Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-03-29
DIED IN THE
ELECTRIC CHAIR
TheSecond Woman
Thus to Be Exc
cutcd at Auburn
MRS. FARMER PAYS PENALTY
Murmurins Prayer and Carry
ing Crucifix She Quietly
Goes to Death.

Goes to Death.
Auburn, N. Y, March 29.-Mrs
Mary Farmer was electrocuted in the
state prison at 6:15 this morning for
the murder of Mrs. Sarah Brennan at
Brownsville, n. Y, on April %, 1908
Murmuring a prayer for her soul, with
ewes half closed and with cruciflx in
her hand, Mrs Farmer was quietly led
to the electric chair, strapped down.
the electrodes applied and a moment
later the current of 1,S40 volts passed
through r !, body DR.. ,!chn Germ, the
prison physician, said the woman was
dead after the shock, but two more
contacts were given. Following the
execution, Father Hickey, the spirit
ual advisor of the condemned woman,
gave out the statement signed by Mrs.
Farmer in which she asserted her hus-
band. James d. Farmer, now awaiting
execution for participation in the MUIR
der. was entirely innocent and knew
nothing of the crime until after 1t was
committed. Five women, two OF
whom were prison attendants, were
witnesses of the execution. Mrs. Dun
ming and Mrs. German, who have at
tended Mrs. Farmer constantly since
she was brought to Auburn prison, ac-
companied her in the walk to the
death chair. Separated by steel bars
and an intervening screen, husband
and wife spent the final hours to-
s ether last night in quiet conversa-
ton. The weeping husband was then
led back to his cell and the hapless
woman led down the narrow corridor
to her cell where she spent the night
.in.prayer.
A Gruesome Spectacle.
Auburn, N. Y, March 29.-Early
this morning, Father Hickey joined
the watchers at Mrs. Farmers cell
door. In the pale ochre light of the
corridor, the woman and the priest
prayed together, the last sacrament
was administered and Mrs. Farmer
said she was not afraid to die. When
all was in readiness the witnesses
were taken to the death chamber and
seated. The dynamos were tested by
the state electrician, Davis, and found
in good order. Warden Benham nodd-
ed to Captain Patterson. There was a
low knock at the steel door which was
opened and the wretched woman was
led in. Her hands clasped crucifix
and she murmured until the end
came: Jesus, Mary and Joseph have
mercy on my soul!' Only few Sec
onds elapsed before the straps were
adjusted, the rubber mask placed over
the eyes and the head and leg cleo
trodes fastened and Electrician Davis
traced a slow arch with the switch
behind the curtain. The half spoken
PRAYER was halted as the condemned
woman convulsed in the leather har-
ness that bound her to the chair. The
woman attendant covered her face
with her hands. Only the clicking Of
Tightening straps and the murmur of
dynamos in the adjoining room could
be heard. The first contact lasted a
full minute. Twice again, it was ap-
piled and the physicians pronounced
the woman dead. The body was then
removed to the autopsy room, the wit
ness sheet was signed in the warden's
office, file of witnesses unstrung, and
nervous, passed out from the main
prison gate and the official proceed
ings Of Mary Farmers execution were
over.
The Story Of the Crime.
Auburn, N. Y, March 29.-Mrs.
Mary Farmer is the second woman to
meet death in the electric chair The
crime for which she was executed and
for which her husband, James d.
Farmer, is also under sentence of
death, was the murder of Mrs. Sarah
Brennan, a neighbor, in the village
sof Brownsville, Jefferson county,
about four miles from the city Of
Watertown, on Thursday, April %,
1908. The body of Mrs. Brennan was
found on the following Monday in a
trunk owned by Mrs. Farmer and in
her possession Mrs. Farmer and her
husband were given separate trials,
and although the evidence was cir
cumstantial, both were convicted and
sentenced to be electr0cuted. Mrs.
Farmers counsel attempted at the
trial to establish that she was insane
and irresponsible for the crime, but
the court Of appeals declared that it
was Clearly a deliberate and inten-
tional act and that there was no
circumstances that "mitigated against
its Nervousness. Z
Mrs. Farmer came to this country
from Ireland In 1900 and worked for
w