St. Louis Post-Dispatch
March 29, 1909

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~“@emned woman,

Only venting’ Paper in St. Louis with both Associated Press and United Press: Service.

VOL. 61. NO. 221. ST. LOUIS, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 29, 1909.

DIES Ih IC CHAIR shit PRAYS

_— Mrs. Mary Farmer Executed -. at Sunrise for Killing Neighbor’s Wife.

EXONERATES HUSBAND In Signed Statement She Says He Knew Nothing of Murder.

SHOWS RARE STOICISM

Spends Two Hours Comfort- ing Man Sentenced With Her to Die.

AUBURN, N. Y., March 29.— Murmuring a prayer for her soul, Mrs. Mary Farmer was quietly led to the electric chair in Au- burn Prison shortly after 6 o’elock this morning and execut- ed for the murder of Mrs. Sarah Brennan at Brownville last April. The execution of Mrs. Farmer -—the second infliction of the death penalty on a woman by electrocution in this State—was effected without sensational in- eident. Five women, two of whom are prison attendants, were witnesses. Father Hickey, the wpiritual adviser of the con- following the a execution, gave out.a statement fr: be ‘by Mrs.\Farmér in which y she declared that her husband, ~ James Farmer, was entirely in- “nocent and knew nothing of the - A erime until after it had been com- - mitted. . The statement which Mrs. Farmer pre- yesterday before she was taken _to the condemned row was written by herself and addressed to Father Hickey, who told her that if she could truth- _ fully exonerate her husband she should do so. Walks Unfalteringly te Chair. _ Wed by Father Hickey and with Mrs. . Dunnigan and Mrs. Gorman, 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 clasping a - erucifix in her hands. As she was being , - strapped in the chairsFather Hickey _ @tood at her side and offered oe aa i for the dying, * Mrs, Farmer was dressed in a plain ae black waist and skirt. The two women = attendants stood by the wall and the _.two nurses and Dr. Westfall ranged ;. themselves in front of the black-gowned | while Capt. Patterson adjusted leg electrode, The rubber mask was gusted over the eyes and the head attached. veo ges Is Halted. hand of State Electrician Davis &@ slow arch with the switch be- the curtain. A half-spoken. prayer in the leather harness thet | her to the chair. @ first contact lasted a full minute, cm obehes at 6:06 e’clock. : SR was shut off and a an f moan and half mur- ser P . from the woman's lips. Dr. and Dr, Spitaka applied the steth- te the heart while Electrician v js felt the artery in the neck. Mus- a r action was noted by the physicians yoman's body sae a period of a onds. the physicians

Creation of Its Kina Wearer Arrested. Miss Leah Watts, 18 years old, of 2N08 Washington avenue, was on her’ way 'vo open her father's stationery store at Leffingwell and Washington avenues Sunday morning. On the opposite cor- ner stood a@ man, a woman and a 5- year-old boy. The most natural thing for one woman to do when she sees another is to ‘‘size up” her hat. Miss Watts’ heart beat fast when she saw the Merry Widow on the opposite corner not only because it was a beauti- ful and enviable hat, but because as soon as she laid eyes on it she knew that it was the one which had been stolen frem Miss Julia French of 2816 Washington avenue, whose room was entered by a burglar last Friday. Recovering frem the first shock of surprise, Miss Watts noted that the wearer of the hat was Mrs. Virginia Kirk, whose home at 707 North Leffing- well avenue was only a block from Miss French’s residence. Miss Watts noted also that the man who accompanied Mrs. Kirk had a suit- case in his hand. Now, what should she do? No police- man was in sight. If she were to walk over and confront Mrs. Kirk she avould be powerless to make an arrest. She might get into a hair-pulling match. Like a flash came a deduction. The man had a suitcase. Therefore it was probable that he was going to, Union Station. And there was at least an even chance that if he did go there Mrs. Kirk would go with him. And then the quick use of the deduc- tion. Miss Watts hurried into her father’s store and took the telephone receiver from the hook. She called the tel-- phone exchange at Union Station and said: “T want to talk to one of the detcc- tives on duty there.’’ In less than a minute she was talk- ing over two miles of wire to Detective Flynn. “T want you to catch a weman who is on her way there. She is wearing Miss French’s hat,’’ she said. Miss Watts i Recognizing “Only in the City,” She Has. turned it over

