Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-03-29
IS
EleCtrOCutcd
Seventh Execution of Female in the History Of the
State of New York Five of Them Were Hanged
Mrs. Mary Farmer Met Her Fate This Morn
ing-Husband Also Awaits Death Chair

Auburn, N. Y. March 2s.--M-s.
Mary Farmer was put TO death by
electrocution this morning for the
murder or Mrs. Sarah Brennan. Il
! Mrs. Farmer is the seventh woman
to be executed In this state and the
second 90 be electrocuted Five Of
the seven were hanged. The only
other victim OF the chair was Mrs
Martha Pace. who murdered her
stepdaughter In maniacal jealousy Of
her husIband and the AFFECTION he ,av-.
ished on his child, by.a former wife.
Mrs, Place was killed by the state
In 1898.
Those seven tragedies OF the wrlt
ten slaw began with an actual II an
Intentional murder In the DAVIS name
Mrs. Margaret Houghteling, young
mother, was accused OF numbering
her baby. Her protests amounted
to nothing. Justice was swift In
Hudson county, N. Y. six weeks
after her indictment she was con
demaed TO death and on. October IL
1917. was placed on tho gallows, pro-
testing her innocence, and hanged. A
few years afterward another wona
on her death bed, made a confe. sioa
that she had Kill ed the child and .ha4
the mother knew nothing OF 1t. Hes
Fast words were I'm solemn utterauce
OF her own guilt. absolydng the wom-
an whose life had been taken for the
crime she did not commit.
The second woman to pay with
her life for murder was found guilty.
of poisoning her husband. She was
hanged ut Johnstown In 1916. An
other hu1band poisoner followed her
being hanged In 1S49 at whltesboro.
Three years later Anne Hoag, an
other husband poisoner, was hanged
In Ponghkeepsie. This was in 1881.
and New Workers already were turn
Ding with disgust from the judicial
Staying or women. A big delegation
OF citizens tried to get reprieye
49, Wv WEhian 'DuJ WltUOuI uCCGSe.
The hanging Of Mrs. Hoag In some
respects parallels the killing of Mrs
Farmer today. She was the mother
o: young child. Hers is d scrip
OF her farewell to the babe, prin ed
IN the Poughkeepsian July 81, 1852
"A most Interesting scene occurred
In the separation of She child from
the unhappy mother, which none bat
mothers heart can conceive. II
appeared as If the last prop OF life
the many cords OF the heart. were
being severed when, with the mos.
endearing caresses amid tears a1d
sobs, the mother looked for the last
time on thai Innocent babe, which
dnce its birth had unconscibu9ly
shared her solitude and had been
her solace. AS IL passed forever
from her sight she exclaimed: Nov
let them execute me. have moth
ing TO live for. One by one they
have dragged my children from me-
The last woman victim OF the ga.
lows was Mrs. Rexana Druse. who
murdered her hubbard, and who was
hanged In 1887. Mrs. Place and
Mrs. Farmer. the last TWO to be
executed, thus cover a period OF 22
years.
Mrs. Farmer was convicted by a
jury before Justice Watson M. Rog-
ers at WATERFOWL on June Is OF Las.
year. When she heard the verdict
she had at her brea 4 baby OF
year Old The mother uttered a cry
OF horror and respair and col'aps-
cd in the court room. The date OF
execution was set for August q. An
appeal for new trial was made and
this date became merely tentative,
ending the decision on .he appeal
Edmund n. Wilcox, OF Watertown.
counsel for the woman. met with no
success on his appeal. in February
9Th the Court OF Appeals upheld the
the verdict OF the lower court anJ
decreed that the woman should 20 to
the chair on March goth.
Once again came a brief respite
for the woman. Mr. Wilcox, backed
by the sentiment OF thousands OF New
Workers and urged BY women I'm ali
classes of life the country over, went
before Governor Hughes 10 petition
for reprieve Of the sentence TO one
OF imprisonment for life.
On February ~. in the prison at
Auburn, Warden Benham read ne
death sentence to Mrs. Farmer. TIN
woman was Indifferent. Her eyes
we're gazedl She seemed either no.
to care or not to realize she was
taken to the death chamber and
three women guards were put on
duty in eight hour shifts TO see that