Various establishing shots of the Spanish Embassy show the Spanish flag hanging backwards. On the front side of the flag is the State Arms with the heraldic right side (dexter) towards the hoist (in this case with the Arms of Castile nearest the upper hoist corner of the flag)
The distance from New York City to Ossining, NY (Sing Sing Prison) is 39 miles. Sara Howard goes by carriage. To take the journey as quickly as possible, she would have taken a Train, or an Interurban. To go by carriage would take all day.
John incorrectly asserts that Sarah has a Constitutional right to speak at the execution. The First Amendment Speech Clause did not apply at the state level until 1925.