The New York herald., 1879-12-10
THE VOLKMERS ON TRIAL.
MR. BLAIR REHEARsEs THE STORY OF HIS
POISONING AND Is RELEASED FROM THE

Mr.. BLAIR REHEARsEs THE STORY OF HIS
POISONING AND Is RELEASED FROM THE
HOUSE OF DETENTION.
The trial of Joseph and Mary volkmer. charged
with administering poison to Charles L. Blair with
intent to kill him. on Thanksgiving Eve. at No.
ia Essex street. attracted quite throng of specta
tors to the Court of General Sessions yesterday The
details OF the yet fresh in the public mind.
and the accused when they took their seats at the
bar regarded with little curiosity The
prosecution was represented by Assistant District
Attorneys Rollins and Bell and the prisoners were
defended by Messrs. Hathaway and Bogart Blair
ana Mary Connolly. who have recently been inmates
Of the House of Detention early in attendance
and the trial proceeded with shortly after Judge
Cowing took his seat. When Mr.. Blair took the
stand his free and easy style and occasionally
jocular way OF answering created some merriment.
despite the gravity of tho In response to Mr..
Rollins he said he hftyseven years OF age. and
had first met Mary Volkmer rs Miss volkmer
October on the Norwich steamer in company with
Mary Connolly. who introduced herself Miss Tay-
lor; at his invitation the two women accompanied
him to the Marshall House. Boston. and the next
day he went to his home at Webster. Mass; on tho
18th OF October he left for this city and me.
the two women at Putnam Junction.; they came
with him to New York on the steamer from
New London; he told Mrs. volkner his
name and gave his address and occupation.
and she in return informed him that her
husband. Joseph volkmer kept lager beer saloon
clined to state whether Mrs Volkmer occupied his
stateroom the boat. When they arrived IN New
York Mrs. volkmer told him she had no money and
he gave her 81: she asked him to call upon her at
No. ia Essex street and he did that afternoon,
when he met Joseph Volkmer and Mary Connolly;
who saw him to the Occidental Hotel; next morn
ing. at the invitation, of vokmer. he called again
moo noon p'h he took the boat for his shop in
Chatham village. requesting Mrs. Volkmer to
write to him; on the following day he sent letter.
cautioning her not to show it to Mary Connolly.
whom he said he disliked; after this correspond
ence followed. in the course of which Mrs. volkmer
having deserted her; he told her he would cali on
her in New York on his way to Webster. Mass. on
Thanksgiving Eve, and did call there.
TURKEY AND CRANBERRIxs
The witness here proceeded to narrste how he had
mer's Thanksgiving dinner. and had bought
sausages. which were cooked and eaten by Mrs.
volkmor. Mary Connolly and himself. Then
scene and the manner in which Mrs. volkmer
played the role of the injured wife, abusing her hus
became angry and left the house; after this Mrs.
volkmer brought In pitcher Of beer; Mary Con-
molly got two glasses, which she placed the table,
and Mrs. volkmer poured out the beer; sabse-
quenty three other pitchers OF beer were brought
In by Mrs. vokmer and all three drank of it. Mary
ately witness head began to ache and his stomach
became quite sick; but. as he had during many
years suffered repeatedly from sick headache. he
did not feel alarmed; just then volkmer
again put in an appearance and asked for beer; wit
ness took his glass. which was then half full Of
beer. from the mantel piece and handed it to
Volkmer: at this Mrs. Volkmer and Mary Connolly
upbraided him for insulting Volkmer by Offering
ogized and handed to volkmer money to buy more
beer. which he did; during volkmer's absence Mary
Connolly urged witness to finish his beer. adding
that it would remove the unpleasant taste from his
mouth; when Volkmer returned witness sickness
Voikmer offered to send for doctor. but
witness declined the ofer he thought he
was suffering only from sick hesdache volkmer
dental Hotel. but witness found that he unable
to walk his legs began to shake and he finally lay
down the outside of bed, Mrs. Volkmer lying
inside with her face toward the wall; Volkmer went
to bed few minutes afterward. the three sleeping
together.
He went on to state tnat the Volkmers snored
soundly all through the night. but he lay awake and
vomited repeatedly; the woman Mary Connolly slept
ard morning witness began to sleep. and
on awaking at about O'Clock in the
morning found volkmer still in bed; witness
got up dressed himself and went into the kitchen
Volkmer made the fire and asked him what he would
have for breakfast after he had taken cup Of tea
tectves aud in excited tones charged the volkmers
with attempting to poison him; witness WAS
and turning 70 Mrs
and they were all taken to the Edridge street police
station.
"Mr. Blair" asked the counsel, "did you ON
Thanksgiving Eve take Mrs. Volkmer to museum in
the BowcryY
II did," responded the witness.
"And did you not purchase for her q ringY
she admired & my ring" replied Pile Blair sl,i, land tried
her finger and paid for 1t. u.aughter.)
"How much did you pay for itY'
81 decline to tel said the witness, "for never
like to tell how much pay for present"
When closely questioned on this point Mr.. Blair
admitted having paid 50 or 81 for the ring. and had
given Mrs. Volkmer $40 before they started out for
the museum.
At this stage the further hearing of the case was
adjourned until this morning The witness earnestly
pleaded to be released on his own rccognizance, and
Assistant District Attorney Rollins ted pro-
viding Mr.. Blair promised be in attendance dur
ing the trial He had been confined in the House Of
Detention since Thanksgiving Day and evidently
pleased at being set free.