The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-20
Trial Of Rev. Mr.. Harden for Wife MUIR.
der In New Jersey.


BELvTpERE, Warren County, Sept. IA, 1852
The trial Of the Rev Jacob Harden for the murder
OF his wife by poison will commence here next week,
before the Hon Edward Whepiey the presiding Judge Of
this circuit. The District Attorney Joseph viet Esq,
will be assisted by the Hon. William L. Dayton Attorney
oeor Wamson and G. U ss @ annear
The publication Vt tho details Of this murder embracing
an account Of the death of Mrs Harden at Andersonown
in March last the investigation of its by the Coro
ner the evidence duplicating her husband as her muir
derer and the incidents connected with his fight and sub
sequent capture is Of too recent date TO render repe
tition now necessary
An interview with the prisoner has convinced that
of my reporting brethren in their charitable endea
to assmate their descriptions Of him TO the popular
idea of what murderer ought to look like have departed
long way from the truth
His long confinement has given to his complexion a
scky hue, common c the inmates Of PRISONS still he in
formed that he had enjoyed excellent health and that
he had been increasing in flesh. His seeming content
ment and happiness astonishes all who visit him Although
he is quick in conversation and very communicative land
it is for this that his lawyers endeavor prevent
his having intercourse with srangers) yet neither
by word look does he beray the slightest indication of
fear to the result Of the impending trial. but If
he thought it only idle form to be run through with,
preparatory receiving his liberty The Attorney
raj may give him different impression.
He was born near Blarstown in this county, May II,
1897 and consequently but few months twenty
two years Of age The common schools afforded to him
his only facilities for education but he seems to have ad
vanced far in the winter OF 1855 and 1856 to have
been qualified for teaching in which occupation he
then engaged in Sussex county At this time, also, he
gained notoriety prominent exhortcr at the Metho
dist meetings.
In the following sprn6 at the solicitation of several
clerical friends who thought him capable of accomplish
ing much good for the church, he quilted school teaching,
became colporteur, and during the ensuing summer
rambed through Hunterdon county and the lower part of
the State The next winter he licensed to preach
and stationed on Mount Lebanon mission in Railway dis
trict.
Here through his zeal and energy revival was
begun which resulted in thirty being added to the men,
bershp of the church, and awakened an interest in re-
lgion which eventually caused the mission to be thrown
upon its At the expiration OF his first
year he had become popular with the people Of that
vicinity that they made urgent requests TO the Annual
Conference that he should be reapponted to that station
They granted their request both that and the fol-
lowing year, that, under the supervision Of Harden
the church continued to increase in prosperity until the
time of his arrest AT revival seventy-fve connected
themselves with the church. Through his influence,
also, personal difficulties existing between the
members of his church, and which detrimental to
its interest, satisfactorily arranged, and the
tending parties reconcled to each other The church
edince was also enlarged and improved. While engaged
upon the Mount Lebanon mission he formed his
intimacy with his murdered wife. Her maiden
name Hannah L. Dorling. Although imper-
pectly educated she is said to have been girl
of good sense and much personal beauty. She was
the daughter Of Samuel Dorling honest miller, who
lives German Valley Harden seems to have been
sort Of clerical Lohario much given to making love to
sion gave him many chances TO do for anxious mothers
with robust daughters to marry extended to the young
minister welcomes to their homes 1t is said that
he frequently abused their hospitality by making marriage
engagements which he never intended TO fulfill His
riage with Miss Dorlng was compulsory one brought
about by hreatenings Of suit for breach of promise
The prosecution win argue from this and the fact that
he did live with her. that he disked her. and that
such dislike was to him sufficient motive for commit
ting the crime
1t is impossible at this time to tell how long the trial will
be. One hundred witnesses have already been subp9-
naed Much interest is manifested in the result by the
people of the surrounding country and the landlords
pect larger influx of vsers than has occurred since the
memorable trials of the Parks for the murder Of the
Cashier family in 1843