The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-29
Makes Statement That Will Probably Help Her Husband,
 Who Is Also Condemned
LAST DAY IS FULL OF
 DRAMATIC INCIDENTS
Parting From Husband Is Pathetic. All Arrangements for Eleetroeution Have Been CompIeted-spends
 Her Last Night In Prayer.

Auburn N. Y, March 8.-Mrs. Mary Farmer, who is to die in the electric chair in the state prison here at sunrise tomor- row, for the murder of Mrs. Sarah Bren- nan at Brownvile has made statement ] it was learned late tonight which she i believes will exonerate her husband, who is also under sentence of death for the same crime.
 Mrs. Farmer prepared the statement to- day in the presence of notary public and Father Hickey, her spiritual adviser i Father Hickey had told the condemned woman that if she could truthfully make l any statement that would exonerate her i husband she should do so. Mrs Farmer replied that she had no desire to make any confession. but that she would make a statement concerning the case. It was. however. at the suggestion of Mrs Farm CT that the notary public was called in. 1 The statement will be made public after Mrs. Farmers death.
 Father Hickey has told friends that he did not believe Mrs. Farmer should be 1 electrocuted because of her mental cond- 1 tion which he stated was unsound.
 Brought from the woman's prison cham Der to the receiving cell in the condemned row. Mrs. Farmer bade farewell to her husband and then was lodged in a cell that adjoins the execution. chamber. there to await the call to the chair.
 James Farmer, the husband, who also is under sentence of death for the kill i ing of the Brennan wemf
 case is before the court
 taken to another part of t.a
 he might not hear the trr i witnesses on their way Haar .I execution, or the marel w ia her death
 The wretched woman tonight showed no evidence of collapse. though the last 1 words between herself and husband. l separated in their parting interview by heavy bars, and an impenetrabIe screen, were affecting to the two women at tendants and the captain of the guard. As the law does not permit 1t, there was no farewell embrace when the time came for separation.
 Husband Led Away.
 After the steel door of her cell had been closed and James Farmer, weep ing. had been led away. the woman fell upon her cot and wept for a few mo- ments, and then began to pray Her attendants did not tell her of the death chair in the next room. Father J. J. Hickey, pastor of the Holy Family church, visited Mrs. Farm CT today and prayed with her. The priest will administer the last sacra-
 
 before the short march to the execu- ton chamber.
 Mrs. Farmer will die a good Cath olic,' said Father Hickey tonight, "and will go to her death bravely. It may be. though I cannot say positively, that some statement will be made by Mrs. Farmer to the public. If so. it will not be given until after the execution"
 The prison buildings were quiet and the prison yards were cast with dark shadows from the high walls tonight when Mrs. Farmer accompanied by the two women attendants Dr. John Gerin, the prison physician; Father Hickey and Warden Benham, was brought down from her cell on the second tier of the women's building. Across the silent yard the woman and her escort walked 10 the end of the mems building, where a carriage waited to drive them to the entrance of the death row"
 After he had talked to his wife, Farmer was led away and will not be brought back to his old cell in the condemned row before Wednesday.
 Prayer and Meditation.
 q have given orders that Mrs. Farm er's last hours shall be for prayer and meditation" said Warden Benham "Witnesses have been instructed to meet at my office at o'clock tomorrow morning, when we will march across the prison yard to the execution cham ber"
 Father Hickey and an assistant will lead the death march, The leg cleo trode will be adjusted by Captain Pat terson, and the two women nurses will assist him. State Electrician Davis will turn on the current. He tested the dynamo today.
 curing her long incarceration, Mary Farmer has occupied cell In the won- ans department, and has spent most of her time in reading religious books. She rarely spoke of her 2-year- r-old son. Peter Farmer, who is now with an uncle in Watertown, N. Y. Warden Benham says that he understands Mrs. Farmer has written an account of her life which will be given to her son when he becomes of age. Her prayer hook she has given to her attorney, Wilcox, who defended her at the trial.