The Washington times., 1909-03-29
MRS. FARMER PAYS
PENALTY FOR CRIME
Stolidly Indifferent, Slayer
of Mrs. Brennan Faces
Death.
THREE SHOCKS SENT
THROUGH HER BODY
Women Accompany MurderesS For
Last MarCh-Pathetic Scene
Before Execution.
Continued from First PageN

. S.llated the chair. but the firm grip
OF The attendants stanched any fear
and the victim gave no sign. The cor
ridor door changed as she seated her
self calmly in the brass-riggel chair.
At signal from Warden Benham. the
two women attendants and DR.. Helen
NJ. Westfali ranged themselves upon
the Insulating mat to obscure the vision
or the witnesses as Captain Patterson
adjusted the electrodes to the victims
legs. Captain Larting and Electrician
DaVlS adjusted the wrist contact straps,
the heavy helmet and mask. AS safe
guard the hair Of the condemned woman
was arranged I'm little braids which
hung loosely in the back.
Electrici2G Davis sgnaled that all
was IN readiness as he stepped TO-
ward the switchboard Warden Ben
ham nodded his assent to the electri-
clan.
Seconds Drag Out.
a few seconds seemed to elapse into
an hour as Electrician Davis stood with
his hand on the switch, watching the
slow breathing Of the condemned to
catch the exhalation and avoid the
wierd moan as the breath passed
out under the first charge Of cleo
tricity. The switch was jammed into its
socket at 6.O5:36 and the limp body
jumped insO the creaking straps, re-
manning rigid in the distended position
Whlie 1,SsO volts. ~ ampereS OF cleo
tricity raced through the body. A bare
ly audible moan escaped the lips at the
hrst shock.
The contact was maintained until
6:O6:40 just one minute and two seconds.
As the body relaxed into limp pos
ture. with the opening Of the switch,
Prison Physician John Germ advanced
1ith Dr. Spitzka, the alienist from JEFF
t9rson Medical College, Philadelphia,
and Electrician Davis, to examine the
condition Of the victim.
Flesh Flushed.
DR.. Germ slit the waist and applied
the stethoscope to the breast. Attract
ed by the flushed condition of the
flesh, Dr. Germ passed the instrument
to DR.. Spitzka, who manifested intense
interest in the peculiar color. Slowly,
under the examination the flush faded,
and apparently at the instance OF the
alienist, Electrician Davis was signal
led to apply a second contact.
The second shock of the same power
was applied at 6:0S:15 and maintained
for five seconds, and second eXamina-
ton revealed the body as wax. A third
shock was applied at 6-11:50, and con-
tinued for three seconds, and DIR. Germ
again applied the stethOscOpe. Follow
ing this examination, all attending ply
sicians applied the instrument, each
nodding assent that life was extinct.
Breaks Oppressive Silence.
The voice OF Warden Benham broke
an oppressive silence as the physicians
retreated from the lifeless body at 6:15:40
o'clock.
The physicians say the woman is
dead" announced the warden. DR.
Germ wishes 20 announce that the
autopsy will take place at $50. You will
please return TO the office and sign the
death certificate"
as the echoes rever5erated through
the death chamber the witnesses began
TO tiptoe out Of the room, only the
physicians and Father Hickey remain
For the first time in the history of the
P6isOn all condemned prisoners were re-
moved from death alley adjoining the
execution chamber, so that Mary Farm
er was beyond earshOt or eyesight OF
the five murderers awaiting the day of
execution.
Visit TO Husband.
All Of the condemned prisoners, save
her husband. James D. Farmer. were
removed from the death house cells last
night before the final visit between the
condemned husband and wife. After
the parting. James -. Farmer was
taken TO a cell in the cid condemned
row in another building a hundred yards
distant, and he and his wife were left
alone in the blanketed cell within a
step Of the execution chamber.
The visit Of the condemned woman
with her husband last night was one
OF the most affecting scenes ever Wit
messed by Father Hickey. whose long
experience with executions has some
what Injured him to its hardships. There
were no tears, no touch CT the hand no
kiss. A fine screen aided the steel bars
IN carrying out the mandate OF the law.
that there shall be no physical contact
between condemned prisoners. As a re-
suit OF the meeting, James d. Farmer
made his first demonstration OF affec-
ton In beseeching Father Hickey to
take charge OF his wife's body. This
the priest consented 10 Go and the re-
nains VIII be Inferred in St. JOseph's
Cemetery, just outside the city limits.
Visitors Affected.
The fortttude exhibited by the con-
demned husband and wife in their first
greeting since the prououncement Of the
jury was more affecting TO the witnesses
than the stereotyped farewelIs Of pris-
on visitors.
. How do you do Jin?' said Mary
GDDU III