The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-03-29
WOMAN A|DDEATHPENALTY
IN ELECTRIC CHAIR TODAY

Months before the homicide, in DC
tober, 1907, Mrs. Farmer went to ;
lawyers office in Watertown, produced
deed of the Brennan property, and
impersonating Mrs. Brennan had the
deed transferred to James D. Farmer
signing the name Sarah Brennan
The deed was returned from ,fre
clerks office to James D. Farmer on
November 26, and on January 7, 1908,
Mrs Farmer and her husband went to
another lawyer in Watertown and had
the deed drawn to Peter j. Farmer, a
child who had been born to them the
preceding September 2.
On the day of the crime Mrs Bren-
mans husband left early for his work,
his wife telling him she was going to
visit dentist in Watertown. Between
and 10 o'clock she was seen to leave
her home and enter the Farmer house.
She was never seen alive again. Early
the same day Mrs. Farmer took her
baby to the home of a neighbor and
left 1t saying she was going up town.
Between that time and the time Mrs.
Brennan went to the Farmer house,
Mrs. Farmer passed back and forth
between the two houses several times.
Shortly after noon she went for her
baby and arranged for a young daugh-
ter of the neighbor to assist her in
caring for the child.
The girl, upon her arrival, found
Farmer and his wife at lunch, and
later he left for the home Of his sister.
where he was laying a walk. Soon
after Mrs. Farmer went into the Bern
nan house, she returned and told the
girl to go for her husband, but Farmer
refused to return home. Mrs. Farmer
then went to the sisters home with
package which proved to be the
black oilcloth pocketbook of Mrs. Bren-
nan containing the deeds, insurance
and other papers, and said she wanted |
to leave it for a while.
Brennan upon his return from work
that afternoon was unable to get into |
his house. The keys which his wife
was in the habit of leaving were not
IN their accustomed place. While he
was trying to get in he saw Farmer
standing nearby, who remarked:
Brennan, don't you know I bought
this place?' Brennan finally secured
ladder, entered a second story win
low and occupied the house that night.
Ihe next morning he went to work as
Usual.
Mrs. Farmer that same morning
went to the sisters house, took Mrs
Brennan's oilcloth pocketbook from
where it had been hidden in a chair.
and with her husband went to Water
-own, where they had an attorney pre-
pare papers ordering Brennan off the
premises, which were served on him
hat night.
Brennan went to Watertown and
made inquiries for his wife, but failed
o find her. and Saturday morning left
or his work as usual after spending
he night in the house. He returned
lome, however, later and found Mrs
GARNER and her husband occupving
he house. Mrs. Farmer told him that
% long as he used the Farmers well
le could stay. Brennan then reported
he matter to the district attorney's
ffice and engaged a constable to
earch for his wife.
The Farmers, in the meantime with ,
theirs who were induced to help by
rec access to ale which was furnish 7
d, commenced moving their goods to ,
lie Brennan house. In one of the back ,
ooms was large black trunk, which
lrs. Farmer asked one of the men to
e with a rope. Mrs. Farmer lifted 7
ne end of the trunk while clothes >.
ne was wrapped around it and tied ,
ecurely. Mrs. Farmer said "she had Y
tuff in there she didn't want broken" 9
nd had two men carry it to the Bren- r
an house, while she walked along n
nd directed where it should be plac. =
In a back room where other things
ere piled upon it. She then proceed
d to do some washing.
When the constable who had been ;,
mpioyed by Brennan went to the G,
ouse and asked where Mrs. Brennan B
as, Mrs Farmer told him she had s;
zone to Watertown to get her teeth 81
xef She sent for the parish priest, ia