GIRL DETECTIVE GETS HAT STOLEN FROM OWNER’S HOME SOLE eae ORY KAD > > es adidas x ee ras Kee . BR PERS SONS RORY SAP BRS re nee Estee iiss ‘LEAH WATTS. was not flustered. She gave Flynn good descriptions of the woman, the hat and the man with the sult case. This done, she ran to the home of Miss French. “Get down to Union Station quick,’’ she said. “‘A woman with your pretty hat on is going to be there in a few minutes, and a detective is waiting for her.”’ Miss French dressed in a hurry and took the trail. She got to Union Sta- tion st in time to see Detective Flynn intercept the man and the woman. “oe man ran and escaped, after Ser- geant Meehan had chased him through the Midway to the Twentieth street entrance. Mrs. Kirk and the little boy, who, she said, was her son, were taken to Police Headquarters. There Mrs. Kirk at first indignantly said that the hat was hers. Later sh- modified this statement, saying that the man who accompanied her to Union Station gave the hat to her, and she suppozed he had bought it. “TT met him at a dance three weeks ago,’’ she said. ‘‘Saturday he came to my house with this hat and asked me to accept it as a present. ‘My husband and I separated in Cin- cinnati seven months ago. I was on the way there to join him when I was arrested.” Miss French's hat was so thorough that to her. identification of the

the police GOVERNMENTS JOIN TO SHATTER LOWLY ROMANCE — wr Wife of Danish Inn-Keeper Deported, Husband’s Friend Sent to Prison.

Christine Jensen, a_ beautiful left St. Louis for Yew York Monday morning in charge of nspector Murrell of the Immigration Jepartment to be deported to Denmark. Mrs, oung Danish woman, er journey markes the end of a ro- ‘ance which began in Christiania a ear ago, and which the Danish Govern- ment reached across the sea to shat- ter, Mrs. Jensen is the wife of an innkeep- er in Denmark and in her husband's hostelry met his friend, Hans Lauris- der, a fur trader, who fell in love with the blond beauty and finally pursuaded her to run away with him and go to the wonderful Western America. Laurisder left behind him a wife and three chil- dren. The pair went to Audubon, O., where Laurisder went into business, and they might have remained undiscovered by the world had not the Government of Denmark taken a hand in, the matfr. The deserted wife and husband com- plained to their Government, which in turn laid the matter before the State Department in Washington through its Minister plenipotentiary, Count Moltke, and the doom of the guilty couple was sealed. The case was placed in the hands ef Immigration Inspector Dunn of St. Louis, as Laurisder and Mrs. Jensen were supposed to be in the West, and he found them in Audubon. Laurisder was arrested and tried in the Federal Court in Iowa on the charge of bringing a woman into this country for immoral purposes, and he was sen- tenced to spend a year in prison and then be deported. Mrs. Jensen was told that she would have to leave the country, although she pléaded to be allowed to remain un- til Laurisder was released from prison.

Ratcdiedcheasepanpaag bye aiers aisles iabageiztell> waguisttarantn eine a —_ iin > combined = Bulletin 104 a a * . crete ete Seetpetes ottoetes' * . aoe . o foe a ae ae a a ta ass es ee Post-Dispatch Globe-Democrat ...... oe nee LOoeees 5odO4 osfoetos 004 (With issue, the Republic’s Centennial Number.) TOUTING sv vn np eee ns 2 St. Louis, Match 29,.1909. soe OF acd 104 Consecutive Sunda ys 2 Full Years the single exception of The unday Post-Dispatch Has carried more legitimate paid advertising (less chéap legal) than any other St. Louis Newspaper! The Grand Total of 104 Sundays 23,402 Cols. 20,470 “ 13,866 “ Sunday Post-Dispatch Excess Hot Ppepee ote ror werereveveree. one LOD we ——— eee OD ereteesoetens pot * Spee Pegeeotiney ested Over Republic .... es ce ne Bee Cols. Over Globe-Democrat ./....-.--2,932 “ Yesterday's Sunday Figures Post-Dispatch ........ 209 Cols. Globe-Democrat .... .....-..2l2 sc PNP vo cass. ae canvees eee Sunday Post-Dispatch Excess Over Republic ............+++++++-120 Cols. jhastily evacuated by CRAZY SNAKE'S INDIANS FLEE rHUM SOLDIERS Oklahoma tins Are Only Few Miles Behind and Bat- tle Is Expected.

BRAVES HOLD DANCE

Chief Takes Partin, Ceremony Pending Expected Attack of Militia.

