Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-22
Faithful Unto Death.

a touching story is narrated in con-
nection with the execution of Walter
Watson aAIiighland, Ind, for the muir
der oil Ezra Compton. The parties had
quarreied about the charge Of twenty.
hve cents for some soap made by Comp
ton, who was storekeeper. The wife
OF W atsOn, Ia whom he had been but a
year married. cndeavored to restrain
him from the quarrel. but her cnircaiies
failed. A week before the execution
Mrs. Watson visited the governor with
her babe in her arms, and made a strong
personal appeal for mercy. but that Off
cinl declined To interfere because the
sentence had been confirmed by the SUI
preme Court. The faithful wife was
daily visitor 10 her husbands cell, and
Joined him in fcTycnt prayers for for
pvcncss, During the last night most Of
the time she sat on his knee. breathing
words OF love and encouragement. or nj
his feet, carcssing his hands. lie was
truly pcnitcnt and expressed himself ~
having made peace with God. As the
time approached for the execution she
was for moment overcome and fell on
her husbands neck In uncomfortable
anguish, but suddenly she raised her
ilaxen 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 uyermastcrcd her agony. She
cOmbed his hair. and seeing all was
ready, said she would 90 with him. All
present demonstrated with her In which
the minister joined. Her reply was a
rebuke that few women would have ven
turcd. II should not have expected
this from minister. When | was mar
ried promised 10 cicaye 10 my husband
for better or for worse. promised this
Ia a minister. and am going 10 keep ms
word rs far as God will lct me" On
reaching the gallows the pair soonto be
sundcrrd 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 lcad
resting upon his shoulder. while the
minister made the closing prayers.
Meanwhile the culprii sat in his chair.
unmoyed. a hcart-brokcn wife was sob
hing 90 his bosom. strong men sobbed.
but the man about 10 be hanged seemed
an unintcrcstcd spectator Of the ABB
sorhing scene Of which he was the cen
tral figure For fully FIVE minutes he
SAT there without the least pcrccptiblc
twitch 81 muscle. There was no bra
vado in this comPusure; il was rather
the calmncss 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 G"od-bye. Walter
stepped hack and f,ll into the arms Of
the good Christian ladies who were there
To receive her. The last words of the
unhappy man were a fervcnt prayer for
mercy and for heavenly aid TO his poor
wife. At the shcriff7s 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: " / can cry no more: have no
more tears. God have mercy on me and
my little baby
An hour later the coffin WAS in an
East-bound train. accompanied 10y the
wife. At Richland. bleak station seven
miles from this point, 1t was deposited
on the barren ground. and as the train
moved on only one other person besides
the widow was in charge. The face that
broken-hcarted woman turned up TO the
occupants of the passing train, most Of
whom had seen the hanging. viii haunt
many In their dreams. - Baltimore dnieTi-
cuu.