midnight
Becoming submissive to the decree of the Church , when it was made known to him by certain men who came in the night , it was believed that his atonement would suffice to place him once more in the household of faith . He had asked but half a day to prepare for the solemn ceremony . His wife , regretful but firm in the faith , had provided clean garments for her sinful husband , and the appointed executioners dug his grave . They went for him at midnight . By the side of the grave they had let him kneel and pray . His throat had then been cut by a deft hand , and he was held so that his blood ran into the grave , thus consummating the sacrifice to the God of Israel . The widow , obeying priestly instructions , announced that her husband had gone to California .