The New York herald., 1879-11-30
WAS IT A CONSPIRACY
Fresh Evidence of Scheme to Poison
Charles E. Blair.
WHAT WAS FOUND IN A BOOT
The Alleged Victim Defines His Relations
with the VoIkmers.

Further inquiry into the Of Charles E. Blair.
the Chatham Village manufacturer. who 1t 10
claimed. was poisoned by Joseph and Mary volkmer.
is regarded corroborating the story told by the
irish woman. Mary Connolly. The developments
made in the case yesterday considered to
strengthen the position of the prosecution. Captain
Allaire on Wednesday night instructed Detectives
Hess and Wade to search yesterday, the apartments
lately occupied by the volkmers. 1t will be re-
membered that the day the prisoners were
arrested the premises searched but without the
discovery OF any evidence that would affect this case
Mary Connolly in her statements has all along as
serted that when Volkmer came home after his pur-
chase of the morphine powder he dissolved 1t IN
warm water and then put into two half-pint cham
pagne bottles equal amounts Of the poison. holding
each bottle up to the light to see that as much
liquid was in the one as In the other. one
of these bottles Mary Connolly carried to
Second avenue druggist who marked 1t
''poison." This labelled bottle she brought to
the station house. 1t is the one whose contents
were found to contain morphine. and is now in
evidence against the accused. Its mate. however,
could not be found on last Sunday whom the de-
tectives first searched the premises. When the
rooms were searched yesterday an old pair OF
boots keeping guard in q of the
bedroom in the absence Of their master.
Accidentally the detectives kicked Of
the pair and from it shot forth half-pint cham
pagne bottle. the exact counterpart Of that marked
poison" The cork was firmly pressed into the
mouth. 1t contained wnitish liquid. The detec-
tives made further Investigation of the bottles
contents than to ascertain that they nodorous.
They had 1t sealed. and when the called at
Essex Market Court yesterday afternoon at three
O'Clock they gave it to Justice Duffy, who ordered
the Dromio-like articles to be locked up together.
UNDER LOCK AND
On Wednesday evening the Volkmers were assigned
cells In the prison attached to the court, in low
building at the back Of the yard OF Ludlow
Street Jail. Blair and Mrs. Connolly taken to
the House of Detention. The woman made no COM
plant. Blair on the other hand restless under
restraint and said that confinement adding to
his nervousness. He said he had many friends in
this city who. il they knew of his doten-
ton. would willingly become his bondsmen.
Shortly before he brought into court yesterday
youg man stepped up to the Justice. He had
complaint in civil action. and said he thought he
recognized in the description given of Blair gentle
man against whom q suit in the Marine Court had
been commenced. The complaint read Kate Murray
and Alice Dunphy, of the Arm of Murray Il Dunphy.
of No. 100 Pine street, against Charles E. Blair. Tho
affidavit alleged that in 1876 Blair gave promssory
Of the of $500 for eight bales OF cotton
received from the hrm and that he has, has failed to
In the custody OF the detectives the young man
ognized him. and thrust o copy OF the complaint
Mary Connolly was brought into court along with
Blair. and Justice Duffy adjoarning temporarily all
other business, commenced the examination in the
The prisoners counsel had during the day held q
long conversation in the prison With them to arrange
the line Of defence. lie told the AEnALD reporter
tnat his clients deny all participation In the act OF
giving M
will endeavor to show that the last
tn rriao md Ia In auuw Inv OF
belief 1t will be also shown. he says. that she was
envious of the preference given Mrs. volkener over
Two young men, ho states, called yesterday morn
ing at Office and expressed desire to testify that
Voikener has borne an excellent character. Their
and addresses he said. were taken. They will
DO called for the defence.
WHERE THE GARD WAS OBTAINED.
John ii. Eberhardt. druggist. OF No. 50 Canal
street, was the first witness. His name was at
presented to the Division street druggist. who is
alleged to have sold the morphine to him. Ho was
questioned as to how his card came into the posses
sion OF Volkmer. Mr. Eberhardt said :-"I remem-
Der giving one of my cards to stout Irish woman;
1 could identity her II saw her." In the pri-
seated. she did not know Of the discovery
OF the other bottle. As soon as Eber.
1 wo@an she she came n to my place last wednesday
morning and asked for my business card; handed
toned me about polsons; said, why do You want
to knowY Il want to know. she said. whether you
can give me anything to put ,n man to sleep; he
tinucd, 'of giving him laudanum; told her not to
make use OF laudanum. but to call in physician.
because laudanum was powerful poison; eau
toned her in every way against its use; she then
lett my store"
Eberhardt's store. She answered that she had and
there got tue card voikmer used.
Thalberg Biedenfold. OF No. Second street, also
q druggist was the next witnessp To him Mary Con-
molly says she went with tho morphine and that he
put the label Poison on the bottle. mne po.tie
tho bottle. but think 1t is; recognize Mrs. Con-
molly as tho woman who asked me in my
store what the bottle contained; she said
she got 1t from dispensary; told her
the dispensary people should have put
1t for herself but that she did not Know how to
take it, that she told but forgot tested 1t to
hnd out what 1t was; while was engaged she
pointed to bottles the counter containing white
stun, and said that she had been given powder
similar to that which they contained; found tho
contents OF the bottle 10 DO morphine; told her
that IL it was magenta solution IL was great poison;
that hye drops was tho highest dose that could bo
you kill yourself; then put tho label on 1t; she
muttered something and went out"
s-kxAMINED.
The direct testimony for tho prosecution was now
oil in. Counsellor Bogert said that the crossexain-
and that w. tho hour late he would ask for
adjournment only that Blair was to get bail.
Justice Duffy said that * Blair could get $500 bail ho
would be allowed liberty. The counsel thcn said
that he thought he could get through with Biair's
crossexainination an short time no asked ina.
what the witness said. The door of the
private examination room. III which she
was was closed, and Blar's cross-cxaminaton
began. He gave his name and residence
and said that he first mot the woman on board a
boatCoina to New London. The name of tho boat
he could not remember. He asked permission TO
refer to his book expenditures for the date Per-
mission granted him. He then id:-"I met
them frst on October 4; Mrs. Connolly first spoke to
me; then know her Miss Taylor; only since last
Wednesday did I hear hor called Mrs. Connolly;
she introduced me to Mrs. Vollkmer; wo went to-
gethcr to the end OF tho routo-that Is New
London; we then travelled on the ears to
boston; they not In my company
on the cars; In Boston We stopped at the
same hotel and had breakfast and supper together;
l left them, went to Webster, Mass, stay yod over
night and met them the train back TO New York;
It was by accident; 1t whore the connect at
Putnam Junction; wo proceeded to New York ON the
boat; did not go to their with them but
called there that day, and returned for chat
the day Following: I eaw volkmer there. he WAS