New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-04
res9naton OF Assistant Surgeon r. Il. Smith, United
States Army. 10 take effect April l. 1880
THE COURTS.

ARGUMENTS IN The BLAIR CASE
LAWYERS CHARGING THAT THE voLKMERs ARE
VICTIMS OF CONSPIRACY AND REvENGE-TnE
PRISONERS HELD FOR TRIAL.
The examination of Joseph and Mary Nolk-
mer charged with attempting TO poison Charles f.
Blair finished yesterday at the Essex Market Police
Court. The morning session occupied by Philip
Hathaway OF the counsel for the Nokmers. In sum-
ming up the Mrs. vOlkmer wept bitterly during
the address.
Mr.. Hathaway said that the only evidence OF crime
Mary COnnelly's story. That woman had the un-
enviable reputation of being the greatest liar and thief
that lad appeared In court at any time OF IN
any After three attempts had been made 10 muir
der Blair according her testimony and after II was
apparent that ne recovered from the effects OF his
SICKNESS Mary Connolly concluded to inform the author
tues Was because her conscience pricked her No;
II for sef-proectiOni or perhaps Tor
much sordid than either of these II there
conspiracy IN the ease, II was between Mary Con-
nelly and person no, in the Court.
II Blair received any poison at all, continued Mr.
Hathaway II administered By Mrs. Connolly. The
theory the defence that she did not intend TO Kill
him. but only rob him. she said she did not hand
Blair any Of tie beer Mr. Blair testified that she gave
him every glass that be drank She testified that after
drinking the first glass OF beer Blair went staggering
around the roOm and was carried 10 bed by Joseph
VoEmer Mr. Blair. ON the contrary says that he nad
only been attacked with severe headache that the
volkmers wanted send for physician and that he
sound asleep throughout the night while he nouced
Mrs. Connolly waichn. aud walking around the
Kitchen II the Volkmers had Intended murder rob
berry would they scptl Why Mrs. Connolly
up ell night To eaten her victim IN sound sleep anu
then rob him had asked the druggist for some
tended to Balrs life had sgnifed any unwilling
enter into conspiracy TO poison him. why had
she not informed him
The question 10 be- solved why did she not go 10
the ponsc Mary Connolly that Blair was aw axe
all She feared that he began suspect that ne
had fallen den OF thieves and had been poisoned
thought he might then inform the police, and 10
herself she would tell her story first. Blair says
that lie we'll in the morning that n the detectives
had come twenty minutes later lie would have been
gone she knew therefore that al the effects
OF the poison had passed from him. Another OF
her motives revcnge-bcctlise she had been 1tcd
The theory of the defence that Mrs Connolly dd not
know IL and that she did meet any one
who told her. An hour and a half elapsed before she
reached the station During thai time she was Win
TAYLOR the man had lived with for eighteen months
He had told her the poisoning or rOobiDg would be
bad lob and that why they had quarrciled. she
told him OF the failure OF her and nc advised
her To go the police station, Tor the - one who
squeals first fares best"
Mr. BOgdsi then made a motion for the discharge or
the prisoners the ground that there legal ev-
idence that either OF the prisoners had been guilty OF
any criminal offence. Benjamin Baker. counsel for Mrs.
Connolly opposed this notion Mrs. Connolly tried to
while he was speaking.
Judge Duny held tue prisoners In $1,000 pan, anu
Ms Connolly sent 10 the House OF Detention in de-
fault OF 50 900 bah. Blair directed 10 give bail IN
81 900 also To 20 the House or Detention Later
IN the day admitted 10 bail in Inc DlstnctAttor
uey's Office III $1,000 Joseph Trau, OF No. 49, Quincy
ST., Brooklyn, became his bOndsman.