The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-07
KEEPING nER MlRRrIoE vOm
Cftnetng to her Husband even Mp TO the Fatal
Trap OF the GniIowa.


NEWPORT, Ind, April g. Walter Watson,
who shot Earn Compton Mt Highland on the 10th
Of january laet. WIS HANGED to-day IN the Jail
yard in this place lIo WIS n years Of age.
Tho hanging WIS attended with what may be
called srntrold effccts. In thcir nature almost
beyond the power Of pen to describe
Watson shot Compton because Compton. who
wns n storckecpcr. had made an error about
quarters worth Of soap. Wntson's wife, most
respectable and Christian young woman. N
whom he had boon married about n year. sus-
pccted her husbands intention when he started
to 70 to the store to wrcak his vengeance upon
Compton. and implorcd him 10 stay ut home:
but her cntrcntics were usnlnss.
just II week ago Mrs. Watson, with her babe
In her arms. aud accumuanicd by one OF the
attorneys for the defence. made n strong per
sonal appeal to Gov; Williams, and begged for
the lilo Of her husband. Tho Governor WINS
deeply mOycd. but wns compelled to regard tho
aentence of the Circuit Court and its conflrmn-
ton 10y tho supreme Court as binding upon
him, and he firmly, upon tho ground Of public
duty. refused to Interfere.
Il was not until yesterday morning that tho
cuprit July realized that his fate WIS rreyoca-
| bly, scaled. During the weary weeks ot his
| connnomrnt in jail his wife was u daily visitor
her hnsb"nds fs she 'r never toysook his sIde
| except 70 give him few hours needed rest in
| s.sep. She was with him up TO, midnight on
Wednesday and was Mt his side again at
| o'clock yesterday morning. and finally sho
mounted the scafiold with him. During the last
/ nlEht most Ot the time she sat on his Knee WIN
her arms about his neck breathing words OF
| love and encouragement. Then anon she sat at
his feet, caressing his hands, , A..
p Tho h@nEing had hecn actdnr ~ O'Clock. At
l0o'clock the cell was entered by the Rev. Mussrs
| Mainscott. Green, and Garragus. Mrs. Ramsey
| Miss Anna Merrman, and one or two other
| Christian ladies' The doomed man prayed fer
! Vently for the forgiveness OF his sins. His de-
voted wife knel, by his side. Joining her SUP.
| pications with his own. During these prayers
he said: feel have made my peace with
! God. feel a strength not OF my own. People
| could not do that; that would not bring mo for
| givcness; 1t would only add another crime to
that have already committed. I'm ready to
AT ii o'clock the Sheriff told the prisoner that
he must make ready. For moment the little
wife WAS overcome. She fell on her hushand's
neck in unutterabe anguish; but suddenly she
raised her fiaxen head from his shoulders.
! There was an almost fierce determination in
her eyes. and the lines Of her mouth were set.
| With tender hand. but without a tear dimming
| her fixed eyes she set about to array her hus-
| band for his doom, A neat suit Of broadcloth
had been procured for him She herself had
contributed pair OF slippers and necktie.
The first she placed on his feet the other she
tied about his neck-tne neck that was so soon
TO feel the fatal cord-with care and attention
10 details that could not have been exceeded had
she bcrn decking him Tor marriage tenst she
then comhed his hair, and having added the last
loving touch and made him really HANDSOME
fellow. remarked: Now you are ready. Wal
ter and will 20 with you" She had an
nounced the day before her determination to
accompany her husband on the scaifold nut no
one dreamed that she meant 10 carry II tC
execution. All the attendants demonstrated
with her One of the ministers said, softly:
q" Mrs. Watson. this will never do" Quick as n
fash She turned on him replying: should
not have expected this from "A minister. When
| WAS married promised 10 clcaVe TO my hu--
band for better or for worse. promised this
10 u minister and am going to Keep my WORD
O'Clock sheriff Dallas led the way 10 the jail
| yard. About 100 witnesses were there assem-
woman assembled the scaifold. Two chairs were
placed over the fatal trap One was assigned I,
Watson. the other 10 his wife; She tenderly
| took his hand. caressed IL. and then fell sobhinl
on his shou der Then tho Rev Mr.. Wainscot
began To read a carefully prepared prayer from
manuscript. and on closing the prayer sad
Brother Watson bee calm and trust in Cod
Meanwhile tho culprit sat in his chair, un
moved. hcart-broken wife was sobhing OF
his bosom. strong men sobhcd. but the maj
about 10 be hanged seemed an unintcreste'
spectator OF the absorbing scene Of which h
he sat there without the least perceptiblc twitcl
Of a muscle. There WAS no hravado in thi
composurc: twas rather the calmness OF resig
Then the Sheriff said. Stand up. Waite
Mrs. Watson aroee with her husband. Sh
threw herself on his breast. and said. Goo
by. Walter, kissed him pass onalely on III
and reproarh. on the multitude stepped back
and f'il INTO IN" arms OF good CHRISTIAN lali-
who stood near 10 receive her. and was led away
81 The ordeal was a terrible one for the doome
man. For an instant his face relaxed IA hi
passed over his frame but In another momcn
! | he recovered himself and stood as unmove
as n block Of stone while the Sheriff read ia
death warrant Following this, the Rev VI
p | WHiuscou said: Walter, have done Tn
= best | could for you May the Lord hay
mercy on your soul. Farewell" The Sheri
q ! and his deputies then approached with n Ion
q | strip II cloth. His hands and feet were ilrml
Y tied. the fatal moose was passed over his heat
y | and adlusted 20 his neck, and then a white N
! | drawn over his face. Now for the FIST tim
since ascending the scaifold Watson's lips wer
I unsealed. fervent prayer was muitered M
| derucath tho cap. " God have mercy on IN
Q soul Jesus save mo. God help my poor wife
Tho minister, stepped. w. placed hand on th
, moment The next instant the drop fell.
= thirteen minutes the physician pronounce
a Watson dead
4 In the Sherifrs residence the widow. who ma
. been weeping bitterly. suddenly dried her eye
, | and approached the coffin with n firm ste
= | looked longingly at the face. kissed the lip
/ eyes. and brow. arranged the hair and neckt
= with tender hand and then said. very quietly
U " Now please close the coffin and let none ~
my Walter again" Her request was compile
4 with. She turned away with look OF woe; an
10 said. in n voice full OF strange mean ng: "a
@ cry no more. | have no more tears. God ha'
IA mercy on me and my little baby"
An hour later the coffin was in an cast boun
[ train, accompanied by the wife. AT Richland.
bleak station seven miles from this point II ",
|. deposited on the barren ground. and as Il
:. train moved on only one other person bessie
n the widow was in charge The face that broker
= hearted woman turned up to the occupants
Il the passing train. most of whom had seen Il
j. hanging. will haunt many in their dreams.
J., MRS. PECK'S INJURIES