The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-04-01
WOMAN DIES IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
MRS. MARY FARMER EXECUTED
IN Au5uRN, NJ. Y.
BIDS HUSBAND COOLEY
Second Female To BE Put To Death
BY Electricity In the United
States-Kilied
Nelehbor.

HtNSh0fSNAAf"
Auburn, n Y, March 2s.-Mrs. Mary
Farmer was eIectrocuted in Auburn
prison at 6:l5 this morning, thus pay.
ing the penalty for the murder OF
Sarah Brennan. AS she was being
executed her husband paced the floor
OF his cell in death row, where he ia
confined, and will until he probably
pays the death penalty for completely
in the same murder. The infant son,
in the village of Brownyille, little real
lied the Significance of today's trans
actions. Mrs Farmer started for the
death room. accompanied by Father
Hickey muttering prayers. She die.
tated confession, declaring that her
husband is innocent of the crime. She
also dictated an autobiography to be
read to her son when he is capable OF
understanding The first contact was
given at 6:05. Two Others followed
fiye minutes apart Mrs, Farmer and
her husband were allowed to converse
through the bars OF his cell for an
hour last night.
Mrs Farmer is the second woman in
the United States to die as criminal
In an electric chair. a-.sia,y.t
The Closing Hours.
The current OF events and the final
hours of the life OF Mrs. Farmer moved
on relentlessly, though dramatically,
after nightfall in the prison
Brought from the woman's prison
to the receiving cell In the condemned
row Mrs. Farmer babe farewell to her
husband, who is also under death SEN
tence, and then was lodged in cell
that adjoins the execution chamber
there to await the call to the chair.
The husband was taken to another
part Of the prison that he might not
hear the tread of the witnesses on
their way to the room OF execution or
the march of his wife to her death.
Showed No Signs Of Collapse.
Facing death with the dawn the
wretched woman showed no evidence
of collapse, though the last words be-
tween herself and husband, separated
IN their parting interval by heavy bars
and an impenetrable screen. were af-
facting TO the two women attendants
and the captain OF the guard As the
law does not permit It, there was no
farewell embrace when the time came
for separation.
After the steel door OF Mrs. Farm
er's cell had closed and James Farmer
weeping. had been led away, the wom-
an fell upon her cot and wept for a
few moments and then began to pray.
Her attendants did not tell her OF the
death chair in the next room.
MRS. Farmer will die good Cath
Ollie" said Father I. j. Hickey, last
night and will go to her death
brayely. It may be, though, cannot
say positively. that some statement
viii be made by Mrs. Farmer TO the
public, II so it will not be given out
until after the execution"
Dresses Herself for Death.
BY the subdued light that found its
way into the cell, Mrs. Farmer dressed
last night for her execution. She
clothed herself In a prison gown and
waist. and then carefully arranged her
hair. Early to-day woman attend
ant silt the gown and stockings to the
knee so that the electrode could be ap-
piled to the limb. A lock or two of
her hair was clipped from the head In
order to form a perfect contact with
electrodes. .,...
The crime for which she was exc
cuted and for which her husband is
also under sentence of death, was the
murder of Mrs. Sarah Brennan, a
neighbor. in the village Of Brownsville,
Jefferson county. about four miles
from the city OF WATERFOWL, on Thurs
day, April %, f9Os. The body OF Mrs.
Brennan was found on the following
Sunday in a trunk owned by Mrs
Farmer and in her possession. 1t was
TO gain possession OF Mrs. Brennan's
property that the murder was COM
mitted
Tries TO Clear Husband.
Mrs. Farmer. 1t was learned last
night, has made a statement which
she believes win exonerate her hus-
band Mrs. Farmer prepared the
statement In the presence OF a notary
public and Father Hickey. her spir-
itual adviser.
Father Hickey had told the con-
dsmned woman that II she could truth
fully make any statement that would
exonerate her husband she should do
So Mrs. Farmer replied that she had
no desire to make any confession, but
that she would make a statement con-
corning the case II was, however. at
the suggestion Of Mrs Farmer that
the notary public wks called In.
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