The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-03-29
WOMAN IS
SENT TO
DEATH
PAYS PENALTY FOR
MURDER IN
CHAIR
Tries to Exonerate Her
Husband in Her Last
Moments.

AuBuRN, N. ", March 10
With eyes halt closed. and NUT
terIna prayers taught her by
Catholic priest, Mrs. Mary
Farmer. mother Of a 2.yearold
boy. walked without wsverina
to her death IN the electric
chair In the state prison here
shla morning, while her hus-
nane, James Farmer. sentenced
90 ole for the sans crime, paced
tire floor Of his cell scarcely
stones throw away.
The last act OF the womans Mfe
was en- effort 10 save her husband
FROM the death which she almost
compiacentiy met She made \
brief confession before a notary
public. in which she admitted that
abe killed Sarah Brennan a year
nen for her property. and swore
that her husband knew nothing ~
the crime She stated that James
Farmer vas not 1T home on the
day Of The killing. and that he was
not connected with Il IN any way.
Woman stoleal.
Father Hickey. who fought
hard 20 save the woman from
death. remained with her during
the last hours In her cell. aud be
said that. though she was comfort
ed IN her soul and ready 10 face
hcr death with assurance, she stu
did not show great human emotion
and was stoical and almost indtf-
ferenf
Az the party Of witnesses and Of
ficers passed through the long. cold
corridors from the office Of the
warden to the little death chamber.
there was deadly stiffness through
the great prison, - that the foot
efepa OF the men as they proceeded.
double file. rcsounded and re.
echoed against the stone and iron
Of the walls
Even In Auburn prison. where u
IL not q rare thing to hear an early
morning march to the little room
where the electric chair fulflils the
extreme mandate Of the law even
here. where the men Of Ions sen
tcneee have missed fellow prison
ers - often that such an Incident
scarcely breaks the routine Of the
prison there wna an air 81 unusual
suppression and nervousness this
morning.
Great Suspense in Prison.
The fact that Il was woman
who wa % die-the second woman
a. BE- elcctrncufed in this state
me fact that this woman'a husband
was one ~ their fellow prisoners.
fhe remembrance 81 the shadowy
figure OF that fraii and miserable
woman as they had seen her once
or twice during her Incarceration
all these things seemed 70 have
made q deep impression on the con.
yirta. and Auburn has never seen
time 81 greater suapeuae The aif
seemed charged with a mysterious
feeling 81 suppressed excitement.
peculiar to great prisons on The
6ay Of some extraordinary event
within tho walls.
Al the witnesses took their seats
In the death chamber. the hum and
BURR Of the electrical instruments
could be heard
The heavy door opening from
~death row swung ajar. and the
figure az Father Hickey appeared.
moving with solemn tread aud
chanting prayers.
Supported 70 the Chair.
behind him were three women.
in the center was the condemned
woman. on one side was Mrs.
John Dunnlgan. aud on the other
Mics Mary German These two
women had been with Mrs Farmer
almost constantly since the death
sentence was passed upon her, and
they supported her slightly on
either side IN her approach 70 the
chair.
The face Of Mary Farmer was
blanohed and drawn. II bore the
MARKS IL prison life. II was paiiid
and without signs of life. The eyes,
half closed. seemed 20 look beyond
the walls Of the room. She moved
elowly aud deliberately. and took
her place IN the chair calmly.
Electrodes in Position.
Instantly the attendants we're at
their work The electrodes were
strapped 10 her legs below the
knees. and the wrists we're fastened
n the plates on the arms Of the
chair. The head piece. holding a
wet sponRc. slipped down over the
woman's eyes. The chin strap al
most covered her mouth, leaving
uttie Of her face visible II was
ne work Of but an instant, a.
these men have been trained 70
act quickly
state Electrician Davis watched
closely a. the woman breathed, and
As he saw the chest sink al an ex'
halatlon. be swung the switch into
Mace. The body jumped into the
creakinR straps and the breath
never came back into the lungs u
the woman, who died practically In
etantiy.
An Audible Moan.
Though Davis had been careful
20 bring the contact when the lungs
held no MIR. there waa O slightly
audible moan, which WAS the only
elea ef ne woma1'a death other
fkzn Las aiiffenlne of the body.
b fi61f contact Na< given q
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