Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-24
Tho ALLEGED Wife.Nfurder IN New Jersey.
Trial OF the Rev. Jacob Harden for the
Ncfarious Crime. rutH

Tho Alleged WifeaMurder in New Jersey.
Trial OF the Rev. Jacob Harden for the
NcfariOus Crime.
The trial Of the Rev. Jacob Harden, charged
with the murder of bis wife, is now in pro-
gress at Belvidere, N. j. The trial has been
twice postponed, but at the present term the
jury was impanneled and TIE prosecutor ar
gued fhe case. His opening address presents
the main facts in the case on the side Of the
prosecution. Mr.. Harden was the son of
Jacob Harden, in Blairstown; the poisoned
wife was the daughter of Mr.. Durling of
the same place. They were schoolmates
when young, and intimate. Their intimacy
was broken and they separated for some time
until they again were found together at Mt.
Lebanon, on the borders Of Warren, Hunter
don. Here the acquaintance was renewed
and resulted In marriage. Did not 10 to
housekeeping Mrs. Harden was sent for a
few days before her death, by her husband, to
stay with him at the residence of Mr.. Ram
sey, where he was boarding, until she died.
Her parents at once went to the scene Of her
death on the 9th Of March, and their suspi-
cions of foul means, by various circumstances
were excited. Proceedings were Immediately
instituted to ferret out the mystery.
When Mr.. Harden was looked for he was
not to be found, and was next heard ofht the
village Of Paramount, Va, where he was ar
rested on or about the 18th of March, 1859,
and lodged in the Jail of this county. 1t will
not be be denied by the defense that the
death of Hannah S. Harden was violent,
and after mature deiberation by grand
inquisition of the county, Mr.. Harden
has been charged as the guilty party ia legal
form. To sustain the charge, it will be
proved that Mr.. Harden sought and cult
vated the intimacy with the deceased; this
resulted in matrimonial engagement about
1et Of Nm nr;n tba
Mr.. Harden manifested by his acts desire
to break the engagement. A correspondence
between them ensued, which will be pro-
duced. The difficulties became public and
entered the church. The result was meet
ing at the house of her father, and ssettle-
ment of all difficulties. Mrs. Harden re-
leasing him in a formal style from all
causes of complaint, he giving a written
agreement to marry, and receiving certii-
cate from her father that all was settled.
This was desired by him, as the rumor spread
ing through the community were likely to
damage his prospects at the Conference about
to meet.
After his return from Conference his con-
duct was such that she was induced to throw
up the marriage contract. They were soon
after married. After the marriage his con-
duct toward her was that of GOODNESS and
neglect. Mrs. Harden enjoyed good health
until short time before her death. Visited
her husband at Mr.. Ramseys, This boarding
place. two, three or four times before that
which proved the last, The last time Mr.
Harden sent on for her she was in good
health and spirits. Then commenced her
sickness. Mr.. Ramsey was away from home.
Mrs. Ramsey had just recovered from sick
ness. Her only assistance Miss Smith. On
Tuesday night she was taken sick, and vonl-
tied on Wednesday also. Wednesday night
slept in Mrs. Ramsey's room and was up sew
eral times in the night. Thursday came
down, and laid upon the lounge, took her
meals regular. On Friday she was sick, and
desired him to take her home. He desired
her to stay over Sunday, or until he came
from New York. Went to church on Sun
day. On Monday was well, and worked.
On Tuesday morningdid not get up to break
fast. Mrs. Harden said she was taken to
vomiting about midnight. Harden gave her
powders in milk on Tuesday. On Wednes-
day. ten minutes before two o'clock P. NJ,
she died. Harden made no effort to save
her. He gave contradictory accounts of the
cause of her death, and in some cases pro-
fessed entire Ignorance of the cause. He er-
htbtted indecent haste in securing her burial,
desiring to have her funeral a little more
than twenty-four hours after her death. A
counsel Of physicians was called to inquire
into the cause of death so sudden; his con-
duct at this time was suspicious. He resisted
a post nortem examination.
He had doubtless contempt lated the deed for
a long time; had made inquiries into the op-
Grafton Of poison; had prepared the way by
publishing that she had symptoms of apo
plexy, and that he feared she would not live
long. During this time nothing was the
matter with her. He had the means to COM
nit the deed. Arsenic was purchased at Port
Golden, after Mr.. Ramsey left home to de-
stroy rats. Mr.. Harden took much interest
in the transaction. Itwas set in tumbler on
the kitchen mantle-piece. A part of the ar
senic was removed, and the space filled up with
wheat -four. On Monday, when he intended
to go to Milburn, he went to Easton-pur-
chased arsenic. He admits that she died by
poison, but alleges that she administered It
to herself; that she had communicated it to
him under very peculiar circumstances; he
made no effort to relieve her when suffering;
changed his name as James Austen after his
sudden disappearance and in this name en-
gagged to learn the Daguerrean business at
Mount Pleasant, in the State of Virginia;
wrote to the editor of the Belvidere IntelIi-
gencer for that paper for about the time ne
cessary to cover the time of the coroner's in
vestigation. The chemical analysis made by
| skilfnll chemists of New York City show that
large quantities Of poison had been admin
istered, some being still undissolved, her
bowels being either by purging or vomiting,
| entirely emptied of all contents.