New-York tribune., 1879-12-11

CRIMES AGAINST LIFE.
THE PLAN TO POISON BLAIR.


TESTIMONY OF MARY CoNNEILY ~ TEE TRIAL OF
TIE voLKMERs.
Part of the Court of General Sessions, in
which the trial OF Joseph aud Mary vokmer for ai-
tempting TO poison Charles T.. Blair Is held was
crowded yesterday morning long before Judge Cowing
took his seat ON the bench and throughout the day ~
was al impossible TO obtain seat IN the room Ihe
trial was resumed by calling Mary Connolly TO the wilt
ness stand She was yoluble in giving ber tesi-
mony and had fairly started with her tale she
was allowed to proceed uninterruptedly.
She said that she first Mary VOlimer three years
ago, when they both In Sng sing Prison, and she
had lived with the Yokmers for six weeks before thef
arrest. II the proposal OF Mary Noikmer tha1
they went to Boston. The witness met Blair on the
boa; at the wharf In this city. Alter she had
introduced Mary vokmer to him he gave her pipe ana
tobacco TO smoke, and sire went away to ENJOY her
smoke while the woman Volkmcr remained In BLAIR
state-room with HIM. They all had breakfast al the
Marshall House in Boston, and Blair went to worcester
early the same morning. she narrated the circum-
stances OF Blais return TO NewYork with them After
ward BAR wrote several letters TO Mary Volkmer ana
The latter showed them to her husband. Then plan
tor bacxmai arranged and the witness was TO DE
"A witness against Blair While talking this matter over.
Joseph yokmer said that II lie had known that B'alr
had SO 900 the first night he was nj the house lie wou
have his throat before he allowed him to 10 to
hotel. They knew that Blair was coming to Vokmers
blackmalling TO be attempted.
The witness told OF Blairs visit 10 the house ana OF
the preparations made fol his coming Voikmer as
solved a white powder in some whiskey and put por
ton liquid in beer TO see II 1t would make
an apparent change in IT. He then said: Now Is the
time and this the place 10 tell Blair his fortune
Previous to Blars arrival volkmer secreted himself
under the bed and remained there until Blair went out
with Mary volkmer to buy turkey. They returned
shortly. and fearing that vokmer would snocate under
the bed wife proposed that the witness should go
out with Bair to purchase some cranberrles. Whe
they we're out the witness saw Joseph volkmer In
Graodst. She made an excuse 60 Blair ana let hnl
he returned to the house and few minutes later sbo
met VOlkmcr. She showed him hottie when sle nad
taken from his house to druggst who haa 'oiu hea G
that 1t contained morphine Nolkmer told her tsat ne
had paid 50 for II. He also told her that his we mao
agreed to place piece OF coal outside OF lhe WINDOW
signal for INN TO enter the house, ana the pan
backnal could be carried out. The witness ana Nok-
given Finally they saw Blair ana Mary Noikiner
entering jewery store They watched Blair from the
ward followed them to Vokmers house. Joseph yolE-
did not enter al once but went 10 beer saloon
Wncn he came I'm he pretended to he drunk They were
then drinking beer. Mary VOEmer poured from "a Dol
tie which she carried IN pocket under her apron about
beer which Blair drank Poison also placed alter
In two other glasses of Deer which Blair drank
limbs and wanted To 20 to his hotel. VOkmer proposed
TO him, aud when the witness said to him quietly
him. voikmcr remarTed that as soon as he got him
i'm an obscure place il he did not fall down he would
knock him down. Blair remained In HE house all night,
and when he awoke next morning he told the witness
that he very sick. She then went TO the station
house aud informed the police Of the affair Later de-
tcc1ves arrived and took all OF them 10 the station
house.
The cross-examinaton OF the witness occu.s all the
afternoon She was closely questioned as V.trer pre-
vious life. and admitted that she had beeK y states
Prison and IN the Penitenlary. she Mad feen ar
rested for shOpftiug. ockelicklng assault aiJ bat
aud drunkenness. She was ask n sle had visited
IA pavnshop while In Boston. and replied that She had
done 30 with Mary Npkmer. and had piwned piano
cover which che and Mary NOikmer had stolen IN Bos-
ton Her cross-cxaminaiion Was most thorongh. 3n'
her testimony not shaken in any material point.
The trial Will be continued to-day,