Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-04-17
From the Chicago Times.
Keeping Her Marriage Vow.


ton ut Highland on the 10th of January
last, was hanged to-day in the Jail yard
in This place. He was 81 years Of age.
The hanging was attended with what
may be called scalfold effects, in their
nature almost beyond the power Of pen
TO describe.
Watson shot Compton because Comp
ton, who was storekeeper, had made
an error about quarters worth soap.
Watson's wife, a most respectable and
Christian young woman, 10 whom he
had been married about year, suspec-
ted her husbands intention when he
started to go to the store to wreak his
vengeance upon Compton, and implored
him 10 stay at home; but her entreaties
were useless.
.Ia.l ! week ago Mrs. Watson, with
her babe in her arms. and accompanied
by one OF the attorneys for the defence,
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 in
terfere.
It 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 a few hours
needed rest IN sleep. She was with
him up to midnight on Wednesday, and
was at his side again at 4 o'clock yes
terday morning, and finally she mounted
the scaffold with him. During the last
night most of the time she sat on his
knee with her arms about hIs neck,
breathing words OF love and encourage
ment. Then anon she sat at his feet,
caressing his hands.
The hanging had been set for 12 o'clock.
At 10 o'clock the cell was entered by
the Rev. Messrs. Wainscoit. Green, and
Garragus, Mrs. Ramsey, Miss Anna
Merriman, and one or two other Chris
tan ladies'. The doomed man prayed
fervently for the forgiveness OF his sins.
His devoted wife knelt by hls side, join
ing her suppEicahons with his own.
During these prayers he said: "I feel
| have made my peace with God. lfeel
a strength not Of my own. People have
been afraid that 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"
Al IL o'clsck the Sherifftold The pris-
oner that he must make ready. For
moment The little wife was overcome.
She fell on her husbands neck in un-
utterable anguish: but suddenly she
raised her faxen head from his shoul-
ders. There was an almost fierce de-
termination in her eyes, and the lines
Of her mouth were set. With a tender
hand, but without q tear dImming her
fixed eyes. she set about to array her
husband for his doom. A neat suit of
broadcloth had been procured for him.
She herself had contributed a pair OF
slippers and necktie. 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 care
and attention to details that could not
have been exceeded had she been deck
ing him for marriage least. She then
combed bis hair, and having added the
last loving touch and made him a really
handsome fellow, remarked: ''Now
you are ready. Walter. and will 90
with YOU" She had announced the
day before her determination to accom-
pany her husband on the scaFold, but
no one dreamed that she meant to carry
il TO execution. All the attendants re-
monstFated with her. One of the min
isteEs said. softly: "Mrs. Watson, this
wtlI never do" Quick as . fash she
turned on him. replying 81 should not
have expected this from a minister.
When was married I promised TO
cleave 10 my husband FOR better or