Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-04-16
Faithful into Death
a WIFE FULFILLING HER MARRIAGE
VOW EVEN To THE TRAP OF THE

= WIFE FULFILLING HER MARRIAGE
vow EVEN TO THE TRAP OF THE
GALLONS.
4 touching slOry is narrated in con-
nect:on with the execution of Walter
Watson at Highland. Iud.. on FRIDAY
last for the murder of Ezra Compton.
The parties had Quarcled abos. the
charge OF IA quarter dollar for some soap
made by Compton, who was IA store
keeper. The wife of W atson, TO whom
he had been but year married, en-
deav0red 10 restrain him from lhc quar-
rel. but her culrcalics failed. \ week
before the execution Mrs. Watson Wis.
Itcd The Governor, with her babe in nrr
arms and made a strong personal az
peal ior mercy, but that Uliiclal declined
To Interfere because the sentence had
been confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Tne ldilhlul wife vas a daiy ylsiuO: t.
ner husbands cell, and iO.ued him in
lerveni pra, erS Tor forgiveness. During
the last nlsnt most ot the I me she sat
on his knee, breathing words OF low,
anu Va at 4lAN ttCls "a
ressing his hands. tie was truly Il
penilcnt, and expressed Himself as hag-
Ing made peace With God. rs the time
approached Tor the execution she Wa
Tor Il moment overcome, and fell on
her hustan IL neck III uucontrollablr
anguish. but suddenly she raised her
haxen head apd assisted in arrasilr
mm ."es.'1 44.s- ~: .xNer! mLiled
a nPcklir aud pair OF slippers, and
put them on hlm with "a fierce dctcrmI
nation that Oycrmaslerrd her az 'Iy. 80
) ie cnmDcd his hair. aud seeing all was
ready, said sine would % with him. All
present rem n,lratrd with her. in when
the minister joined. Her reply was
rebuke that few women WOull havr
venlured. II shOu d not have expect
ed this from IA minister. y hen | was
married promised to clcavc to my
husband for better or tor worse.
promised this to minister, aud am
going to keep my word as far as God
will let me-" On reaching the gallows
the pair soon to be sundered mounted
the steps hand in hand. They were
seated side by side over the fatal trap.
She again took his hand and sobbcd
with her little mead resting upon his
shoulder. while the minister made
the closing prayers.
Meanwhile the cuiprit sat in his chair
a heart broken vie WAS
subbing on his bosom. strong men sobbed
but the man about to be hanged seemed
an uninteresting spectator of the absOr
bling scene OF which he was the central !
figure. For FULLY five minutes he sat
there without the least perccptible |
twltch of muscle. There was no bra
vado in this cOmp)sure; it Was rather
the calmness OF resignation. At the !
close the religious exercises the two
stood up, and for the last time she en-
braced her husband. kissed him passion
itely, and with a sweet Goodbye, Val
Ter" stepped back and back into the
arms OF the good Christian ladies VINO !
we're there to receive her. The last
words Of the unhappy man were a ferven.
prayer for mercy aud for heav, My aid
" MO pun hAACs az liiN SilNl Ia = UOUNC
she saw the remains OF the husband in
lis coffin, and kissing his lips and ar
angling the hair. turned away with a
oOk OF woe, aud SAID: Il can cry no
more have no more tears. God
rave mercy on me aud my little baby"
Aud hour later the coffin was in an
,astbound train, accompanied by the
wife. At Richland, a bleak station
even miles from this point, it was de-
posted IN the barren ground. and as
he train moved on only one other per-
on beside the widow WAS in charge. -
Nhe face that broken.hearted woman
urned up to the occupants Of the pass
A. train, most of whom had seen the
anging, will haunt many IN their
reams,