The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-25
FULFILLING HER MARRIAGE vow.

a touching story is narrated IN con-
nectiOn with the recent execution of
Walter Watson at Highland, Indiana,
for the murder of Ezra Compton. The
parties had quarreled about the charge
of a quarter dollar for some soap made
by Compton. who was a StorekeepeT.
The wife of Watson, to whom he had
been but year married. endeayOred to
restrain him from the quarrel. but her
entreatieS failed. \ week before the
execution Mrs. Watson visited the COVER
nor. with her babe in her arms. and
made a strong personal appeal for mercy.
but that official declined to interfere be
cause the sentence had been confirmed
by the supreme court. The faithful
wife was a daily visitor TO her husbands
cell, and joined him in fervent prayers
for forgiveness. During the last night
most of the time she sat on his knee.
breathing words of love and encourage
ment, or at his feet, caresSing his hands
He was truly a penitent, and expressed
himself as having made peace with God.
As the time approached for the execution
she was for moment overcome. and
fell on her husband 5 neck III uncOntrOl-
liable anguish, but suddenly she raised
her flaXen head and assisted in arraying
him for his doom. She had contributed
a neclltie and a pair of slippers, and put
them on him with a fierce determination
that Overmastered her agony. She comb
ed his hair. and seeing all was ready.
said she would 90 with him. All present
demonstrated with her. i'm which the
minister Joined. Hereby was rebuke
that few women would have yentUred.
I should not have expected this from a
minister. When l was married | prom
iSed to cleave to my husband for better
or for worse. | promised this to Il min
lstcr, and l am going to keep my word
as far as God VIII let me. ' On reach
ing the galiOws the pair soon TO be SUnder-
ed mounted the steps hand in hand.
They were seated side by side over the
fatal trap. She again took his hand and
sobbed with her little head resting upon
his shoulder. while the minister made
the closing prayer.
Meanwhile the cUlprit sat in his chair.
mmoved. \ heart-broken wife was
SODbing ON his bosom. strong men sob
bed. but the man about to be hanged
seemed an uninteTested spectator OF the
absorbing scene of which he was the
central figure. For fully five minutes
he sat there without the least percepti-
BILE twitch of It muscle. There was no
bravadO in this cOmpoSure; il was Tath-
CT the cdlmneSS of resignation. At the
close OF the religious exercises the two
stood up. and for the last time she en-
bTaCed her husband. kissed him passion
ately. and with Goodbye. Walter"
stepped back ana fell back into the arms
of the good Christian ladies who were
there to receive her. The last words OF
the unhappy man were Il prayer for
mercy and for heavenly aid TO his poor
wife. At the sherif's house she saw
the remains OF her husband in his coffin.
and kissing his lips and arranging the
hair, turned away with a look of woe.
and said: Il can cry no more | have
no more tears. God have mercy on me
and my little baby. "
An hour later the coffin was il an
east-boUnd train, accompanied hy the
wife. At Richland. a bleak station seven
miles from Highland, il WAS deposited
ON the barren ground. and as the train
moved on only one other person beside
the widow was in charge. The face
that hrOken-hearted woman turned up to
the occupants of the passing train, most
Of whom had seen the hanging. viii
haunt many in their dreams.