The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-07-11
Tbs Circumstances of the Murder

Has sF7ight, Arrest, Trial, Convic-
tian and Execution.
FROM THE rHrLA pREss.l
Jacob S. Harden was executed at
Belvidere, Warren county, New Jer-
sey, on Friday, July 6, for the murder
of his wife, by administering poison to
her about the first of March, 1859.
The position of the parties implicated
in this horrid affair, the previous his
tory of Harden, the fact that he was a
generally recognized member of the
hottest Of human callings, aud the ro-
nance that centres around his history,
have all contributed to create in the
mind of the people an intense feeling
of interest in the subject. A complete
narrative OF his life, crime, trial, and
execution we now lay before the read
ers of The Press.
SKETCH OF HARDEN's LIFE.
Jacob S. Harden WAS born at Blairs-
town, New jersey, IN May, 1881.
Blairstown is about fifteen miles from
Belyidere, and is still the residence OF
the Harden family. In his early youth
We learn that he developed peculiari-
ties.of temperament and disposition,
which, if properly controlled or di-
rected, would have aided his ready
talent, and possibly have handed his
name down to future generations
crowned with honorable fame, but
which, misdirected, have aided great
" in destroying his reputation, under
mining his character, and consigning
him to a felon's grave. AS q boy, lie
was leader among his fellows, whether
in the school-room or on the play
ground. His early training seems,
however, to have developed his natur-
ally inordinate vanity, and while his
academic course heaped honor on his
head as writer, speaker, and student,
it also sent him forth into sacred
calling, with craftiness in his heart,
vanity and pride in his port, and de-
ceitful holiness upon his tongue He
was always successful. AS q school
teacher in the county of Sussex, where,
in 1856, he labored faithfully to all
outward appearance, he was particu-
larly able and efficient, and had it not
been for his weakness of nerve, and his
undue and improper fondness for the
society of his female pupils, he might
have won for himself the love and ad-
miration of all intelligent and refined
people. At this time, finding his vo-
cation too circumscribed, he became a
colporteur, and for TIVE years tramped
circuit as such, giving great salts
faction to his superiors and to those
whom he visited. Indeed, SO great
was his popularity at this time, so sue
cessfnlly did he conceal from the pub
lie eye bis true character, and so com
pletely did he hoodwink the authori-
ties of the church. that while q villain
at heart he was saint in appearance.
He was never regularly licensed, so
that the title Reverend" did not
properly belong to him.
Although his intrigues were much
talked of while he was yet quite young,
and his course deprecated, his friends
we're hopeful that as he grew older he
would grow wiser, and that in time he
would become shining light in the
literary and religious world. In the
spring of 1857, he was appointed col
porteur, and used to travel from pos
to post, teaching, talking, praying
and selling good books to the people
whose spiritual interests were in his
charge. He was here, as everywhere
successful, and is said to have accom-.
plished a great deal of good for his
Masters cause. Indeed, his success
was so certain, and SO unprecedented
that his friends insisted upon his tax.
ing charge of the church at Mount lie.
banon and yielding to their desire
though not regularly licensed, he be
came Minister of the Gospel, and en-
gagged to break the bread of life to sat
fering humanity, and point sinners tn
way to forgiveness Of sin and joy un
speakable, eternal and full of glory
Entering with zeal and feryency upoI
his work, he became at once the favor
ite preacher in the town. His church
was crowded with the young and the
gay. BY his impassioned eloquenct
De narrowed up the sinful soul to 1
consciousness of its wickedness, thu
certainty Of its future punishment, and
the ingratitude Of continuance, ani
then in contrast, holding mp the life
suSerings, and death Of the Redeemer