New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-16
THE voLKuERS FOUND GUILTY..

SENT TO PRISON FOR TWELVE YEARS.
| PUNISHED FOR ATTEMPTING 10 POisOs BLAIR-
TnF JCRY's SPEEDY VERDICT.
| The trial of Joseph and Mary Nolkmcr, charged
with attempting to poison Charles T.. Blair.
continued yesterday 10 the Court Of General Scs-
! siOns.
Charles Eilfler. notary. of No. 15s Noriolk-st.,
testified that v0kmer called on him and stated
that he thought that wealthy man had BETRAYED
his wife. lie showed the witness letters and
photograph. One ofthe letters said dat Blair was
coming to New York, and yolkmer asked Efier If
| he could not have Blair arrested. Efier advised
Vokmer to for divorce, but the latter said be
did not wish TO lose his wife. Yolkmer said that be
had found the letters his house and that bis wife
| did not know that he had them. Mr.. Rollins then
| offered the letters IN evidence aud the was
| closed.
Mr.. Hathaway asked the Court TO charge the
nrors that they could not convict unless they found
tina, the prisoners had admins erred the poison with
intent TO kill, and that conviction cOuld not 10
found unless the intent to poison was clearly
proved. Tie also argued that conviction could not
ensue because the ict-Attorney had failed %
show th.t the liquid IN the bottle was poison. CT
that il had been mingled with the beer. be pro-
ceeded 10 tor the d"fcnce. lie called atten-
ton TO Mary Conellys criminal record ana 10 the
circumstances accompanying the alleged attempt
at poisoning, and contended that Mary Connolly
was the real criminal
Mr. Rollins summed up for the prosecutions He
said that it a remarkable. phenomenal and un-
prcccdenrd case, and that II conained elements If
the grotesqne, the stupid the startling. the huBior-
GUS the nauscaing. The ireachcrOuS and the traic:
and yet IN the whole of II there was not single in
stance of kindness. OccasiOnailyt assumed the Dig
nty of "A tragedy. and IN the next instant IL fell "a
| what Carlyle had called picklod,herrng farce. He
| characterized Blair a Door silly. idote fool who
had como 10 New-York to play the role of a Don
Juan and had selected bis intended victims from
| the very slums of vice. The prisoners chained TO
oil and lfUf An
his arrival at Noikmers home he was not content
with the sages, but wanted sausages- lie reviewed
the evidence at length. and read 10 the jury por-
ton of the letters written by Blair to Mrs. yolkner
Judge Cowing, IN charging the jury. read the law
pertaining to the charges in the Indictment. and
briefly reviewed the Testimony. The Jury retired
af $50 aud after an absence OF twenty live minutes
returned INTO court After their names had been
the h foreman r said We fluid both prisoners guilty
OF administering poison with intent to kill.
Mr.. ROllins-Ihat Is. guilty of the second couot
Mr.. Hathaway moved for a new trial the
ground that the verdict was not in accordance with
the evidence, aud Of error. Judge Cowing denied
the motion.
The prisoners were then asked if they had any,
thing 10 say why sentence should not be passed
Neither of them understands much Of the English
Language and for a moment they did not appear TO
understand their positions. Their counsel spoke to
them and he. in reply to the clerks question. said
Joseph Nolkmer asks for new trial; Mary says
she Is not guilty.
In passing sentence Judge Cowing said II tho
would certainly have been hanged, because IN law
there could be clearer evidence of intent TO kill
than tie purchase Of poison You overdid IL. You
gave Blair too much, and he threw il up Nature
helped You ont. four conviction should he warn
ing Others, that If they administer poison they
will be punished. YOnr case ought also to be
warning to men who travel or steamboats, and pick
up women about whom they know nothing. The
law provides that punishment sh all not be LEES
than five nor more than twenty years' imprson
ment 80 far you, Joseph tolkmer. are oon-
cerned. have not been advised that yon have ever
been CONNECTED of any crime before, bus in this you
seem TO have been The instigator. Therefore your
punishment should not TO less than that OF Mary
Volkmer who has been inmate OF many prisons.
The sentence of the Court Is that you each be i'm
prisoned for twelve years-you, Joseph Volkmer. IN
State Prison. and you. Mary Nolkmer. IN tho pcni-
tertiary"
From the time the Court was opened in the
morning the room had been crowded with specta-
tors who watched the proceedings with the greatest
attention. During Mr.. Rolhnss speech they
in laughter at the ludicrous light in which he pic
tured many of Blairs actions When the verdict
announced a death-hke stiffness prevailed in the
rOOm and when Judge C0wlng was passing sentence
the strain to catch every word said was intense.
The prisoners stood by the side Of their counsel APP
the two the woman seemed TO be the moro
interested, but II she agfafed she
did not betrav the fact by any outward
sign. Blair not present during the day; II WAS
said he had left the city Tor his home on Saturday
Mary Connolly still remains in the House of De-
tention, aud it was reported Last evening
that she Is to be handed over TO the Bos-
ton authorities who have applied for her on tho
charge Of stealing piano cover on the occasion OF
her VISIT to that city. She admitted having been
guilty Of the theft in connection with Mary Nolkmer,
in her evidence IN this trial.