Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-12

Execution of Harden, the Wife Murderer


"
ded last Friday. on the occasion Of the execution
OF Jacob 5. Harden, for the murder Of his wife
by poisoning. The people came in ON foot and
in all manner Of vehicles from the country round
including many women. They were disappointed
IN the sight-seeing, however, as the execution took
place inside tho jail yard. whereat thero was some
popular indignation. To their credit be it said,
none Of the women Of the village were to be seen.
Many drunken men were about the streets. A
guard OF soldiea were marched in front of tho
courthouse door and about the cell windows and
yard The sheriff refused over two thousand up
pcations FOR permits, rs the execution could
not be from the outside of tho prison. Not
over three hundred persons were admitted inside.
The gallows was placed In view Of llnrdens win.
dow in the Jail Mt his own request. lie wont out
carly in the morning asd ooolly examined 1t in
every particular, and Expressed his satisfaction
with the arrangements.
The Rev. Mr. Day Of tho Methodist. and Rov
Mr.. Kirk, Of tho Presbyterian church were
with the prisoner. He said he felt that God had
forgiven him. and he was prepared to die. lIe
made no speech from the gallows, as had been ex-
pccted.
ruE LAST FAREWELL.
His brother, n young man. WINS with him tho
most OF Thursday; they sang and prayed toge,h-
or, and took leave of each other. His mother
had not seen him since tho trial. when she wns
here to testify She is fine old lady aud will
not probably survive ths stroke long. His father
took leave Of him some tme;ago. lie bid his fiends
gnod-byc with warm expression of gratitude and
friendship, giving each his GARD, oontaing simply
Good bye, j. 5. Harden written in u clear.
steady hand.
THE ASCENT ON TnE sCArrJLp.
At just halfpast one o'clock the solemn, silent
procession of the sheriff Harden with his arms
p'nioned md the halter about his neck, the clergy
and tho physicians came forth from tho coll and
ascended tho scafold. Harden seemed ns calm
aud composed during his trinl. lie was dressed
in his clothes he wore during his cvn6nemcnt.-
All knelt, tho spectators removing their hats
and Harden. dropped upon one knee, his face
turned upwards. uturred in u low murmur an
ejaculatory prayer. beseeching God to forgive him
and to be with him. and calling upon Jesus Christ
to save him in Heaven. The silence which pre-
vailed was sudden and painfully intense. Tho
prayer occupied but two or throe moments. and
then, rising, Harden stood facing the sheriff upon
tho fatal drop, and the moose nncolled from
his neck and attached to the iron hook pendant
from the rope connecting with the pulley. Stand
ing in the csutre Of the drop, he gave directions
to the sheriff, that upon preconcerted signal the
rope should he cut and then, turning half
round. he shook hands with his weeping friends
and calling each one by name said. very distinctly,
but in low tones. Goodbye"
A bluck glazed cap was then drawn over his
face, the handkerchief with which the signal was
Ina, ad;us,ad undcr h;s l.T, o. liz ,;n;on.S
and mn.L ed hs .tood nsrfoc,iv a,oc, and .;,ha"t
Tho s;rbte., norcant;hIs ,,an,or AHA ..Gooa hvs"
IN the sber;f and addsd ~ thank von far ,ho
manv L;ndne..es van h. .. .hown NJ. ~ rr;anJH
'The sber;F than de.condaa ,hs .,.ns az ,ha se,.r
f,Id and tool hs ,tat;on Nv The nuilsv md for n
mom.n, ,hor. w.. IN .cnn;,;n, nonsa Uard.n
s,ooJ nn1inchingIv orsc, mutter;ng "(;od bov.
mercy mon ma ord i..ns .ova ~. IN U.ov.
an y" Than far an ;n.t.n. n. lo.Lsd srnl, and
sle,,,v into Tho dsrl Fac. or d.s,h--,ha vh;,.
bandIsrch;sf G",,ercd i;I" " vonnd.d b;rd ~
the ground-the dron f.ll with a dull tbnd-the
snectstors reco;Ied and clo.ea their ava. n. from
tbe sfrsc, IF a be.vv ilow and Tho vnfor,nno,a
man hunc su.,onde3 hv ths nscL For a r,o,nsnt
no hnnn nsrfsr,Iv .,;li ,-;,h i;.nh. .snor.,aa I'D
oytenJsd ,hsn draw h;m.sH nn .,h = .,r"na c"n.
trac,;on ot ,ba mnscl.. hi. nn;onsd l.. nd s,rov.
~ reoch ,hs cord wh;oh va. .hoL;nn om, ,;s ,;f.
hi. i;mh. wars .Iowv hon, srd - .iewlv ra,,r.i
.even ~ s;cht ,;ma.. hi. hodv .~.v.J S.cs~arJa
ond frv.sJ. .na -;,hont 80 =. .;n,Io
,nnrm"r hi. ,n;r;, os.sd A. God who n.,. -
A. Il hi. S.a,h hsd hosn ,slsaranh"d s.,s,;on..
iv tn ,hs crowJ on,.ds ,"a Jaa1 .;la,oa ,,,. bro.
t.n hv ,o.d o,;s. NJ .Hs,s non.n"..co"d bxo
Uardon " and thss. wars Tho a., so,,d. wh;ch
hrnLe ,bo drsodGnI r;no;nr in tha .nasrers sors
Aid ,hs ,.o.t n.,c.". .,;i,,... ~ ~. -
.tran,.iv ,.l;a.sd asa;os, ,Sa ..nrmn.. o,;y.;da
,Lo h,Jv hnno narfas,iw ALI .hs hsad draon.t
unon tbs sbonidsr and s,mo.t ,oncb;ns ,Is spsc
tator. The cornss stiG and s,srL srsvsd nn;.e.
lcssly to md fro. The dron fell st nr.c;s.lv 25.