The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-05-01

CIinging to her Husband even up to the
Fatal Trap of the GaIlows.
NEWPORT, Ind, April 3-Walter Wat
son, who shot Ezra Compton at Highland
on the 10Th of January last, was hanged
to day in the Jail yard in this place He
was 27 years OF age. The hanging was
attended with what may be called scat
fold effects, in their nature almost be-
yond the power Of pen to describe.
Watson shot Compton because Comp
ton, who was storekeeper, had made an
error about q quarters worth of soap.
| Watson's wife, a most respectable and
Christian young woman, to whom he had
been married about a year, suspected
| her husbands intention when he started
to 90 to the store to wreak his vengeance
upon Compton, and implored him to stay
at home; but her entreaties were useless
Just week ago Mrs. Watson, with
her babe in her arms, and accompanied
by one of the attorneys for the defense,
made strong personal appeal to Gov
Williams, and begged for the life Of her
| husband The Governor was deeply
moved, but was compelled to regard the
sentence of the Circuit Court and its
confirmation by the Supreme Court as
binding upon him, and he firmly, upon
the ground of public duty, refused to
| interfere
1t was not until yesterday morning
that the culprit fully realized that his
fate was irrevocably sealed. During the
weary weeks of his confinement in Jail
his wife was a daily visitor there, and
during the last twenty four hours of her
husbands life she never forsook his side
except to give him few hours needed
rest in sleep She was with him up to
midnight on Wednesday, and was at his
side again at o'clock yesterday morn
ing and finally she mounted the scaffold
with him. During the last night most Of
the time she sat on his knee with her
arms a bout his neck, breathing words of
love and encouragement. Then anon
she sat at his feet, caressing his hands.
The hanging had been set for II o'clock
At 10 o'clock the cell was entered by the
Rev. Messrs Waipscott Green and Car
ragus, Mrs. Ramsey, Miss Anna Merri
man, and one or two other Christian
ladies. The doomed man prayed fer
vently for the forgiveness of his sins.
His devoted wife knelt by his side, join
ing her applications with his own. Dur
ing these prayers he said: 81 feel have
made my peace with God. l feel a
strength not of my own. People have
been afraid that l would kill myself
could not do that; that would not bring
me forgiveness it would only add an
other crime to that | have already com
mitted. I'm ready to meet my fate"
| At II o'clock the Sheriff told the pris-
oner that he must make ready. For a
moment the little wife was overcome.
She fell on her husbands neck in unut
terable anguish; but suddenly she raised
her faxen head from his shoulders
| There was an almost fierce determine
ton in her eyes, and the lines of her
mouth were set. With tender hand
but without tear dimming her fixed
| eyes, she set about to array her husband
for his DOOM neat suit of broadcloth
had been procured for him She herself
| had contributed a pair of slippers and a
neckt The first she placed on his feet
the other she tied about his neck-the
| neck that was so soon to feel the fatal
| cord-with a care and attention to de-
tails that could not have been exceeded
| had she been decking for a marriage
feast. She then combed his hair, and
having added the last loving touch and
made him really handsome fellow, re
marked: Now you are ready Walter,
and | will 60 with you" She had an
nounced her determination to accompany
her husband to the scaffold, but no one
dreamed that she meant to carry it to
|
strated with her. One of the ministers
said, softly: Mrs. Watson, this will
never do" Quick as a flash she turned
on him, replying: Il should not have
expected this from a minister. When
was married | promised to cleave to my
| husband for betteJ or for worse | prom
ised this to minister, and / am going to
keep my word so far as God will let me. "
Precisely at II clock Sheriff Dallas led
the way to the jail yard. About 100 wit
nesses were there assembled. Holding
her husbands hand, the little woman
assembled the scaffold Two chairs were
placed over the fatal trap. One was
assigned to Watson, the other to his wife
She tenderly took his hand, caressed it,
and then fell sobbng on his shoulder.
Then the Rev. Mr.. Wainscott began to
read carefully prepared prayer from
manuscript, and on closing the prayer
said: Brother Watson, be calm and
trust in God"
Meanwhile the culprit sat in his chair,
unmoved A heart broken wife was
sobbing on his bosom, strong men sobbed
| but the man about to be hanged seemed
an uninterested spectator OF the absorb
| ing scene of which he was the central
| figure. For fully five minutes he sat
there without the least perceptible twitch
of a muscle. There was no bravado in
| this compOsure; it was rather the calm
ness OF resignation.
Then the Sheriff said, Stand up Wal
ter Watson"
Mrs. Watson arose with her husband.
She threw herself on his breast, and said,
Good by, Walter" kissed him passion.
ately on the lips, turned her white face,
full of bitterness and reproach. on the
multitude, stepped BACK, and Tell into
the arms of good Christiar Il ladies w hn