New-York tribune., 1909-03-29
A FARMER STATEMENT
Condemned Womdn'S Words To Be
Made Public after Death.


prison here sunrise tomorrow for the murder Of
Mrs. Sarah Brennan. at Brownville, has made
statement. 1t learned late tonight. which sne
believes will exonerate her husband. who is under
sentence of death for the same crime. Mrs. Farmer
prepared the statement to-day in the presence Of
notary public Father Hickey, her spiritual ad-
wiser.
Father Hickey had told the condemned woman
that il she could truthfuly make any statement
that would exonerate her husband she should do
so. Mrs Farmer replied that she had desire
to make any confession but that she would make
a statement concerning the case 1t was, however,
at the suggestion of Mrs. Farmer that the notary
public was called in. The statement will be made
public after Mrs. Farmers death. Father Hickey
has told friends that he did believe Mrs Far
should be executed, because of her mental
condition, which. he indicated. was not sound
The Of affairs tonight and the final hours
of the life Of Mrs. Farmer, moved on relentlessly.
though dramatically after nightfall- Brought
from the woman's prison to the receiving cell IN
the condemned row Mrs. Farmer bade farewell to
her husband. and then lodged in the cell that
adjoins the execution chamber TO await the call to
the chair James Farmer. the husband was taken
another part Of the prison that he might not
hear the witnesses their way TO the room OF
execution the march of his wife to her death
Facing death at dawn, the wretched woman
showed no evidences tonight of collapse. though
the last words between herself and husband. sepa-
rated in their parting interview by heavy bars and
impenetrable' screen were affecting to the TWO
attendants and the captain or the guard
AS the law does not permit It, there was no fare
well embrace tonight when the time came for
separation When the steel door Of Mrs Farmers
cell closed and James Farmer, weeping. had
been led away. the woman fell on her cot and
wept for few moments and then began TO pray
Her attendants did not tell her of the death chair
in the next room. Father Hickey visited Mrs
Farmer to-day and prayed with her. Tne priest
will administer the last sacrament and offer prayers
for the dying before the short march to the ex-
ecution chamber.
Mrs Farmer will die a good Catholic said
Father Hickey tonight, and will go to her death
bravely.''
WOMAN TAKEN TO DEATH ROW.
Mrs Farmer was taken 10 the death row. soon
after dark tonight Two OF the women attend
ants. Mrs Dunnigan and Mrs German. who have
kept constant vigil outside Mrs Farmers cell door
since she brought to Auburn prison. told the
that she to be permitted to visit her
husband for last interview. In the subdued light
that found it's way into the cell Mrs. Farmer
dressed tonight for her execution She clothed
herself in a prison gown and waist. and then care
fully arranged her hair. Early tomorrow a wom-
attendant will bifurcate the gown TO the knee
and slit the stocking that the electrode may be
applied to the limb lock or two Of hair Will be
clipped from the head In order 10 form perfect
contact with the slecJrode
The prison buildings were quiet and the prison
yard with dark shadows from the high
walls tonight when Mrs Farmer, accompanied by
the two women attendants. DR.. John Germ. the
prison physician. Father Hickey and Warden Ben
ham, was brought down from her cell on the sec
ond tier Of the women's building Across the silent
yard the woman and her escort walked to the end
Of the mems building. where carriage was in
waiting drive them the entrance Of the death
row" It was only short drive by the cloth shops
and other prison departments. but the fall Of the
horses hoofs and the crunchins gravel in the road
way told the prisoners in their cells the story OF
what happening IN the yard below.
Warden Benham earlier IN the day had removed
four convicted OF murder from the condemned
TO ordinary cells IN other parts OF the prison.
where they Will be kept until Tuesday morning
James Farmer the fifth under sentence Of
death In Auburn. taken to-day TO cell in the
old condemned which Is in another part Of the
building one hundred yards FROM the execution
chamber.
INTERVIEW LASTS ABOUT AN HOUR
The carriage with Mrs Farmer and her attend
to a stop and the door leading to the
condemned opened. the light from within
showing a black gowned woman being assisted
from the conveyance by attendants Once inside.
the door was closed and Mrs Farmer placed
within a cell in the receiving room and her hus-
band sent for 1t might have been an hour
before Captain Patterson. who. with the two women
attendants were in the room. gave quiet warning
that the time had come for the parting. There was
an inaudible word spoken a last farewell. the
shuffling footsteps OF a she was being
led along the dark and narrow corridor. and the
closing of a cell door next to the execution cham
her. Farmer led away and will not be brought
back his old cell in condemned row before
Wednesday morning Mrs. Farmers cell Is No 4,
and the prison officials have erected stout parti-
tion at No cell. so that the woman may not hear
or see anything that takes place in the corridor
beyond and neither may any prisoner catch
glimpse of her
Mrs Farmer passed the early part OF her last
night in prayer Outside cell door Mrs.
Dunnigan and Mrs German. No sound made its
way that gloomy cell from the outside city ex
cept the rumble Of passing train OF the toll of
church clock
Il have given orders that her last hours shall be
for prayer and meditation said Warden Benham-
DR. Hickey will visit her about o'clock and will
remain until the end. The sacrament will be ad-
ministered and prayers said for the dying Wit
nesses have been instructed to meet at office at
s o'clock tomorrow morning. when Will march
across the prison yard tc the execution chamber"
On the arrival there Captain Patterson Will knock
with a cane the door leading TO the condemned
corridor and Mrs Farmer will be brought IN
Father Hickey and assistant Will lead the death
march The leg electrOde will be adjusted by Cap
tain Patterson and the two women nurses will as
sist him When all is in readiness Mr.. Davis.
state electrician. will turn the current which
Will measure about 1.s40 volts and n amperes MI
Davis tested the dynamo to-day
PLANS FOR AUTOPSY.
TIL. autopsy on the body OF Mrs Farmer will be
performed by Dr EdNdIO opltZAd VI Ai4ilducIP44l0'
and DR.. Charles Lambert. OF the Pathological In
stitute Wards Island, New York James Farmer
asked Father Hickey to take charge OF the body.
and the priest will have Il buried in St JosePhs
Cemetery. near here
Mrs Farmer has grown stout in prison. and the
nrisop phvsican reports that she is greatly I'M
proved in health
All day long small groups OF townsfolk have
nossed Auburn prison and looked at the great pile
OF gray stone and commented on the execution TO
o.
night made public the following list of official visit
ors to the execution