NEGROES ARE UNRULY son of Redskin Leader Strung Up Until He Tells Father’s Whereabouts.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok *9 Indians, half-breeds and negroes under personal command of Chief Crazy Snake, kept up their march on the warpath this after- noon, but were failing utterly to spread abroad the terror among the people at large that like events in earlier days caused. Rather, they were retreating be- fore five companies of determin- ed Oklahoma militiamen in an effort to reach a stronghold the Tiger Mountains before mak- ing a final stand against the troops. ‘ Up to noon there had been no en- counter between the militia and the In- dians. ‘Ing arrest, has made his escape, desert- ing his followers, and is now on his way to Washington to intercede with. the Great Father. The main portion of the soldiers, un- der command of Col. Roy Hoffman, is pushing northward fn search of the chief or his men. Several other detach- ments of militia are doing police duty and, led by farmers familiar with the region, are patrolling the country. for miles around Hickory Camp, looking for any refugees that may be hiding in the mountains and timber. Seemingly authentic reports from Hen- ryetta and the vicinity and Hickory Camp place the number of negroes killed at different points at 24. The militiamen ordered out yesterday by Gov. Haskell as a result of the up- rising that came after a clash at the home of Crazy Snake in which Marsha! Baum and Deputy Sheriff Odom were killed, camped for the night. at Hick- ory Hills, the camp which had been Crazy Snake at their approach. At break of day they moved forward to give battle to the redskins. Meanwhile the chief scout had been watching every move, and he led his forces, apparently not daring. or at least not caring, to fight his white foes in the open. The militiamen at this juncture pushed forward at double quick. The Indians were 10 miles away from them, but they were determined that they should not be allowed to choose the battle greund and thus gain enormous advantage. The troops outnumbered the Indians 3 to 1, and the officers knew that could the opposing ferces meet in the open, there could be only one outcome—the ,Indians would have te surrender or be killed. If the red- skins gained the shelter of the hills. fheugh, the result would not be so sure, At the rate of progress they were making, the troops were in a fair way to overhaul the Indians shortly after noon and force them into a fight under” conditions unfavorable to the arms of Crazy Snake. The night passed without any undue alarms after the’ soldiers had bivou- acked at the Indians’ forsaken camping ground. The. Indians themselves kept closely within their camp ope- tween the North Canadian River and Deep Fork Creek, about 17 miles from Sid tt is reported that Crazy Snake, fear of the house when it occurred. PRICE ONE aE: =:

I seen aero an rma INDIAN CHIEF ON re oe COMMANDER OF OKLAHOMA 1ROOPS

wa eV ee eee ek. ee EEE a a. ie 7

DOUBLE TRAGEDY. IN DENVER HOME

Wife Fatally Wounds Her Aunt, Kills: Himself. Special to the Post-Dispatch. | DENVER, Colo., March 2.—A double tragedy was enacted in the residence of former Gov. Jesse MeDonald,’ ll Logan street, shortly after 8 o'clock. this morning. John Collins, aged years, father of Mrs. McDonald, fatally wounded Miss Sarah Nichols, aged 59 years, maiden aunt of Mrs. McDonald, and then sent a bullet into her own brain, which cavsed instant death. Mental derangement, caused by iil health of long duration, is assigned jas the reason for Collins’ act. He haa been actink queerly for sevéral weeks. Miss Nichols was shot through the head and it is believed she will not re- cover. She had not lost consciousness upon her arrival at the hospital. She made no statement regarding the shoot- ing and the events preceding it are shrouded in mystery. Miss Niochols and Collins were alone on the ground floor She was lying on the floor of the back parlor when John R. Gemmel, a roomer in the house, rushed downstairs, follow- ing the report of’a pistol shot. Gemmel had -just reached Miss Nichols’ side when he heard a second shot. Investiga- tion disclosed Collins’ body lying on the floor of the basement. Gemmel! was closely followed by Mrs. McDonald. who fainted when she saw the two bodies. Later she went into violent hysterics which continued s0 long that it. may result seriously for her. Wanted to Die Where Shot, Miss Nichols spoke only Once after being shot and then to protest against being taken to a hospital. “I would rather die here."'. she. de- clared. ‘‘Please do not take me to a hospital.”’ Miss Nichols was attired psly in a dressing gown and knitted loose silip- pers when the shooting oecurred, She had been in the habit of taking break- fast in the kitemhen with Collins, and had left her room on the second floor of the house for that purpose. It is thought that Collins pursued her \-GOVERNOR! Father of Former Executive's | : ey

UN RIGHT SIDE 13 AERO OF SCHOOL Misplacement of Organ Is Dis- covered in'Experiment of Physiology, Class.

