New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-07
EXECUTION or HARDEN.

~.
Death has occupied prominent place in the public
journals late that Is needless to repeat the details
of the murder at this ne. Sufci TO say that after
long ard ably conducted trial he was fouud guilty of
having administered 70 his wife, quantity Of arsenic
which resulted in her death. lie then fled to Virginia
was suspected sent for and arrested, and on being
bIous hack placed upon trial to answer for her
murder. He was found guilty, and scntenced to lie
hung the 18th day Of June. From that day he was
respited to July 6 and that dsy the sentence was
duly executed.
Jacob S. Harden was born at BlaiTstown, n. j., Of
very respectable parents, beth Of whom are still living
He bas two brothers and two sisters 81 Of whom are
still residing in the Immediate neishborhOod Jacob
at the tine Of bis execution, little less than %
years Of age. He commenced life as school teacher
but in consequence Of the Liberties he was in the hab
Of taking wi his female pupils incurred the displsas
of their par nts and length obliged "a re-
hpquish that calling. He then became Methodist cir.
cut preacher and for two traversed on
foot the northern section of the State in which he was
born preaching IN the various towns aud villages on
the route He became quite noted exhorter, aud
was exceedingly successful as caup meeting preacher.
The title of Rev. doee not belong to him by right he
never having been ordained AZ minister but acted
only associate circuit preacher. Since his trial
ii has been as'ertainei that his iliq1itous ca
feer was commenced before ne became q
preacher Of the Gospel. aud was pursued by
him at all times The confession which be has written
and desired 10 have published for ths benefit of his
father is said to contain much scandal that s pub.
LEGATION written has been deemed unadviabls. II
has therefore been submitted to two clergymen who
sre now engaged in revising it. After having shown
himself 10 competent as circuit preacher, he at
length called upon TO preside congre cation at
Mount Lebanon. With much apparent hesitation on
his part he accepted the call and entered upon his
duties
it was while 50 engaged at Mount Lebanon that be
was married to Miss Chtharine OoricD, a Young lady
with whom he had attended school. There had been
much difficulty between Dir, Harden aod Mrs Doron
previous to their marriage, and II only in
Guenee Of there having been much scandal circulated
in regard to them to attract the attention Of the
Methodist Conference that he submitted to the union
Mrs. Harden is represented to have been very pretty
woman about 20 years of age, snd waste him loving
and truthful wife. Scarcely had they been married
for halt year when abe suddenly sickened and died.
So peculiar were the circumstances attending her
death that suspicion Immediately attached to Mr.
Harder and be subsequently fled to Virginia. where ne
was discovered teaching school under an assumed
name. With the particulars OF his trial which was
but recently concluded our readers are familiar.
On the night previous TO the execution the Of
Belydere where the murderer confined, was over
run with visitors. Every hotel was overlooking with
people from the country and neghborng towns MANY
of whom compelled to take ldgir upon the floor.
The traDs Of coming into the place crowded
with men, women and children all Mastering to get
day the Court House. in which is also the jail,
surrounded by an anxious crowd, all eagerly seeking
admission 10 the prisOn yard. But few were success
full however, as the Jail yard would nor accommodate
more than one hundred and fifty people. AL along the
sde Of the park opposite the Court House. temporary
booths had been erected where specializing Jerseymen
and ambitious urcbins dispened small beer and ginger
bread TO the hungry crowd Great numbers OF females
coDgre gated OF the corners Of the streets the JAIL
and al the forenoon farm wagons, with the owaer's
family and "hep" were continually arriving Tue
whole town wore a gala day appearance, ard the
crowd resembed that which used TO assemble In coun-
try towns on General Training days.
The scahold OF which Harden was executed was az
entirely new one erected under his supervision,
and in full view Of the grated window of his cell IL
occupied the north west cofper OF the yard sad TOOK
I'D nearly one fifth Of the space inclosed within the
fheen foot brick wals II consisted of two uprghts,
the full hight of the wall with a crosspece az the top.
fight OF seps led to platform erected abo1t MD
way Of the s,aiold few inches below this platform
was placed the fatal drop, he having expressed pro-
ference for mode Of death, the Csrs custom beiug
10 raise the body suddenly by heavy we-ghts' Sup
porting this crop was swinging arm 80 arrange IN :,
ann away allowing the drop 70 tal atde thus leaving
the BODY suspended IL the sir. This seafold was
erected a. HaIdenf special request, AID It's operation
fully tested by him previous TO lis execution
Jp TO the last moment the cen emDed man preserved
calm and composed exterior talking freely VIA all
who were admitted to zee him. His father took 8 ST
farewell of bin Friday the 18th OF June the utter
=
de NIGHT was pent in prayer and religious
lion with the Rev Mr.. Kirk. Presbyterian clergy
man and the Rev. Dir. Day of the Methodist persns-
on lie slept but little iii after dsynght on froay
morning. and Oh awakening had another interview
with tie cergymen. One OF biz brotheTs also saw him
On Ttursdsy siI &c witch time none Of his relatives
have seen him. he mas written small book OF sdmo-
milton to the young, full of useful and show
inc the MALL er in which he led into crime. Not
hstandine the confident assertions Of the citizens OF
Belyifere thai Harden made full and detailed con-
fesson of biz MANY crimes his couDse assert that they
know nothing Of H. and do not teileve IN te existence
The only confession they know OF Is that contained
in the little uamthlet mentioned. His mother mss not
con "a ace hn al all since his trial in consequence Of
sickness nor has either Of hs sisters VISITED blm. IL
was Only within the pact two or three days teht he re-
a,;zed the euornity Of biz crime AID appreciated bis
i'm. rosiiop more fully Then he admitted the Impair
altv of his trial and the fairness Of the Judge and
tie Jury and said that he iet tns' his sentence was
inst cIe He thought Be war prepared 70 dle inu 'ns,
he ooud walk with firmuesf 90 the scatod but could
not he po.itiye. He admitted also having seduced
everal voung girls and having had Illicit ntercourse
With married women with whom he became acquainted
durpe HE ministerial career he stated That ne mas
rsrep ed Of his en- and had full faith IN the forgive
~ of God Hirdtu talked freely, clearly, and plau-
sibv and il was bg Of his good converst-
iionai powers that he was able TO prose
cute Lie villa.nies no successfully Inc imPreS
ion left upon a person who conversed WIN
rim, was Il at he wa most plausible viilsn-one who
Rad been 20 long living lie 10 all the world thai be
was now unable believe himself-that he was lsocr
inc hard 20 convince huse that be was penitent snd
striving 10 do what wss right, bp! that, hL9"lus nun
ali a. we'll he yss doubtful Of his own thoughts as
we'll as words In short he seemed like man whose
Ife-orp object had been 70 deceive others, ana tns
object bad been successfully accomplished 'ha' hc
VS. /, o,y afr;id Of himeelf-t VA the Immortal
Jecob s. Harden striving 10 believe an place oonn
d4ros in the Jacob ;. Harden Of flesh and 0o0h Aet
sr nteIyicw vita such man. ole eoulo not heip le@
lug deer sorrow leaving Ills cell ;hat one 9" young