The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-04-01

to die at dawn and that n had mace
a statement that he was innocent OF
the crime. The ma verged on collapse
from grief and he frequently gave way
to tears.
STORY OF BOLD MURDER FOR
WHICH SHE WAS EXECUTED
Auburn, N. Y, March 29.-Mrs. Mary
Farmer is the second woman to meet
death in the electric chair. The crime
for which she was executed and for
! which her husband, James D.. Farmer,
is also under sentence of death, was
the murder of Mrs. Sarah Brennan, a
neighbor, in the village of Brownsville,
Jefferson county, o four miles from
the city of WATERFOWL, on Thursday,
April %, 1908. The body of Mrs. Bren-
nan was found on the following Mon
day in a trunk owned by Mrs. Farmer
and in her possession. Mrs. Farmer
and her husband We're given separate
trials, and although the evidence was
| ctrcumstantial, both were convicted
and sentenced to be el%ectrocuted. Mrs.
Farmers counsel attempted at the trial
to establish that she was insane and
irresponsible for h crime, but the
court of appeales declared that it was
Clearly a deliberate and intentional
act" and that there were nj circum-
stances that '%mitigated against it's he'll
~nousness."
Mrs. Farmer came to this country
from Ireland in 1900 and worked for a
time as a domestic In Bfnghamton, go
ing from there to Buffalo, where she
married James D. Farmer in 1904.
Early in 1905 they moved to Browns
Vile, where they remained for a few
months at one Of Farmers relatives,
after which they kept boarders in an
adjoining village. In May, 1907. they
moved into a portion Of an old building
formerly used as d hotel in q part of
| Prnuncyj11a Known AQ Paddy Hill "
Mrs. Brennan and her husband Pat
rick lived in a house near by, which
they had occupied for 20 years and
which was owned by Mrs. Brennan.
Mrs. Farmer became a frequent caller
at the Brennan home n Mrs. Bren-
nan occasionally called or the Farmers.
Mrs. enn kept the deed to her
property, insurance papers and a saw
ings bank book in a black oilcloth
pocketbook in a tin case in her bed
room.
Forged a Deed.
Months before the homicide, in Oc-
tober, 1907. Mrs. Farmer went to a aw-
yer's office in Watertown, produced 8
deed Of the property and, i'm
~personating Mrs. Brennan, had the deco
transferred to James d. Farmer, sign
ing the name Sarah Brennan" The
deed was returned from the clerks Of
fee to James D. Farmer on November
rs, and on January 7, 1905, Mrs. Farme,
went to another lawyer in Waterfowl
and had the deed drawn to Peter J
Farmer, a child who had been born tc
them the. preceding September 2.
On the day of the crime Mrs. Bren,
mans husband left early for his worl
his wife telling him she was going t.
visit a dentist in Watertown. Between
} 8 and 10 O'Clock she was seen to leave
her home and enter the Farmer house
She was never seen alive again. Earl!
II ~ 49, dow NI1,, ~ ~ ~ no.
baby to the home of a neighbor ant
left it saying she was going up town
Between that time and the time Mrs
Brennan went to the Farmer house
Mrs. Farmer passed back and forth be
tween the two houses several times
Shortly afternoon she went for he
baby and arranged for a young daugh
ter of the %neighbor to assist her in car
ing for the child.
The girl, upon her arrival, fount
| Farmer and his wife at lunch and late
he left for the home of his sister, wher
he was laying a walk. Soon after Mrs
Farmer went into the Brennan house
r she returned and told the girl to &
for her husband, but Farmer refused t
!, return home. Mrs. Farmer then wen
1 to the sisters home with a packag
which proved to be the black oilclotl
? p~ocketbook OF Mrs. enn contain
t ing the deeds, insurance and other pa
! pers, INC said h wanted to cave i
1 for awhile.
8 Brennan upon his return from wor,
tina afternoon was unable to get int
: his house. The keys which his wifi
was in the habit of leaving We're no
$ in their accustomed place. While h
1 was trying to get in he Farmer stand
. ing nearby, who remarked:
4 Brennan, don't o know I bough
Z this place." Brennan finally secured
D ladder entered a second story windo1
e and occupied the house that night. TIL
e next morning he went to work as usua
: Order Brennan Out.
! Mrs. Farmer that same morning wer
to the sisters house, took Mrs. Bren
4 mans oilcloth po~cketbook from wher
it had been hidden in a chair, and wit
her husband went to Waterfowl wher
they nae an attorney prepare papeI
ordering off the premise
> which We're served on him hat night.
a n went to WATERFOWL an
made inquiries for his wife, but faile
f to find her and Saturday morning lel
n for his work as usual after spending tt
!, night in the house. He returned hon
r however, later and found Mrs. Farmt
: and her husband occupying the hous
Mrs. Farmer told him that so long {
d he used the Farmers we'll he could sta.
G Brennan then reported the matter
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