The Irish standard., 1909-04-03
WOMAN EXECUTED.
New York Murderess Dies
in. Electric Chair.
TRIES TO SAVE HUSBAND
Mrs. Mary Farmer, Second Female In
United States to- Pay Such Penalty,
i, Auburn.

Auburn, N. r, Mar 29.-Mrs. Mary
Farmer, the, second woman in the
United States to die in the electric
chair, paid the death penalty for MUIR
der in Auburn prison this morning.
Tho current of events and the final
hours Of the life of Mrs. Farmer moved
on rslentlessly, 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 sem
tencs. and then was lodged in a cell
that adjoins the execution chamber,
there to await the call to the chair.
c The husband was taken to another
part of the prison that he might not
hear the tread Of the witnesses on
their WY to; the room of execution or
the march of his wife to her death. j,
=, Showed No Sign Of Collapse. :
Facing death with the dawn, the
swretched 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, we're af-
feoting 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
olic," said Father I. ]. Hickey last
night, "and will go to her death
.bravely. It may be, though cannot
say positively, that some statement
will be made by Mrs.. Farmer to the
public. II so it will not be given out
until after the execution" d.
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 prison gown and
waist, and then carefully arranged her
hair. Early to-day a woman attend
ant slit tho 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, q
neighbor, in the village of Brownsville.
Jefferson county, about four miles
from the city of WATERFOWL, on Thurs
day. April 20, 1908. The body of Mrs.
Brennan was found on the following
Sunday in 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, It was learned last
night, has made a statement which
she believes will exonerate her hus-
band. Mrs. Farmer prepared the
statement in the presence Of notary
public and Father Hickey, her spiritual
adviser. -
Father Hickey had told the con.
demned woman that If she could truth.
fully make any statement that would
exonerate her husband she should do
so. Mrs. Farmer replied that she had
on desire to make any confession, but
that she would make a statement con-
corning the case 1t was, however, at
the suggestion of Mrs. Farmer that
the notary public was called in.