The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-05-24
Harden, the Murderer.

The Rev. JACOB -. 1aTdeH, ICceHIly
convicted for the murder Of his wife III
New jersey, is only about three-and-twen-
tv wears of age, and was born and brought
up in the country, or its immediate vlcln-
ity. where he has just been convicted o.
of one Of the most atrocious crimes on rec
ord. Displaying precious ''gift Of CAB
while a youth, he was made colporteur
for distributing and selling books, and
for his zeal in this occupation he was two
or three years ago converted into Meth
odist preacher, and placed in charge OF
primitive congregation among the hills OF
Warren county. He possesses but linn
tied education, is destitute Of refinement,
and has evidently but Il slight knowledge
of human nature His ignorance Of sci
ence NAV at once be inferred from the fact
of his using arsenic as the means Of COM
mittine his crime Poisoning with that
drug is now almost certain to be discover
ed, for its symptoms easily excite suspicion,
and when suspicion is once aroused, the
cause Of death, by chemical tests, may be
readily ascertaincd. Stephens, who was
lately executed, in his profound ignorance,
made the same mistake as Harden, and 1t
cost him his life.
Notwithstanding the Deficiencies we have
just mentioned, Harden is considered quite
a good looking man, and having on hand
a large stock Of impudence, he soon be
came popular among his congregation, and
was idolized by the unmarried females Of
his flock With these circumstances in
favor, he appears to have let himself
loose among the female lambs, and for
some time he led with them a rowing and
pleasant life. Foolish young girls ''sct
their caps for the handsome parson, and
he coquetted among them at his leisure.
At last, overstepping the bound Of prudence
he attempted what Burns, who understood
such matters. calls the ''illicit rove" with
an amiable and confding young girl named
DOrland, the daughter Of well-to-do far
mer in the neichborhood After securing
this young womans affections, the rcyer-
end sensualist became disclined to matri-
mony, having. in the meantime, become
enamored with a few new faces, and par
ticularly with that of certain Miss Smith
Miss Dorland urged Harden to fulfil his
promise and marry her, as scandal con-
cerning them had become rife in the Vi
cinity. The letters that passed between
them while this matter was in controversy.
shows that Harden was a cold-bloodcd.
brutal, lying scamp. and inferior TO the wO-
man whose heart he was trampling upon
in every ennobling attribute Of humani-
ty.
At last, the conduct Of Harden reached
the Methodist conference, and when he
found that he was to be hauled over the
Goals after a great deal of squirming. dodg-
h. -. J
to offer his victim the consolation of mar
rlage. Immediately after the marriage
was celebrated, Harden commenced treat
ing his bride with coldness and studied
contempt and neglect, while in the com
pany of others, which is the most cruel of
all treatment to loving wife Not being
prepared to go to housekeeping. they visi-
ted short time among their relatives, and
at Hardcn's solicitation, in a few weeks.
they went to board at a Mr. Ramsav's.-
W hlle this person and his wife were both
sick, so rs to be unable to observe his
movements, Harden procured the arsenic
at Easton, Pennsylvania, and commenced
administering it to his wife, in some rem
edles that he was giving her for a bad
cold, with which she was afflicted. Day
by day, this monster gradually admins
tered the fatal drug to this woman, until
her life was wasted away While stand
ing by her dying bedside, he heard this
poor young wife, in beseeching tones,
exclaim, "water! only a glass of water.
am burning, up" and he offered her not
even this relief He declined to send for
a physician, but still with deadly purpose
gave her the burning poison, and when
the damp of death was upon her fair brow.
he then even refused to send for her
parents, that they might console her in
the mortal agony of her dying hour
Thus this reverend murderer severed the
ties that only three months before had
bound him in wedlock to a woman that
loved him to distraction
Suspicion was excited-Harden neglcc-
ted to attend his wife's funeral-a coro-
ners jury was called, and the murderer
went before it, and adding perjury to his
other crime, swore that his wife when dv-
ing, confessed that she had poisoned her
self. This idea was secuted, and Harden
tndlng dangerthickening around him fled
Some months after he was recaptured.-
lie has now been tried and Justly SEN
tenceed to be hung on the 18th dav Of
next June.