New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-02
THE POISONING OF BLAIR.
PLOTTING TO BLAcKMAn OR MURDER.


TO MAKE MONEY our OF CHARLES 4. BIAri.
Mrs. Mary Connolly, tho principal witness for the
prosecution In the case of the alleged attempt to
poison Charles T.. Blair. cross-examlned yester-
day at the Essex Market Court. She told III detail
oil that was said aud done by herself and the Volk-
mers about the poisoning since they had become ac-
quainted with Mr.. Blair. She 10 4 corpucnt Irish
woman and she speaks with decided brogre. Her
ready replies 70 counsel produced much amusement
in the Court Blair was present aud listened TO the
testimony with great interest. but not apparently
with any sense Of disgrace. Mrs. Connolly IN her
testimony said:
when Mrs yolkmcr and ] returned from Boston
met Mr. Blair by chance at Putnam Junction.
He accompanied to the city but did not 20 TO the
house. On another day he called at the house
About two weeks before Thanksgiving Day Joseph
Volkmer said while we were all in conversation
around the stove that Blair had a great deal OF
money in his possession when be was down before.
He had nearly g, goo in the house. said he, and
we did not know it, Mary yolkmer said she cor
responded with him. and he would soon be down
again.
"'Well, you write as soon as you get letter from
him. said Joseph. When he comes down he'll not
get away with $1,000
'No, said Mary. nor he'll never go tier another
Dutch woman when Pm through with him. lie VIII
either get in the cellar or on the sidewalk, or wen
send hin to Ludlow Street Jail. We viii either
backInail him or dose him
"When they pot him in the cellar they intended
to move. VOlAner had taken rooms 10 Suifoih-st.
When Volkmer talked he. spoke in English. un-
derstand little German"
that Joseph YoIkmer cOnid hardly speak English.
lie. did not be Ieye that he knew what the word
cellar meant. Justice Duffy asked VOlkmer II be
understood English. and the prisoner replied very
plainly. Not very much" new interpreter for
the Court was sworn in, aud he asked MIS-. Connolly
~ German what her name was. she could not Gn-
derstand the German and said he talked "diferent
from the NOlkmers'
Mrs. Connolly continued her testimony. - When
they first talked about poisoning Blair. told them
il would be u bad job. Joseph said II we could not
blackmaii HIM, would have to poison him. lie
sa. Blair had plenty OF money and would pay 1t
rather than be exposed Two days later the subject
was talked of again. Nhou the letter was received
from Blair brought 1t 20 & respectable lady
living on tie east side of the city TO read 1t to us.
None OF us can read
Mrs. Connolly persistently refused to give the
woman's pane on account OF her Iespectaoii!ity,
and SAID she did not want TO have her brought INTO
the case. Justice Duffy sustained the witness in
her refusal. Tie counsel Tor the NOikmers said the
" respectable lady" had served n term IN prison,
anu her husband was there at present.
I'm the letter" continued Mrs. Connolly, Blair
stated that he would come down to the city on
Wednesday, We all got up about 5 a. H. that morn
ing and went to meet HIM at the Albany boat. The
Passengers had all left when got there. then
went 10 restaurant and had steak. 9nd Mr.
aud Mrs. Yoikmer went through Washing
ton Market with the expectation of stealing
turkey. We met again at tine house
about a. IN. asked them where the turkey was.
They replied that there were plenty of them IN the
market, bnt there were plenty OF persons to mind
them. Mrs. Yolkrner was under the influence OF
LIQUOR. che said that when sue came home there
was a note under the door from Blair IL was taken
across the street and read to Mrs. yOlkmer. Ii
stated that MIR. Blair would be at the house ut 3
p. III. Mrs. Volkmer then said there would be 10
time ia lose.
90 We must hurry mp and get some stuff to dose
Mr.. Blair Joseph Nolkmer sad Ihls thng
With plenty of money and we'll tell hun his fortune.
Now is the time and here is the place
II was thundentrnck, said to them: If You
are going 10 dose Blair won't have anything 20 do
with it. 1t will be bad job. Perhaps we will all
get in trouble. 1t would be much better to nave
nothing to do with it, Joseph said Blair had lots
Of money and he intended to get the price Of beer
saloon from him. lie then asked me TO get him some
poison and | refused The discussion lasted about
half hour and arrangements we're made then TO
b!acknall BLAIR. Ii that failed he was TO be pol
soned. | was not a party 10 the agreement anu
didn't think they would do what they said.
They then tried TO induce me to buy the poison
Mrs Nokmer said. lOu GO and buy tins poison
aud joseph will yOn the money, no ma tier what
IT costs 1 refused. Joseph then asked me to go
me to go in and ask for something to pat my sick
husband to sleep. lie said the man wonldn't give
she stqii, but could then ask HIM i9r enrd lie
IS could SS' not talk good EOglisb. 1 went
in the drug store, but the man wouldn't
Joseph and then went to drug stcro at Canal aud
DiyiaiOn-sls He went III alone and stayed about
half an hour. When he came ont he had bottle,
and sad he did not know what 1t was but that II
cost 80. and that lac could OF have got it without
the card. When we got home he bought some beer
and wbiskey. and put some OF the poison IN each
lIauid TO if ii would turn the color Joseph
afterward said the stuff was morphine. He also
put some Of il in two bottles and poured water in
the bottles.
After the stuff had been prepared Blair Knocked
ut the door. Joseph jumped into the bedroom and
| admitted Mr.. Blair Mrs. Yolkmer first asked
him If he had any money. and he said yes. They
then went out and bought turkey. In the mean
tine Joseph jumped under the bed. | then went
with BLAIR TO buy cTanbernca. | brought one of the
bottles of poison with me. ! did not return with
Blair but went TO a druggists and asked what was
in the bottle. 1 met Nolkmer on the street gave
him the bottle. and said that it contained danger
GUS medicine. He then left mo aud went to the
yard OF the house to see Il piece Of
coal on the window sill, Mrs Nok
mer was to place the coal there at the
proper time. and yolkmcr aud / were t. rush
quickly INTO the room to catch Blair and Mrs. V0k
mer together. This was dole 80 he could be black
mailed. Joseph returned IN a few minutes and
said it wa, too bad-the coal was not here. "a
went several times to look for the signal. Once he
met his wife ut the front door and gave her the
bottle of poison which had taken away. l wanted
TO 60 to the house but he said II might spoil the
job. He kept me our, took ME to see the rooms be
had engaged and then walked TO beer-saloOn OPP
posite where lived. Mary came IN the saloon
after a short time Tor beer, and was yeAed at tho
failnre OF her plans. Joseph then told her to give
Blair dose OF what was IN the bottle. Yes
she said, he'll get il yet She came back
again In half hour for beer In little while
| followed her homo and Joseph came shortly
afterward. Blair had gone out and Mary was Just
90 ng ont to meet hun. went out for the evening
also We met accidentally the Bowery. but they
kept together They got home about 10 p. M. and
| arrived about the same time"