Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-30
Walked Steadily To Death
Chair While Priests Whis-
pered Prayers of Catholic
Creed In Her Ears.
LEFT A STATEMENT
BY WHICH HUSBAND
MAY BE INDICATED
Mrs. Farmer Wrote That Her Hus-
band, Now Under Sentence Of
Death, Is Not GuiIty-Details OF
the EIectrocution.

(Sy Associated P-ess.)
AUBURN, y. Y, March z.-Murmuring
a urayer 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 sa-
rah Brennan at Brownsville last April.
The execution OF Mrs. Farmer-ths sec
ond inriction OF The death penalty on a
woman by electrocution in this state-was
effected without sensational incident
Five women. two OF whom were prison
attendants, were witnesses
Father Hickey. spiritual adviser Of the
condemned woman. following the execu-
ton gave out a statement signed by Mrs
Farmer. in which she declared that her
husband. James Farmer. was entirely in
nocent and knew nothing Of the crime IN
ill after IL had been committed.
CIasped a Crucifix
La bv Father Hickey and with Mrs
Dunygan and Miss Morgan. who have at
tended her constantly since she was
brought 10 Auburn prison. Mrs Farmer
walked unfalteringly 10 death chair, her
ewes half-closed. aSd clasping a crucinX
IN her hands. AS she was being strapped
in the chair Father Hickey stood at her
side and offered prayers for the dying.
DR. John Germ. the prison physician,
said that the woman was dead after the
first shock. but as there was still tremor
OF muscular reaction. two succeeding con-
facts were given
State Electrician Davis said that 1.sf0
volts and I-2 amperes was the strength
OF the current.
After Warden Benham had announced
that the physicians had pronounced Mrs
Farmer dead DR.. Edward spitzka. OF
Philadelphia. and DR.. Charles Lambert
\ OF the pathological inSdtuts at Wards
fsIand y. Y. performed the autopsy.
The statement. which Mrs. Farmer pre-
pared yesterday before she was taken to
the condemned row. was written by her
self and addressed 10 Father Hickey, who
told her that IL she could truthfully exon
crate her husband. she should do so.
Vindicates Her Husband
The statement. signed in the presence of
a notary and dated March Is. follows;
ITO Rev J. J. Hickey:
Ny husband. James d. Farmer. never
had any hand in Sarah Brennan's death.
nor ever knew anything about It until
the trunk was opened. ] never told him
anything what had happened. I feel he
has been terribly wronged. James ID. Far
mer was not at home the day the AFFAIR
happened. neither did James d. Farmer
ever put a hand on Sarah Brennan after
her death. Again. I wish to say as strong
" as I can that my husband. James ID.
Farmer. Is entirely innocent OF the death
OF Sarah Brennan. that he knowingly had
no part In any plans that led to IL, and
that he knew nothing whatever about it.
'(signed) MARY II. FARMER.
subscribed and sworn to before me.
this 18th day OF March. 1909.
''B. +. VINEGAR.
Military pubffr Cavrga County,"
Spent Night i'm Prayer
All night long the wretched woman
had prayed within her cell on the second
tier OF the woman's department Of the
condemned row, after she bade farewell
10 her husband
Last evening the prisoner, her two wo-
man attendants. Father Hickey and
Warden Benham walked from the wo-
mems prison 10 the gate leading TO the
mems department. where q carriage was
In waiting. The drive OF about one hun
bred yards was quickly over and the
woman was placed in the steel cell In
the receiving room and her husband sent
for.
Warden Benhan had earlier In the
day placed the five condemned men In
other parts Of the prison. and Farmer
was given 4 cell in the old condemned
row where he could not hear the foot
falls Of the witnesses On their way to
the place OF execution ana know that
his wife was about to die
Goodbyes Between Bars
Separated by steel bars and an inter
vening screen. husband and wife spent
their final hour together in quiet con-
verse. The final word between them
was spoken. a last goodbye. the weeping
husband returned TO his cell and the
hapless woman led down the narrow cor
ridor. Early this morning Father HEX
ey Joined the watchers at Mrs Farm
ers cell door. In the pale light Of .he
corridor the woman and priest prayed
together. the last sacrament was sdIain-
istered and Mrs Farmer said she was
not afraid to die.
black waist and her hair was brushes
back from her forehead and fell in two
braids-
None except those having Official in
vitatsons were admitted TO the execution.
The three women witnesses were Dr. II.
NJ westfau. Of +. Moravia. y. Y; Miss
Agnes Blair. Of Troy. N Y. and Mis-
Margaret T. Byrse. Of Auburn Mis-,
Baird and Miss Byrne are nurses.
Procession OF Death
When all was in readiness Warden. Ben
ham directed the witnesses TO form In
line A keeper opened the door leading
20 the condemned row. and the witnesses
passed along the corridor in the death
chamber. Quietly the witnesses took their
seats
The two nurses and DR.. Westfan sat d.
rectIy in front OF the chair. under instruc-
ions OF Warden Benham. that the secrc-
AIRY might assist In adjusting the cleo
rode 10 the limb. State Electrician Davis
ested the electric apparatus and then
Warden Benham nodded TO Captain Pat
lerson- There was a low knock at the
Tteel door. a momentary pause and tho
condemned woman was led in, the priest
leading the way. Her hands cIasped a