Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-08-14
IIoRnorss OF THE scArrOLD.
Hanging Of Harden, the Mur-
derer, at Tazeweil Court
House.

| We make the following extract Iroih Iue
correspondence of Richmond, Va, paper,
dated from Tazewcll Court House, Va, 2s
June. ..,...
BENJAMIN F. Harden who murdered
Bierne of Kentucky, at this place, on the
10th Of last April, suffered tho extreme
penalty of the law this day at 2 o'clock, p.
NJ, in the presence of the largest crowd
ever assemble within the limits of Tazewcll
county. The excitement throughout South
western Virginia, since the day Of the mur-
der, has been unparalleled by any other
crime heretofore pcrpctratcd in this county.
Hundreds of rumors Of the many murders,
thefts, robberies and other crimes, have cir
culated from county to county, and from
one section to another, but all fell short Of
his written conlession as well as his dying
declarations made to the concou,se this day,
from the scaifold.
Rev. Hazard Williams read hymn
Before kneeling he repeatedly asked Hard
on to kneel which he rs often refused to do.
Mr.. Williams then offered most fervent
prayer in his behalf, in which he showed
how deeply he realized the awful situation
Of the poor criminal. Harden then arose
and said hc-would address the assembly
did not know that he had but one friend in
the immense multitude. The preacher re-
quosted all who felt any sympathy, in a
moral point Of view, to hold up their hands
All, as far as could be seen by the writer,
Immediately raised their hands. When, TO
the astonishment ofthe assembly, he Hard
cn) declared that "hc did not believe them. "
Harden then spoke for some twenty or
thirty minutes in which lie contradicted
his written confession, as well as other vcr-
bal statements made also, accusing two
highly respectable witnesses Of giving evi-
dcncc in court against him, which was not
true, and, at the same time, convincing his
hearers that prcvarication and erroneous
statements remain cntirclywith himself. All
that was really good in his whole rambling
and unconncctcd hcrrangue, was his advice
to both old and young, to avoid bad com
pany, sporting, and ardent spirits; the lat
ter article he declared most emphutically,
had brought him 10 his ignominious end.
He alse advised the young people to obey
their parents, and they would ever be on the
right track.
Major II. r. Boyle now proceeded to
pinion his arms and legs, adjust the rope
around his neck, and then drew over his
head the ominious white cap. All now left
the scaifold while Harden stood, as he had
through the cat;rc scene, calm, cool and
uncoucerncd, save few tears at the COM
mencement of his dying speech, as if he
had an hundred years tolive. Major Boyle
with one stroke of the axe, cut the rope
that held the trap. His body decended rap
idly and Harden lay upon the ground ap-
parcntly dead, completely stunned, and
nearly chokcd to death, the rope breaking
when it passed through the ring. a scream
or horror asccndel FROM number of females
some distance on the hill. The loud cry Of
order, order, stand back, &C., of the mount
ell and other guard around the gallows,
the rush of the crowd outside the en-
closure, created scene never to be for.
gotten by the thousands of spectators that
witnessed the cold water and other rcstora-
tives being administered by Drs. Glider
sleeve, Ward and others, in attendance In
less than thirty minutes Harden, with slight
assistance, was able once more to ascend the
scaffoll. The Rev. Mr.. Williams again
begged and entreatcd him to pray--jo ask
God forgiveness-to all such cntreaties he
remained uumoved, and finally si!enccd all
further efforts in his behalf by declaring
that as he could not Jorgire his enemies he
could not asI, .tergiccness,' he ''coald die ard
90 to eternal tomsnt.' Again he was
bound, the fatal knot adjusted, the white
cap, so ominious of a speedy launch to
that bourne from whence no traveller re.
turns drawn over his face. Once more
Major Boyle severed the rope sustaining
the scaffold, the trap falls, and the body of
Benjamin i. Harden was dangling between
Heaven and earth
He did not struggle much, and after re-
naming the usual time suspended, he was
taken down and buried some hundred yards
above the gollows, where now rests all that
is mortal Of one whose greatest pride SEEM
ed to be to die game; and let the world
cavl and wrangle as they may--all must
admit that he cnrredout his petty principle
with stoical indifference to death, and all
beyond that dread event. Let us draw a
veil over all further history and spccula-
tions Of the poor criminal. The outraged
law is satisfied, and to his God, before whom
he now stands, and to Him alone ha is ac-
countablc.
nsg" A South Danvers schoolboy has
written the following composition on his
native town. ..
"South Danvers is in the United States.
1t is bounded by Salem and reaches to
Middletown. It's principal river is Goldth-
waits brook, which empties into Salem
harbor Its principal lake is the mill pond,
which is dry in summer. Its principal pro-