The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-29

AUBURN, n. Y, March a9.-Mrs
Mary Farmer was clvctrocuted for the
murder OF Sarah Brennan, In Auburn
prison at els O'Clock today. Five
women and a score OF men witnessed
the execution. The woman left in
the hands of her father confessor, the
Rev. j. j. Hickey, a confession com
pletely generating her husband,
james ID. Farmer also under sentence
Of death.
The Ave women who witnessed the
electrocution OF Mrs. Farmer are mise
Mary German and Mrs. John DUNN
gan, the women of her death watch,
Mrs. DR.. Helen NJ Westfa,l, Of Mo-
ravia: Miss Agnes Baird. OF Troy, ana
Miss Margaret Byrne, OF Auburn, the
wo last trained nurses. Besides the
women there were score or men.
physicians, officials and newspaper re-
porters who gathered in tue Office OF
Warden Benham a few minutes be-
fore 6 o'clock
Mary Farmer spent the night In cell
No. In the condemned row. opening
|ntn the tfeathss hvuse. All the other
prisoners had been taken from the cor
ridor and she occupied IL alone witf
he two women of her watch waiting
outside her cell door. At O'Clock
his morning Father Hickey entered
her cell and remained with her until
he execution. She was resigned and
deeply religious. She neither wept nor
complained, but she prayed inces-
sanity.
She was engaged with the priest la
Drawing when Warden Benham led the
PROCESSION OF witnesses from his o.
hce. across the prison yard To the
heath house The sun wds just show
ny over the eastern hills, tinting the
lawn with the color OF roses. The
Eilent march lasted hardly more than
minute. In the death hour the wit
hesses were silently shown their seats.
Chamber Of Death.
The death house at Auburn is not
kruesome. II is a square chamber
Tome so feet each way The door is
BIZ marble flags. There is a white
lied walnscoting, three feet hign from
no floor and the walls and ceiling are
tained a light brown. In one corner
~ the room is a box-like enclosure.
n which the switch and mechanism
BIZ the electric apparatus are con-
aimed.
Almost in the center OF the room
tands the chair, on a slightly raised
platform. covered with corrugated
rubber sheeting. Above the chair
bangles the twisted wire which con
kects with the head electrode. Other
wires run to the arms and beneath to
he right side. where an electrode is
applied 10 the leg.
No ho, "A glance
around and walked over TO the painted
6oor opening into the death cell and
Knocked. II opened Instantly and the
PROCESSION Of death entered.
Father Hickey came first. Behind
him came Mary Farmer, supported on
Either side by Mrs. Dunnigan and Miss
;orman. She was dressed In shabby
black. Her face was the color OF
halk. Her eyes were cIosed. She did
lot see the room. the people. the chair.
l'ather Hickey leaned close to her and
hurmured the prayer which she kept
repeating until the end
Jesus, Mary aud Joseph, have
mercy on me-.
The two women guards had prepared
Mrs. Farmer for the execution by
lightly braiding her hair. TO insure
contact Win the nedU SIcCtloucs hV
braids were gathered In knot at the
back of her. head. Her dress was sl't
p the right side, and there was
lit In her right stocking to allow the
duplication OF the leg efectrode.
Condemned Woman Is Seated.
IL was only few steps from the
loor TO the chair aud In half dozen
econds Mary Farmer was seated.
rhe two women guards guided her
INTO the seat, holding her by the
lbows. Father Hickey leaned toward
Ter, mistakenly repeating the prayer
which he had told her she must con-
inue to utter as long as her lips could
move.
When she was seated d.. Westfall
Ind the two nurses arose from their
|eats and went TO her. The five women
creened her as the electrodes were
applied by State Electrician Davis,
Capt. w. c. Patterson and the male
Guards. Then Mr.. Davis stepped over
70 the box partition in the corner, the
Women withdrew TO their seats, the
cath watch drew back. AMI the way
len gave the signal The light hum
IN the dynapes made the death room
eem TO pulse with life. and as Eec.
rician Davis brought down his lever
his dull sound was intensified. The