The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-05-08
Faithful Unto Death.

A touching story is narrated in con-
nection with the execution of Walter
Watson ut Highland, Ind, for the muir
der of Ezra Compton. The parties had
quarrelcd about the charge OF twenty
five cents for some soap made by Comp
ton, who was a storekeeper. The wife
of Watson, to whom he had been but q
year married. endeavored to restrain
him from the quarrel, but her cntreaties
failed. A week before the execution
Mrs. Watson visited the governor with
her babe in her arms, and made a stfong
personal appeal for mercy, but that otli-
cial declined to interfere because the
sentence had been confirmed by the Su-
preme Court. The faithful wife was q
daily visitor to her husbands cell, and
joined him in fervent prayers for for.
giveness, During the last night most of
the time she sat on his knee, breathing
words Of love and encouragement, or ut
his feet, caressing his hands. He was
truly penitent and expressed Himself as
having made peace with God. AS the
time approached for the execution she
was for moment overcome ard fell on
her husbands neck in uncomfortable
anguish, but suddenly she raised her
flaXen head and assisted in arraying him
for his doom. She had contributed a
necktie and pair Of slippers and put
them on him with fierce determination
that overmastered her agony. She
combed his hair, and seeing all was
ready, said she would 60 with Linn. All
present demonstrated with her, in which
the minister joined. Her reply was a
rebuke that few women would have ven
tured. Il should not have expected
this from minister. When 1 was mar
ried promised TO cleave to my husband
for better or for worse. promised this
to minister, and am going to keep my
word as far as God will let me-" On
reaching the gallows the pair soonto be
sundcred 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 prayers.
Meanwhile the culprit sat in his chair,
unmoved. A heart-brokcn wife was sob
bing on his bosom, strong men sobbed,
but the man about to be hanged seemed
an unintcrested spectator of the abb
sorbing scene of which he was the CEN
tral figure For fully five minutes lie
sat there without the least perceptible
twitch of muscle. There was no bra
vado in this composure; it was rather
the calmness of resignation. At the
close of the religious exercises the two
stood up, and for the last time she en-
braced her husband, kissed him passion.
ately, and with Goodbye, Walter,
stepped back and fell into the arms Of
the good Christian ladies who were there
to receive her. The last words of the
unhappy man were fervent prayer fol
mercy and for heavenly aid to his pool
wife. At the sheriff's house she saw tn,
remains of her husband in his coffin, and
kissing his lips and arranging the hair
turned away with look of woe ant
said: II can cry no more; l have nt
more tears. God have mercy on me ant
my little baby!"
An hour later the coffin was in ar
East-bound train, accompanied by tht
wife. At Richland, bleak station sever
miles from this point, it was deposited
on the barren ground, and rs the traiI
moved on only one other person beside
the widow was in charge. The face tha
broken-hcarted woman turned up to tn,
occupants of the passing train. most o
whom had seen the hanging, will haun
many in their dreams. s.-Baltimore Amcri
| can.