Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-07
The New Jersey wife Murder-ParticuIars
Of the Sentence nf Hex. 4. &. Harden.


of the Sentence OF Rev. !. s. Harden.
The telegraph has already announced the
sentence of Rev. J. s. Harden, for the murder
of his wife, by poison, and Fridays New
York Times gives the particulars in letter
dated Belvidere, Thursday, Mat 8: ..
Court opened at 10 o'clock, the room being
filed. The Court ordered the prisoner to be
set at the bar He came in leaning on the
arm of the Sheriff, pale and haggard in ap-
pearance. Upon calling his nat1eI he stood
up, without assistance, to hear the sentence
of the Court, which is as follows;
Jacob 3. Harden, am about to proceed to
the discharge of the most solemn duty which
a mortal man can be called TO perform. This
trial, which for the last two weeks has been
the object of so much interest, is closed.
The humane maxim of the law that you were
to be considered innocent until you were
proven guilty, no longer applies to you. A
jury of your courts, selected by yourself, of
unprejudiced, intelligent conscientious men,
after full investigation of your case in all
its length and breadth, after hearing all the
arguments of your counsel, pressed upon
them with untiring energy, with an elo-
quence rarely equaled, with pathos which
drew tears from the stoutest heart, and with
force and powerwhich could not have failed
guilt, had it have been of adamantine
strength, have proved that that there was no
doubt of your guilt, that the evidence could
not be true, and you be guiltless of the agony
and blood of your wife, that she was foully
murdered by you in manner almost too
horrible for conception.
With the verdict of that jury, il is almost
needless to say this Court is entirely satisfied
1t could have been no other without disre-
gard of the duties which they owe to the So
ciety of which they are members, without
disregarding their oaths. If human testimony
can demonstrate the perpetration of mur.
der, it has demonstrated that you are the
perpetrator of this. Have, you anything tc
say why sentence ofAdeath should not bt
pronounced against you? If you have, now
is the time to say it. .--..-.-r .. -s..,f.. .
| The Court here paused for an answer TIL,
prisoner deliberately raised his hand and said
81 have nothing to say on that subject.
refer you to my counsel" Mr.. Shipman aros,
! in his place and said:
81 have nothing to say, may it please you
Honor"
The Judge resumed: at remains for M
to prooounce the sentence of the Court, whicl
| is hereby by the Court considered and ad
! judged, that you, Jacob s. Harden, for tn
felony and murder in the first degree of Han
nah Louise Harden, of which you have beef
convicted, in manner and form as charged il
the indictment, be taken to the Jail Of thi
County Of Warren, whence you have bee
brought, and there safely kept until Thurs
day, the 2Sth day of June next, and that o
that day, between the hours of 10 o'clock i
the forenoon and clock in the Afternoon
within the prison of the County of WaTeI
where you shall be confined, or in an inclose
yard of said prison, or within an inclosur
erected for that purpose adjoining such prison
at the discretion of the Sheriff, you be hun
by the neck until you be dead, and may Go
have mercy on your SOUL"
After the sentence was concluded th
prisoner sat down and wept. His counst
also and many others were bathed in tears
The reporter ofthe New York Herald say
the conviction of Rev. Mr.. Harden, for tn
murder Of his wife at Belyidere, New Jerse,
caused the greatest excitement. The blOI
will undoubtedly kill his mother, who is no
very ill. The popular feeling is with the jur
They were unanimous and stayed out as
matter of form. Harden is almost derange
with grief. .-r. .. l.