state his case and
raise some money for him, which he did, and seven
persons gave him 81 each. They had some sus
picion that all was not right or they would pro-
badly have given him more; so this minister
stated in letter he wrote Immediately to the
postmaster where Harden had resided, inquiring
into the truth of his statements Upon the re-