On the evening of August 1, 1937, Farmer shot and killed his half-brother Zachariah,[3] then walked into town and turned himself in to police.
[1] Since Farmer was unable to afford legal representation, and the province of Nova Scotia had no legal aid system at the time,[1] Vincent Pottier was appointed to represent Farmer free of charge.
[3] At the conclusion of the trial, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Farmer guilty.
[1] In December of that year, Farmer was hanged from a gallows that had been constructed in the Shelburne County Courthouse where his trial had taken place.
[6] In 2005, Farmer's case served as the basis for Louise Delisle's play The Days of Evan.