The Washington herald., 1909-03-29
mrs. FARMER DIES
In INCHAIRATSUNRISE
MurderesS and Husband Have
Farewell Interview.
HER CONFESSION WRITTEN OUT
Details OF Her Wretched Life and
Her Secret Are TO BE Given to Her
Baby BOY After He Grows 10 Ma
turfty-EIectrOcutio VIII Take
Place at O'Clock I'm the Morning.

Auburn. n. I. March 2S.-Mrs. Mary
Farmer. the murderess. and James. D.
Farmer. her husband. held their farewell
interview from 10 until $50 o'clock to
night. and when the husband came away
from the painful ordeal his face bore
look OF hope that he may yet be saved
from the jaws of death by the sacrifice
Of his wife.
While the officials declined 20 give out
the substance OF the interview, they sd-
mitted that II was & crucial one for
James. and that II the statement Of q
dying woman can save him. he win re-
ceive the benefit II the courts Of the
state take action on the details OF the
confession. which will not be given out
until tomorrow morning in the warden's
Office after the signatures OF the Wit
nesses have dried on the death certificate
Besides making a statement for publica-
ton. the woman to-day wrote a long let
ter. giving the details OF her wretched
life and telling her secret for the ears Of
her son. Peter J. Farmer. but only after
the present baby boy. two years old. has
grown 10 sufficient maturity 70 bear the
disclosures OF this pitiful story.
Last Interview Held.
Owing 10 the severe restrictions OF the
law. Warden Benham had to warn Rev.
J. J. Hickey, Prison Physician John Germ,
and Guards Mrs John Dunnigan and Miss
Mary German. who were there as the
sad meeting between man and wife took
place. that neither should be allowed 70
touch each other during the allotted hour,
and the wire screen was rolled in front
OF the cell as Mary talked to James.
Both wept through the meeting, and al
though the woman bore up best, she ives
low spirited for a few minutes as James
was taken 10 a cell 800 feet distant, 10
remain until Wednesday.
Mary was brought over from the wom-
ems prison al 30 o'clock in Warden
Benhsm's private surrey. the journey be
,ng made inside the walls. Guards Mrs.
John Dunnigan and Miss Mary German,
and Rev J. J. Hickey. and Prison
Physician Germ attended her. and the
two former VIII be her death watch
through tonight.
Ready for the Ordeal.
They have remained with the woman
since her arrival here and became very
much attached TO her and the strain OF
the ordeal has shown itself upon both
women. Prison Physician Germ viii re-
main near all night, and Rev. Mr.. Hickey,
with an assistant. viii return to the
condemned rosY at 4:S0 a. m, and prepare
the woman by administering the last sac
raments.
Mrs. Farmer declared as the priest left
her tonight that she would take her seat
bravely, iirm in the belief that God,
whom she was about to meet, would re-
deem her.
Three women win attend the electro
cution besides the death watches. They
are Helen NJ Westfall. Of Moravia; Miss
Agnes Baird, OF Troy, and Miss Margaret
Byrne. Of Auburn The last two are pro-
fessional nurses. The march 70 the chair
viii begin at O'Clock sharp. and the de-
tails OF the electrocution have been ar
ranged with such care that Warden Ben-
ham believes Il viii be one Of the most
expeditions ever held.
A notary was taken down 70 the con-
demned row at O'Clock tonight. where
with Rev. Father Hickey. the guards
and Mary Farmer. he obtained her final
sworn statement OF the crime at Brown
vile. on April g last, when Sarah Brsn-
par was slain.