The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-03-30
MRS. FARMER
SAYS HUSBAND
IS INNOCENT
Woman Electrocuted For
Murder of Mrs. Brennan
Writes Confession Just
Before Her Death.
BY Associated Press.

BrOwnviIle, last April.
The execution of Mrs. Farmer-the
| second infection of the death penalty
on a woman by electrocution in this
state-was effected without sensation
al incidents. Five women, two or
whom were prison attendants, were
witnesses. Father Hickey, spiritual
adviser Of the condemned woman, fol-
lowing the execution gave out state
ment signed by Mrs. Farmer, in which
she declared that her husband, James
Farmer. was entirely innocent and
knew nothing of the crime until after
it 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. Farmer walked unfalteringly to
the death chair, her eyes half closed
and cIasping q crucifix in her hands.
AS she was being strapped to the
chair Father Hickey stood a. her side
and offered prayer
DEAD AFTER FIRST SHOCK.
DR.. joan GUerin, the prison phySi-
clan, said that the woman was dead
after the first shock, but as there vas
still a tTemor of muscular reaction,
two succeeding contacts were given
The state electrician said that 1910
NOAIO anu - dAhpO4SS ~
strength of the current.
After Warden Benham had an
nouneed that the physicians had pro-
nounced Mrs. Farmer dead, DR.. Ed
ward SpitZka, of Philadelphia and Ur.
Charles Lambert, of the pathological
institute at Wards Island, n Y, per-
| formed the autopsy.
The statement which Mrs. Farmer
prepared yesterday before she was
4 TaG
written by herself and addressed to
| Father Hickey. who told her that if
she could truthfully exonerate her
husband she should do 50. The
statement signed in the presence of a
notary and dated March IS, follows:
ITO Rev. J. J. Hickey:
MY husband, James ID. Farmer
never had any hand in Saran Bren-
mans death nor never knew anything
about il until the trunk was opened.
I feel he has been terribly wronged.
James d. Farmer was not DIT home the
day the affair happened. neithrr did
James d. Farmer ever put hand on
Sarah Brennan after her death. |
Again I wish to say as strongly as |
can that my husband. James ID. Farm
or, is entirely innocent of the death
of Sarah Brennan. that he knowingly
had no part in any plans that led to Ii
and that he knew nothing Whatever
about il.
CSigned) MARY II. FARMER"
PRAYED ALL NIGHT.
All night long the wTetched woman
had prayed within her cell on the
second tier of the woman's depart
ment of the condemned row, after she
badc farewell to her husband.
Last evening the prisoner, her two
women attendants, Father Hickey
and Warden Benham walked from the
woman's prison to the gate leading to
the mems department, where a car
riage was in waiting. The drive OF
about one hundred yards was quickly
over and the woman was placed In
she steel cell in the receiving room
and her husband sent for.
Warden Benham had earlier IN the
day placed rhe FIVE condemned men IN
other parts of the prison, and Farmer
was given a 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 and know thaL
his wife was about TO die.
FINAL HOUR TOGETHER.
SeDarated by steel bars and an in
tervening screen. husband and vile
spent their final hour together.
The final word between them was
sDolxeu. a last goodbye, the weeping
husband returned to his cell and the
hapIess woman led down the narrow
corridor Early this morning Fatner
Hickey Joined the watchers at Mrs.
Farmers cell door. In the pale light
of the corridor the woman and priest
Draved together. the last sacrament /
was ministered and Mrs. Farmer SAID
she was not afraid TO die.
Mrs Farmer was dressed In a
plain black waist and her hair was
brushed back from her forehead and
fell in two brslds-
None except those having official
invitations were admitted to the exc
cution The three women witnesses
were DR. H. n. WestfaI, of MoravIa,
y. y. Miss Agnes Baird. of Troy, y.
Y. and Miss Margaret T. Byrne OF
Auburn. Miss Baird and Miss ByTne
are nurses. When all was in Teadi-
ness Warden Benham directed the
witnesses to form in line. \ keeper
opened the door leading to the con-
demned row and the witnesses passed
along the corridor to the death cham
her. Quietly the witnesses took their
seat
The two nurses and DR.. Westfall /
sat directly in front of the chair, un- I
der instructions of Warden Benh8m /
that the secretary might assist in ad- /
justing the eIectTOde to the limb. |
State Electrician Davis tested the |
electric apparatus and then Warden !
Benham nodded to Captain Patterson. 1
There was a low knock at the steel
door, a momentary pause and the
condemned woman was lea in, the |
priest leading the way. Her hands /
clasped, a cruciix in them, she muir |