The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-06-28
The Case of Rev. Jacob S. Harden.


From the Trenton Tue american, ,June %.
The Court of Pardons were in session
Yesterday afternoon, from 3 o'clock to 6
o'clock. The morning was spent at the
State Prison. A number of cases were
taken up in the afternoon.
The principal case was that of Jacob
s. Harden. Petitions were presented
containing twelve to fifteen hundred sign
ers, asking for commutation OF the SEN
tence to Imprisonment for life.
The Court deliberately examined the
papers, and calmy discussed the points In
the case, and came to the luminous eonclu-
sion to reject the application.
The question of repriese, which remains
with the Governor alone, has not been
considered
The father of Jacob S. Harden has
been 10 this city since Tuesday last. plea
ding before the Court of Pardons for
CON mutation of the sentence of death pro-
uouDced upon bis con, to imprisonment
for life. All who have met with the old
gentlem sn have been favorably Impressed
with him and have highly commended the
spirit in which his sad mission has been
discharged. A great deal ofsympathy has
been expressed for him in every quarter
He left the city yesterday afternoon. with
no assurance whatever of favorable re-
suit. This affair has not only thrown the
family into deep gloom, and very plainly
impaired the health of the father, but IT
has almost Impoverished him. He haf
already expended several thousands Of
dollars in defending bis son.
The Confession of Rev. Mr.. Harden.
TRENTON, Saturday, June %, 1860.
I We have reliable inform alton here tha
Harden has made a confession Of having
/ poisoned his wife, showing in the whole
transaction degree of guilt seldom e
quulled.
f Governor Olden has rcspited the exc
cution of jacob S. Harden for one week
and day. bringing i, to Friday, the 6tf
day of July.
BELvIDERE, n. j., June 22.-Th'
Rev. Jabob S. Harden, under sentence o
death, for the murder of his wife, ha
! IN ade confession acknowledging hi
guilt. The Rev. Mr.. Day, of the NJ Z
Church, announced at the Union Praye
Meeting this evening, at his church il
: Belvidere, the fact Of the confession, am
: desired the prayers of the meeting in be
half of the condemned aud penitent erin
inal.
= This announcement causad a great sen
: sation in the church. The Rev. Mr.. Kirl
> made touching ard feeling prayer in hi
behalf, after which the congregation uui
: ted in singing the beautiful hymn CON
: mencipg with the words
"Just as am, without one plea"
;, Our inform ant states that Harden
even now writing his confession, and tha
) be has communicated certain portions c
it to the jailor and one or two others.
: The administering of the poison to hi
wife commenced on her return to Ram
seys and was given to her while sittin
on his knee even during the endearment
: of an apparently loving wife. He kind
: y invited her to partake Of an apple o
{ which be had spread arsenic. She unsus
pectingly eat it, remarking that it ap
) peared to have something gritty on it
! He replied that it was nothing"
There are statements said to have bee
made BY the prisoner, involving his Grim
} nality with others who shared his afec
: tions. but We do not think it proper t
speak of them until Harden chooses
make them public himself
: His purchase of the arsenic at Eastor
bis using that which was about the house
are all confirmed By Hardens ow
. words. What is most astonishing is tn
} statement that in the preparation Of thes
: enormities Harden does not seem to hav
! ! the slightest compunctions. He did thei
u without for once thinking that he was dc
ing anythinp very drcadful,