Henry Woolsey, 13.years old, is tha most envied boy in the Clinten School at Grattan and Hickory ‘streets. The marble and :top spinnig champions, and the boy who made the highest batting average last’ eouson’*-are eclipsed by Henry. The teacher was telling the physiolo- gy class about ‘the’.circulation of the blood a few. days. ago. ‘Feel your hearts beat,’ said the teacher, ‘‘Put .your hand to your. left side, each of.you.”. They all: did. ‘‘Now do you feel your hearts beat?’’ asked the teacher, | “I don't,” said Henry: Woolsey, ‘I guess I haven't got any heart.’ The rest of the class guffawed. The teacher went te Henry and put her hand ou his jacket. Then her face teek on a puzzled look. She could not feel his heart, either. She put her hand on the right side, and there she felt his heart thumping away just like any.other healthy boy's heart. vie At recess ‘the other ‘boys \ eveedial around Henry, insisting .on feeling his heart beat. Some'tof them stood dis- dainfully aloof, insisting there was some trick. ee) ee “Huh,” sniffed one of these, “you dassen’t go over to the City Hospita: and tell the doctors that. They've g» machines there that Be a teas 4 : Fl FLOATING HAVANA. | that broke out in the t docks” shortly after ne had made such o’elock “that grave Tears. felt for the shipping in p flames spread rapidly, 0 gale, threatened to. eke ‘ire water front of he ci Several schooners, li with the wind. trolled passage ¢r steomiers and | cred in the } pana to obtein ver "| port. The flames started wharves of the Hays Railroad, on the upper the harbor. aif The fire was under © 1:45 o'clock. ie lor heavy. The Heligoland, which was iwharf, is badly « Vi Tt? of three men qwho are’ to have gen iffocate other men for operating permitting crap games. oe Bauer js already under ! conducting a concert hall Preetdént sent the fo via tions tto the Senite : To be Solicttor-Genéral ae Treasurer, Charlies a {ilinols; to be Coneem apore. vant

on onward by & sor : launches were ae moe dri ke is none that 0 large jee a - t crew escaped with the except ae sf YY ges = % eS A * me ee Ps 5 . s eu, 3 — They Are Cha < - Rur y P ; wae? " oe € J . “ty oe, t r — Gambling House—Handbe Men: CINCINNATI, Roh) James Keenan and [ dictments were als founda gainst | clared to be a pubic nelanee. ed States Lioya W. Bowers of i m to be Assistant apportion Of FF

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from the kitchen into the back parlor ‘before shooting her. He then ran into the cellar and killed himself. Collins came here from the East abvut a year ago and had been making his fhome with the McDonalds, Mr. Mc- Donald is In Leadville. He was notified of the tragedy by wire and Is rushing to Denver as fast as steam will carry him. It is cohsidered strange that Collins should choese Miss Nichols as the vic- tim of hie murderous mania, in view of the fact that she was. most solicitous for his comfort and wellifare. She pam- pered him in his every wish and did her best at all times to please him. “ , | Henryetta. They had hurried through the 10 miles between this and their de- serted camp, and, in obedience te the Chief's commands, ‘rested in’ prepara- tion for the events of today. The indications were that Crazy Snake’s negroes were giving him much trouble. They came frem the turbulent, never-do-well class of the South. Many of them fled to Oklahoma te escape the consequences of crimes. Never amena- ble to authority, they were reluctant to o. your Insides,” Henry accepted the challenge. Mor- day. before schoo! time, he presented himself at the hospital reception rom and asked the physictaps to take an X- ray picture of him, that te might shew to his comrades. He seemed to thin’e} the picture would bevfike tines he wai seen in his. at ae ie | As he. wan, not ‘sick and as. picture would not show his, way, the physicians | apparatus, but they ex Over Globe-Democrat .....--.+--. 47 The above figures tell their own story. j The showing, 50 far 2s we know, is unparalleled in the experience of metro- politan daily or Sunday newspapers in any other cit¥ in the United States. The reasons for this evidence of the superiority of the POST- DISPATCH as an advertising medium, are found in the profitable results to advertisers. Nothing but “profitable results” to the advertisers could justify such over- whelming supremacy in the volume of business carried. obey the chief's cemmands, although The above mMeasuremenis are al] on a column for column basis. th lad! roll Payee Yesterday's (Sunday, March 28) circulation figures: Flin the old chieftains wild cam- 2 76, 390 paign against the White , Father. This element of. Weakness, militia efti- Circulation Books Open to an = oo: Pat in sie aaa ' cia among the State's wit- ‘then called upon, one after

sel aiaeue aa the Indians to ts sht, so uncertain, were regarded { |