The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-03-29
A: MUROERESS
PAYS PENALTY
OF HER CRIME
Electrocuted at Auburn Prison
in the Early Morning
Hours Today IN
STORY Of HER D|kBOuCAL
CRIME ANO ITS MOTIVE

Pointed Unerringly to Herself as
Its Perpetrator-Says Her Husband
Knew Nothing of it's Commission.
Auburn, N. Y. March 29.-Murmur-
ing a prayer for her soul, Mrs. Mary
Farmer was led to the electric chair
in Auburn prison shortly after 6
o'clock this morning and executed for
the murder of Mrs. Sarah Brennan at
Brownsville last April. The execu-
ton Of Mrs. Farmer was effected
without any sensational incidents.
Five women, two Of whom were pri-
son attendants, were with her.
Father Hyckery, the spiritual adviser
Of the condemned oman, following the
execution, gave out the statements
made by Mrs. Farmer in which she
declared that her husband. James
Farmer, was entirely innocent and
knew nothing of the crime until after
Il had been committed.
Led by Father Hyckery and with
Mrs. Dunnigan and Miss German, who
have attended her constantly since
she was brought to the Auburn pri-
son, Mrs. Farmer walked unfaultering
to the death chair, her eyes half
closed and clasping the crucifix in her
hands. AS she was being strapped in
the chadr Father Hyokery stood at her
side and offered the prayers for the
dying. Dr.. John Germ, the prison
physician, said that the woman was
HooH offovs $hn AS$o$ oh Aa11
was still tremble Of muscular re-
action, two succeeding contacts were
given. State Electrician Davis said
that 1.s40 volts and 1-2 amperes
were the strength Of the current.
All night long the woman had pray
ed within her cell after she bade fare
we'll to her husband. Separated by
steel bars and an Intervening screen,
husband and wife spent their final
hour together In. quiet converse.
When ths hnal. word. between them
was spoken, and the last good bye
said, the weeping husband returned to
his cell and the helpless woman was
led down the narrow corridor.
Story Of tho Crime.
Mrs. Mary Farmer is the second wo-
man to meet death in the electric
chair. The crime for which she was
executed and for which her husband,
James D. Farmer, is also under SEN
tence Of death, was the murder Of
Mrs. Sarah Brennan, neighbor, in
the village Of Brownsville, Jefferson
county, about four miles from. the city
OF Watertown, on Thursday. April %,
1908. The body Of Mrs. Brennan was
found on the following Monday in q
trunk owned by Mrs. Farmer and In
her possession. Mrs. Farmer and her
husband were given separate trials,
and although the evidence was cir
cumstantial, both were convicted and
sentenced to be electrocuted. Mrs.
Farmers counsel attempted at the
trial to establish that she was insane
and irresponsible for tho crime but
the court of appeals declared that It
was Clearly q deliberate and iuten-
tional act," and that there was no cir
cumstance that "mitigated against its
Nervousness"
Mrs. Farmer came to this country
from ireland in 1900 and worked for
. time as domestic in Binghampton,
going from there to Buffalo, whore she
married James D. Farmer in 1904.
Early in 1905 they moved to Browns
Vile, where they remained for a few
months ct one Of Farmers relatives
after which they kept boarders in an
adjoining village. In May. 1907, they
moved into portion of an old build
ing formerly used as a hotel in part
of Brownsville. known as Paddy Hill.
Mrs. Brennan and her husband, Pa
trick, lived in a house nearby which
they had occupied for twenty years
and which was owned by Mrs. Bren-
nan. Mrs. Farmer became frequent
caller at tho Brennan home and Mrs.
Brennan occasionally called at the
Farmers. Mrs. Brennan kept the deed
to her property. insurance papers and
savings bank book in q black oil
cloth pocketbook In tin case In her
bedroom.
The Motive.
Months before the homicide, in Oc-
tober, 1907. Mrs. Farmer went to a
lawyers office In Watertown, produced
deed of the Brennan property and,
impersonating Mrs. Brennan, had tho
deed transferred to James d. Farmer,
signing the name Sarah Brennan
The deed was returned from the
clerks Office to James d. Farmer on
november ~, ana on January I, lb0d,
Mrs. Farmer and her husband went
to another lawyer In Watertown and
had the deed drawn to Peter ]. Farm
or. child who had becn born to them
the preceding September 2.
On the day of the crime Mrs. Bren-
mans husband left early for his work,
his wife telling him she was going to
VISIT a dentist in Watertown. Be-
tween 9 and 10 o'clock she was seen
to leave her home and enter the Farm
er house. She was never seen alive
again. Early the same day Mrs.
Farmer took her baby to the home
of neighbor and left it, saying she
was going up town. Between that
time and the time Mrs. Brennan went
to the Farmer house. Mrs. Farmer