The weekly clarion., 1879-04-16
A WIFE'S DEVOTION.
The Pathetic Story of the Execution
of Walter Watson.
CLINGING To \ HUSBAND THROUGH BET
TER AND THROUGH WORSE.

| CLlNGING TO y HUSBAND THROUGH BET
TER AND THROUGH WORSE.
Newport Ind, Dispatch to Chicago Times. ]
Walter Watson, who shot Ezra Comp
ton, at Highland, on the 10th of Janua-
ry last, because of a quarrel about twen-
| ty-fve cents worth of soap, was hanged,
| to-day, in the jail yard at this place, the
capital of Vermilion County. The exc
cution was one of the most striking and
pathetic in the history of capital punish
ment. x
1t was not until Yesterday morning
that the culp prit fully realized that his
fate was irrevocably sealed. From the
time that sentence was pronounced upon
him he was daily visited by ministers of
the Gospel of this and neighboring villa
ges, as we'll as by several devoted Chris
tian ladies. He was
PENITENT FROM THE VERY START.
But his conduct gave evidence that what
believers call thorough change of heart
had not taken place. However, during
the last twenty-four hours Of his life,
when all hope of a Communication of sem
tence had forsaken him, the looked-for
change came with due effect, and, in the
language of one Of his Christian attend
ants, The threw himselfwholly upon the
love and intercession of Jesus, and de-
clared that strength had come to him
that was entirely outside Of himself"
During the weary weeks of his confine-
ment in jail
HIS WIFE
was daily visitor there. Her devotion
was touch of the better part of human
nature in this tragedy that lent to it as
poets in the highest degree pathetic.
They were married a year ago last
Christmas. She was then just past 16.
| Six months ago a child was born to them.
Still in her teens, she finds herself
mother and the widow of an executed
! murderer.
THIS CHILD-wIFE,
in stature, is wee bit of thing, but in
soul woman of great strength and pur-
pose Her face would make a study for
an artist She is blonde of very pro-
nounced type. Her forehead is broad
and high Her features, though far
from regular, are exquisite in their deli
cacv and mobility. Her eyes are large
and intelligent. At one moment her
mouth indicates great tenderness and
sweetness of disposition, and iii the next
instant the lips will compress with a
firmness that fills the beholders with
surprise. During the last twenty-four
hours of her husbands life she
NEVER FORsO0K HIS SIDE,
except to give him few hours needed
rest in sleep. She was with him up to
side again at o'clock, yesterday morn
ing, and finally mounted the scaffold
with him. During the last night, most
of the time, she would sit on his knee,
with her arms about his neck, breathing
words oflove and encouragement. Then
anon she would sit at his feet, caressing
his hands; again, she would place her
self behind his chair, stroke his hair, and
every few moments bend over him and
print kiss on his brow or lips.
PRAYERS WITH THE CONDEMNED.
The execution had been set for -
o'clock AT 10 o'clock, the cell was en-
tered by Revs. Wainscott, Green and
Garragus, Mrs Ramsey, Miss Anna Mer-
riman, and one or two other Christian
ladies' Thedoomed man prayed fervent-
ly for the forgiveness of his sins. His
devoted wife ever knelt by his side, join
ing her supplications to his own. Dur
ing these prayers he remarked: Z feel
l have made my peace with God. [ feel
strength not of my own. People have
been afraid that | would kill myself. l
could not do that that would not bring
me forgiveness; l would only add an
other crime to that / have already COM
mitted." Several days before he had said
that could he feel that he had made his
peace with God, he would prefer hang
ing to life Imprisonment. He was now
asked if he was reconciled to death, and
answered: Yes; as much as any man can
be- | feel that