The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-30
WENT TO HER DEATH
 WITH PRAYER ON LIP
Leaves Letter Declaring Her Hus-
 band Innocent.
The rirst Contact of 1,s]o voits Brought Death te the Woman, 3 Although Subsequent Cur- Eents Were shot Through
 the Body.

AuDurn. N. H., March ZS.-hufuuI- ing a. prayer for her soul. Mrs. Mary Farmer was led to the, electric chair in Auburn prison shortly after o'clock this morning and executed for the murder of Mrs. Sarah Brennan Of Brownville. last April.
 The execution of Mrs. Farmer. the second infiiction of the death penalty on a woman by electrocution in this State. was effected without sensation al incident. Five women, two Of whom were prison attendants. were witnesses. Father Hickey. spiritual adviser of the condemned woman fol- lowing the execution, gave out a statement signed by Mrs. Farmer, in which she declared that her husband, James Farmer. was entirely innocent and knew nothing of the crime. until after 1t had been committed.
 Led by Father Hickey and with Mrs. Dunygan and Miss Morgan, who have attended her constantly. since she was brought to Auburn prison. Mrs. Farm CT walked unfalteringly to the death chair, her eyes half closed and clasp ing a cruclfix in her hands. As she was being strapped to the chair, Fath- CT Hickey stood at her side and offer- ed prayer.
 pr. John Gerin. the prison physician said that the woman was dead after the first shock. but as there was still a tremor of muscular reaction. two suc- ceeding contacts were given. State Electrician Davis said that 1.S4O volts and ' 1-2 amperes. was the strength of the current.
 After, Warden Benham had announce ed that the physicians had pronounced Mrs. Farmer dead. pr. Edward Spitzka, of Philadelphia. and pr. Charles Lam- bert. of the Pathological Institute at Wards Island, N. r., performed the autopsy.
 The statement which Mrs. Farmer prepared yesterday before she was talk en to the condemned row. was writ ten by herself and addressed to Fath- could truthfully exonerate her husband she should do so. The staterasnta signs ed in the presence of notary and dated March 2S. follows: "To Rev. J. J. Hickey. 4 h. My husband James D. Farmer Iev- CT had any hand in Sarah Brennans death. nor ever knew anything about 1t. until the trunk was opened. never told him anything that had hap pened. I feel that he has been ter ribly wronged. James D. Farmer was not at home the day the affair hap pened, neither did James D. Farmer ever put a hand on Sarah Brennan af- ter her death. Again I wish to say as strongly as I can. that my husband James D. Farmer, is entirely innocent of the death of Sarah Brennan. that he Knowingly had no part in any plans that led to it and that he knew noth- ing whatever about 1t.
 (Signed) Mary H. Farmer"
 Prayed Through Night.
 All night long the wretched woman had prayed within her cell on the sec
 
 of the condemned row, after she bade farewell to her husband.
 Last evening the prisoner, her two women attendants. Father Hickey and Warden Benham walked from the wo- mans prison to the gate leading te the mems department. where a car. riage waa in waiting. The drive oi about one hundred yards was quickly over and the woman was placed In the steel cell in the receiving room and her husband sent for.
 Warden Benham had earlier in the day placed the i've condemned men ir other parts of the prison. and Farm. CT was given a cell in the old condemn ed row. where he could not hear the footballs of the witnesses on their way to the place of execution and knew that his wife was about to die.
 Separated by steel bars and an inter- vening screen, husband and wife spent their final hour together.
 The final word between them was spoken, a last good bye, the weeping husband returned to ais cell and the hapless woman led down the marrow corridor. Early this morning Father Hickey joined the watchers at Mrs. Farmers cell door. In the pale light of the corridor the woman and priest prayed together. the last sacrament was administered and Mrs. Farmer said of fn dfa
 Mrs. Farmer was dressed in a plain black waist and her hair was brushed back from her forehead and fell in two braids.
 None except those having official in- vitations were admitted to the execu- tion. The three women witnesses were Dr. H. M Westfall of Moravia. N. Y. Miss Agnes Baird of Troy, N. Y.. and Miss Margaret T. Byrne of Auburn Miss Baird and Miss Byrne are nurses When all was in readiness Warden Benham directed the witnesses to form in line. A keeper opened the door leading to the condemned row and the witnesses passed along the corridor in the death chamber. Quietly the wit neses took their seats.
 The two nurses and Dr. Westfall sat directly in front of the chair. un- der instructions Of warden Bennan that they might assist in adjusting the electrode to the limb. State Electrt- clan Davis tested the apparatus and then Warden Benham nodded to Cap tain Patterson. There was low knock at the steel door. momentary pause and the condemned woman was led in, the priest leading the way Her hands clasped. a crucifx in them. she murmured until the end came; Jesus Mary and Joseph. have mercy on my soul. !"
 might have been only a few sec-
 ds before the straps were adjusted
 ough 1t seemed an interminable pe-
 od to those who sat there. spoken ord from the State electrician and the .tendants. nurses and Warden Benham :epped back from the thick rubber Iat upon which the death chair is laced.
 Dies With Prayer on Lips.
 The hand of State Electrician Davis raced a slow arc with the switch be- lind the curtain. A half spoken pray ar was halted as the condemned wo- Esan strained in the leather harness hat bound her to the chair.
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