Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-29


on the following Monday in trunk
owned by Mrs Farmer and in her pos
session. Mrs. Farmer and her husband
We're giVon separate trials. and al
though the evidence was circumstantial,
both were convicted and sentenced TO
be- electrocuted Mrs Farmers coun-
sci attempted at the trial to establish
that she was insane and irresponsible
for the crime. but the court Of appeals
declared that II was clearly "a dolib-
crate and intentional act" and that
there We're no circumstances that @miti-
gated against its Nervousness"
CAME FROM IRELAND.
Mrs. Farmer came TO this country
from ireland in 1900. and worked for
a time as a domestic I'm Binghamton,
going from there to Buffalo. where she
married James d. Farmer lu 1904, Early
IN 1903 they moved to Brownsville. where
they remained for a few months az one
OF Farmers relatives, after which they
kept boarders in an adjoining village
In May, 1907 they moved into por-
ton OF an old building formerly used
as hotel in a part NJ Brownsville
known as Paddy Hul
Mrs Brennan and her husband Pat
rick lived I'm "a house ncarDy which they
had occupied for 20 years and which
was owned by Mrs. Brennan. Mrs.
Farmer became a frequent caller at the
Brennan home and Mrs. Brennan oc-
Casionally called on the Farmers. Mrs.
Brennan kept the deed % her property.
insurance papers and a savings bank
book On a black oilcloth pocketboOk in
n tin case in her bedroom.
Months before the homicide, In Oc-
tober. 1907. Mrs. Farmer went 10
lawyers Office In Waterfowl produced
q deed OF the Brennan property and.
impersonating Mrs. Brennan, had the
deed transferred 10 James ID. Farmer.
signing the name Sarah Brennan"
Tha deed was returned from the clerks
office 10 James d. Farmer on Nov. 20,
and on Jan. %. 1905 Mrs. Farmer and
her husband went 20 another lawyer
In Watertown and had the deed drawn
10 Peter J Farmer, a child who had
been born 10 them the preceding Sept
DAY OF THE CRIME.
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 i'm WATERFOWL be-
tween and 10 o'clock she was seen
10 leave her home and enter tho Farmer
house. She was never seen alive again.
Early the same day Mrs. Farmer took
her baby to the home OF a neighbor
and left 10, saying she was going up
town Between that time and the
time Mrs Brennan went 20 the Farmer
house. Mrs Farmer passed back and
forth between the two houses several
times shortly after noon she went
for her baby and arranged for a young
daughter Of the neighOr TO assist her in
caring for the child
The girl. upon her arrival, found
Farmer and his wife at lunch and later
he left for the home Of his sister
where he was laying a walk. Soon
after Mrs. Farmer went into the Bren-
nan house. she returned and told the
girl TO go for her husband, but Farmer
refused 10 return home Mrs Farmer
then went 20 the sisters home with
package which proved To be the black
oncloth pocketbook Of Mrs Brennan
containing the deeds, insurance and
other papers and said she wanted to
leave IT, for a while.
FARMERS TALK TO BRENNAN.
Brennan upon his return from work
that afternoon was unable 20 get into
his house. The keys which his wife
was i'm the habit of leaving We're not in
their accustomed place. While he was
trying TO get In he saw Farmer stand
ing nearby. who remarked. Brennan,
don't you know / bought this placer"
tered a second story window and oc-
cupied the house that night. The next
morning he went TO work as usual
Mrs. Farmer that same morning went
% the sisters house, took Mrs. Bren-
mans ofcloth pocket book from where
Il had been hidden in a chair, and with
her husband went 90 Watertown where
they had an attorney prepare papers,
ordering Brennan OF the premises.
which were served on him that night.
Brennan went 20 Watertown and
made Inquiries for his wife but failed
10 find her and Saturday morning left
for his work as usual after spcudlu 8
the night In the house. He retained
home, however. later and found MS.
Farmer and her husband occupying thi
house. Mrs. Farmer told him that so
long as he used tho Farmers we'll he
could stay Brennan then reported the
matter 20 tho district attorneys Of
nee and engaged constable 10 search
for his wife.
FARMERS MOVE 10 BRBNNAN's
The Farmers. Ia tho meantime. with
others who were induced 90 help -
free access 20 ale which was furnished.
commenced moving their goods b. the
Brennan house. In one OF the back
rooms was a large black trunk viii 20
AIAas n tiIilHI MHhNM NNlH OF TIC IlNW NN
tic with "a rope. MIS-. Farmer lifted
the ends OF the trunk while "a cathos
line was wrapped around it and tod
securely Mrs. Farmer said "sha had
stun in there she didn't want broken
and had two mon carry a. 90 the Hrcn-
nan house while she walked along and
directed whore IL should be- placed In
| "a back room whore other things were
piled upon a. She then proceeded 90
/ do some washing,
when the constable who had been
employed by Brennan went 20 the house
and asked where MIS- Brennan was
Mrs Farmer told him she had "gono
tO WatcrtoWn 10 get her teeth fixed.
/ She sent for the parish priest told him
"a similar story ana had him bless the
| home.
ON the following Monday the sher q
| with several others again visited Oh
! Primers ana asked Mrs Farmer io
| produce the deeds. and aftNr some da-
] iay she pulled the black o.lfl0th enc
! velopo from "a cradle and showed th'
papers. Then search of me hous
/ Was begun Inquiry was made n ft-
r.rl t0 tne trunk t'ed Wl.h .In'l.'
! Nna ssh. eupOn Als Farmer denied lnti
/ She owned lt saying n belonged DO hel
! husband and he with an oath said