The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-29
ALMOST A LIFE.

THE PRINCIPALS IN THE ALLEGED POISONING
CASE IN coURr-MRs. CONNOLLY REPEATS
HER cHAIGEs--AN INFAMOUS SCHEME OF
BIAcKMAIL AND MURDER DESCRIBED on THE
WITNESS STAND
An examination. which lasted over two hours. was
held yesterday afternoon by Justice Duffy. in the
hssex Market Court. in the OF Joseph Volkmer
and his wife Mary. of No. Ia Essex street. who
charged by Mary Connolly former friend of theirs.
with the attempted murder Of Charles L. Blair. a
wealthy manufacturer of Chatham village. this
State shortly before three o'clock Captain Allaire.
OF the Tenth precinct. aud his detectives. brought
TO the court Mrs. Connolly, Blair. volkiner
and the iatser's wife, The prisoners taken into
the private examination room. where the volkmers
held long conversation with lawyers Hathaway
and Bosert. whom they employed to conduct their
case. Joseph volkmer Is about five feet eleven
inches in height. broad shouldered and has light
brown hair. which he parts in tho centre. He
without collar and loosely tied around his
neck u coiorcd neckerehief. Ills face is not
Pheasant one Beside him was his wife. small in
stature OF sailow complexion. with dark sparkling
eyes which often looked in the direction OF tine
woman Connolly with expression of dislike. She
was plainly attred. hor hair crowded under black
straw hat. shawl thrown over her shoulders and
underneath woolsn jacket buttoned to the throat.
When she laughed, she several times did. her
bright eyes lit up her countenance.
A few feet distant Blair. seated and in deep
thought. He by no means looks like man who
could be easily duped. His sharp hazel eyes be-
heavy black beard covers the lower part of his
face. No traces were visible Of the illness from
which he suffered twenty-four hours previously
aud nights rest had removed the nervousness
and disorderoi look that he wore ON Thursday
Mrs. Connolly IA; sofa within ten feet OF the
voikmers, yet seemingly in perfect ignorance Of
their presence She did not look In their direction
at all. but at tho wall opposite.
Ml DLAIR's STATEMENT.
When callod on by Justice DuGy's clerk Mr.. Blair
made his deposition follows: -"On the night Of
the 10Th inst" said he. II in the occupied
by Joseph and Mary volkncr. They were present.
was also Mary Connolly. IN their company l
drank some four i've glasses OF beer. We all
drank out Of the same pitcher. The glass I used
was smaller in size than those of the others
ana had red mark on the lower
part OF it. The volkmers took turns in
pouring out the liquor. It was handed
me BY Mrs. Connolly. Part OF the time yolkmer
was in the room and part Of the time out of it, In
about fifteen minutes after drinking the beer was
taken sick at the stomach. experienced violent
headache and vomited. My illness lasted through
Mary Connolly that the volkmers tried to take my
life by giving me doses of morphine. and hereby
charge lhem with intent to Kill me-"
Captain Allaire put two bottles on the desk. One
u small haltpint champagne bottle On it was
label. In large letters was printed the word
Poison" Underneath. in smaller characters was
the word ''Gift." the German for poison. On one
side of the label was skull and crossbones. This
was the bottle in which Mary Connolly says the
the station house it was little less than
third .,on ls ,,s she s said that originally
about a tablespoonful OF liquid in 1t. The other
bottle large. 1t we'll filed with pieces of
green substance about an inch in length. 1t was
labelled ''Sulphide Of potassium h." Below
was picture Of mandatory and the names OF the
When tho Justice entered the room Edward W.
Tafel, OF No. rs Ludlow street, the druggist from
whom volkmer is said to have bought the drugs. was
asked by him, "Do you remember selling any NOR
phine on Wednesday last to this manY pointing to
II sold some morphine to a man; can't tell If
that 10 the one answered the witness.
"Is this the bottle you put the morphine inr'
ut is mott used u one dram bottle"
Was tho morphine in liquid state, AZ it IL uowr
"No; sold it az powder"
MRS. coNNoLLY's EVIDENCE.
Mrs. Connolly next called witness amid
excitement. She answered quickly every ques.
put her that she cautioned several times to
speak slower In referring to the voikmer. sho in
saw OF Mr.. Blair last Wednesday at half past
twelve O'Clock in'the afternoon when he knocked at
the door and let him in. Joseph Volkmer WAS in
the house at the time. but when he heard the rap he
ran into the bedroom and hid under the bed. Mary
told him there was no one there but us two. She
said her husband had left her on his account. He
said he would give her money. Lie went away in
about two hours. When he was going she says to
out!' 1 did solvent three blocks with him. While
he stayed he talked pleasantly and to her.
"sure / had no place to take him to- When
went out l had tho bottle of morphine in my
pocket. bought seidiitz powder at = drug store
aud asked the to tell what stun in the bot.
tie. He said 1t was morphine and put tho word
poison it. showed it to volkmer when
He said he had paid s. for it and was
going to make money out of it. He said. You
give 1t TO him to-day in his coffee said wouidn I.
He told me he had three rooms taken in Suffolk
street. when get the money from him. he said.
4 don't give damn II anything happens TO him.
The next time saw the bottle was when Nary Volk-
mer was pouring the morphine into Mr.. Blair
glass. Tho two glasses OF beer he drank and the
mer handed the beer to him.. Ten or twelve min
utes after taking the first glass no taken sick
told Joseph and Mary 1t was a shame. She answered
that 1t their own affair.
HOW THE PROCURED.
The witness repeated tho statements published in
yesterdays HERALD about the blackmal agreement.
how Blair was thought to have $4,000 or $1,000 on
his person, and how each was to get third OF the
money extorted from him. She then told the follow
morphine:-' 1--WE knew Blair was coming. be-
cause he wrote Mary volkmer saying SO.
"Wednesday morning. He then wrote a
note telling Mary volkmer that he would shortly
turn aud showed it under the door. When she got 1t
volkmer first spoke about buying tho morphine.
He had card with writing on 1t. We had before
agreed that Mary should leave signal. that volk-
mer could surprise thonl together; and was to
bring in a policeman. volxmer didn't like the
police idea went out and bought
the poison. passed the STORE while no
was in it and him buying the things. The NOR
phine in small. stout bottle. in white pow
der. I'm all right. he said. laughing, when We
returned home With lukewarm water lac dissolved
the white powder. He said TO me. The first thing
he eats you put it in Put 1t In the beer he drinks.
Wait until tonight; too early to put It in before.
Mary volkmer said, Thisll be the last time
we'll 40 back to Chatham Mills. There q
red flower in Mr.. Blair's glass. That to
us from drinking out of it. got frightened and
dressed III yscf TO leave them. Thon. a. had my
board paid. thought I'd wait and see what hap
pened When saw him sick told the police
the bottle shown me is the one into which yolknicr