Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-29

Auburn, N. T., March 2S.-Murmur-
ing q prayer for her soul, Mrs. Mary
Farmer was quietly led to the electric
chair in Auburn prison shortly after
s this morning, and executed for the
murder Of Mrs. Sarah Brennan. at
Brownsville last April. The execution
was effected without sensational Incl
dent. Five women, two of whom were
prison attendants, We're witnesses.
Father Hickey. the spiritual adviser
Of the condemned woman, following the
execution gave out statement signed
BY Mrs. Farmer, in which she declared
her husband, James Farmer, was enc
tirely innocent. and knew nothing of
( the crime until after it had been COM
4 mitted
Mrs. Farmer walked unfalteringly to
s the death chair, her eyes half closed,
clasping crucifix 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 Ger
in. prison physician, said the woman
was dead after the first shock, but as
there still was q tremor of muscular
reaction two succeeding contacts were
given. State Electrician Davis said
1900 volts and " amperes was the
strength of the current that passed
thru the woman's body.
Says Husband Is innocent.
Mrs. Farmers statement, prepared
yesterday before she was taken to the
d condemned row, follows:
Ny husband, James D. Farmer.
never had any hand in Sarah
Brennan's death, nor never knew
anything about 1t till the trunk was
opened. never told him anything
what had happened. feel he has
been terribly wronged James D.
Farmer was not at home the day
the affair happened. neither did
Farmer ever put his hand on Sarah
Brennan after her death. Again I
wish to say as strongly as can
that my husband, James D. Far
mer, is entirely innocent Of the
# death Of Sarah Brennan; that he
Isl knowingly had no part in any
plans that led to 1t; that he knew
nothing whatever about it."
Woman Prays All Night.
All night long the wretched woman
prayed within her cell after she bade
farewell to her husband. Early this
morning Father Hickey Joined the
watchers at Mrs. Farmers cell door.
In the pale light OF the corridor the
won an and priest prayed together and
the last sacrament was administered +!
Mrs. Farmer said she was not afraid
to die. She was dressed in q plain
black waist and skirt. Her hair was
pushed back from the forehead, and
Tel lin two bradds. Two or three locks
were cut from the scalp so the head !
electrode might be properly adjusted.
and the women attendants slit the left !
side Of the skirt as far as the knee
and cut the stocking.
Witnesses to Execution.
None except those having official |
aavitations were admitted to the exc
cution. When all was In readiness
Warden Benham directed the witness
es to form in line, two by two, and
cautioned them against any demon
stration in the e1ectrocution chamber.
Across the prison yards a dozen or
more witnesses followed the warden.
The keeper opened the door leading to
the condemned row, and the witnesses
passed along the corridor into the
death chamber. When all was in read
dnesss the woman was led in. Her hands
were clasped to a crucif1x, and she
until the end came: Jesus,
Mary and Joseph, have mercy on my
sou1."
Current is Applied.
In q few seconds the straps and
electrodes were adjusted At a spoken
word from the state electrician and
attendants, the nurses and warden
stepped back from the thick rubber
mat upon which the death chair is
placed The hand of the state cleo
trician traced the slow arc with the
switch behind the curtain. A half
spoken prayer was halted as the con-
demned woman convulsed in the
leather harness that bound her to the
chair. The first contact lasted full
the current was shut off and
i strange sound. half moan, and half
Muscular action was noted by the
physicians, and again the current
passed thru the woman's body for
period of a few seconds. Once more the
physicians stepped forward and ap-
piled the tests to determine if life still
recmained in the limp figure in the
sl,air For the third time the state
Noctrician sent the current thru the '