The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-04-01
PRAYED All Niuht.

All night long the wretched woman
had prayed within her cell on the sec
ond tier Of the woman's department to
the condemned row., after which she
babe farewell to her husband.
Last evening the prisoner, her two
women attendants, Father Hickey and
Warden Benham walked from the wom-
ans prison to the gate leading to the
mems department, where a carriage
was in waiting. The drive of about
100 yards IA quickly over and the
woman was placed In the steel cell in
the receiving room n her husband
sent for.
Separated by steel bars and an inter
Vening screen, husband n wife spent
their final hour together in quiet con-
verse. The women attendants were in
the room, II just without the door a
prison guard was within call. The fl
nal word between them was spoken q
last goodbye, the weeping husband re-
turned to his cell and the hapless wo-
man led down the narrow corridor.
Mrs. Farmer was dressed in a plain
black waist and skirt. Her hair was
brushed back from her forehead and
fell in two braids. Two or three locks
were cut from the scalp so that the
head electrode might be properly ad-
justed, and the women attendants slit
the left side OF the skirt as far as the
knee and cut the stocking. None ex-
cept those having Official invitations
were admitted to the execution. The
three women witnesses were DR.. H. M.
Westfali, 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
Beham directed the witnesses to form
in line, two by two, and cautioned them
--.I.,A -. go kEAn l.. -
trocution chamber.
Seated in Chair.
Quietly the witnesses took their
seats. The two nurses n DR.. West
fall sat directly in front of the chair,
under instructions OF Warden Benham
that the secretary might assist in ad-
justing the electrode to the limb. State
Electrician Davis moved quietly about
the switches that were screened off in
a corner of the room and then placed
a portable row of incandescent lights
across the arms of the death chair, ad-
justed the wires and turned on the cur
rent. The globes cleaned brilliantly
under h powerful current. The lights
were shut off and removed. Warden
Benham nodded to Captain Patterson.
There was a low knock at the steel
door, the o was opened by someone
within. and Captain Patterson spoke to
the women attendants inside. There
was a mOmentary pause, n the
wretChed woman was led in. The
priest led the way, offering an almost
inaudible prayer, while just behind
came Mary Farmer. Her hands
claspcd a cruciix and she murmured
until the end anne Jesus, Mary and
Joseph. have mercy on my soul"
1t might have been only a few sec
Onds before the straps were adjusted,
though it seemed an interminable Pc
riod. The two women attendants stood
by the wall and the two nurses and DIR.
Westfall ranged themselves in front OF
the black gowned figure, while Captain
Patterson adjusted the leg electrode.
The rubber mask was adjusted Ove
III eyes and the head electrode at
tached. A word from the state cleo
trician and the attendants, nurses and
Warden Benham stepped back from the