The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-24
woman's Love.

hours ana eAecutioh VI
at Newport. Ind, Thursday, for the
murder of Ezra Compton
During the weary weeks OF his con-
fnement in jail his wife was a daily Wis
itor there. Her devotion was a touch
of the better part OF human nature III
this tragedy that lent to 1t aspects III
the highest degree pathetic 1hey
were married a year ago last Christmas,
She was then just past sixteen. Six
months ago a child was born to them.
| Still in her teens she finds herself a
| mother and the widow of an executed
murderer.
THIS CHILD-WIFE
in stature is a wee bit of a thing, but IN
soul a OF great strength Oh pur-
pose. Her face would make a stu'y
for an artist. She is a blonde of a very
pronounced type. Her forehead Is
broad and high. Her features. though
far from regular. are exquisite III their
d~elicacv and mobility. Her eyes are
large and intelligent. At one moment
her mouth indicates great tenderness
and sweetness of disposition. and III the
mex instant the lips will compress with
a tirmness that fills the beholders with
surprise. During the past twenty-tour
hours of her husband 5 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 four O'Clock yesterday
morning, and finally mounted the scat
fold with him. During the last night
most of the time she would sit on his
knee with her arms about his neck.
breathing words of encouragement.
Then anon she would sit at his feet,
caressing his hands; again, she would
place herself behind his chair, stroke
his hair, and every few IN bend
over him and print a kiss on his brow
or lips.
PRAYERS WITH THE CONDEMNED.
The execution had been set for -
o clock the cell Was entered by Revs.
Wainscott, Green and G%arrague, Mrs.
Ramsey, Miss Anna Meriman and one
or two other Christian ladies. The
doomed man prayed fervently for the
forgiveness of his sins. His devoted
wife ever knelt by his side, joining her
supplications to his own. During these
prayers he remarked Il feel | have
made my peace with good. | feel |
have made my peace with God. | feel
Il strength not of my own. People have
been afraid that [ would kill myself. |
could not do that that would not
bring me forgiveness / weuld only add
another crime to that | have already
an ,p,tfnI - Sn,nr,l I,y, bf,, ho
had said that could he feel that he had
made his peace with God he would pre-
fer hanging to life imprisonment. He
was now asked if he was r~econciled to
death and answered Yes as much
as any MAJ can be. | feel that
GOD HAS FORGIVEN NE,
and I'm ready to meet my fate
At ii o clock the sheriff made an
nOuncement to the prisoner that he
must make ready for the execution.
a moment the little wife was COM
overcome. She fell on her hus-
band 5 neck and gave tokens of unut-
terabIe anguish but all of IA sudden
she raised her haxen head from his 4;
shoulders. There was an almost fierce !
determination in her eyes, and the lines (
II her mouth were set as if cast in iron. :
With a tender hand, but without a tear
her fixed eyes. she set about :
. array her husband for his awful /,
A neat suit Of broadcloth had ,
'een procured for him. She herself had !
contributed a pair of slippers and a Y
lecktle. The first she placed on his y
the other she tied about his neck 9
the neck that wa SO soon to feel the s
atal cord-wlth a care and attention TO ;,
Ietalls that could not have been exceed !
d had she been decking him for a mar !,
feast. She then combed his hair. I
nd having added the last loving touch :
nd made him a really handsome fellow. j
Now You are ready. ;.
and | will 90 with YOU She .,
ad announced the day before her de- =
ermlnatlon to accompany :
HER HUSBAND on THE SCAFFoID II
ut no n dreamed that she meant 70 I
AIRY 1t to execution but it was now W
that she had really meant what fl.
said. All the attendants remon- k
rated with her. One of the ministers Is
,marked softly: Mrs. Watson. this dc
never do.
Quick as a flash she turned on him. &c
Il should not have expect til
| this from a minister. When was &C
arrled l promised to cleave to nv bl
usband for better or for worse. ca
this to a minister, and I am al
,lng to keep my word as far as God dc
let me. ca
Such was her determination that all u
,posltlon gave way. Precisely at - ar
clock Sheriff Dallas led the way to |
e jail-yard. where the scaffold had tn
zen erected. About one hundred l
itno.So- uoro 4La.A Ii be