The New York herald., 1879-12-11
TRIAL OF THE VOLKMERS.

MARY CONNOLLY RErELLs THE STORY OF THEIR
ATTEMPT UPON THE LIFE OF CHARLES E.
BLAIR-HER cRoss-ExAMINATIoN BEGUN.
The Court of General Sessions was crowded to the
doors yesterday the interest in the trial of the vok
mers for administering poison with intent to kill
Charles E. Blair at No. ia Essex street being ev-
IDENTIFY the increase Assistant District Attorneys
Rollins and Bell appeared for the prosecution. the
prisoners being defended by Messrs. Hathaway and
Bogart. Blair in attendance. but was not again
called upon to testify. When Judge Cowing took his
seat Mary Connolly was summoned to the stand
She narrated the details Of the meeting of herself
and Mrs. volkmer with Blair tho steamer and the
subsequent visit to the Marshall House in Boston
On both occasions Mary Volkmer shared his ROOM
She then detailed the of the
New York and visit of Blair to the apartments Of
volkmers. A plan was arranged to blackmail him
his next visit to this city. The witness referred
to the visit of Blair to this city Thank sgiving
Eve and his arrival ut the rooms of tho Volkmers
about an hour before the time agreed upon. While
they were awaiting his appearance volkmer ex-
pressed himself to the effect that tho blackmsl bust
tedious. shoplifting was played out aud
the best plan was to "dose'' the old man and rob
him. bottlo Of sulphate of potassium was OBJ
tained. together with white powder. Volkmcr
dissolved some OF this powder in warm water and
mixed it in wblskey and beer to show
that the appearance Of the liquid did not change.
Blair arrived sooner than he was cxpected and yolk
mer was compelled to hide under tho bed; then Mrs.
Volkmcr and Blair went out to buy Thanksgiving
turkey for next days dinner and sausages for sup
per- the witness and Blair went out for cranbcrries
ut the request of Mrs. volkmer in order to give her
husband chance to leave his hiding place; just be-
fore witness left tie house she took with her
the bottles OF solution Of morphine and druggist
named Bredenfeld said ii poison, labelled 1t
and told her TO be very careful in using IL;
while going for the cranberries Blair told
her that Mrs. volkmer the only woman
he had loved since his wife died. The witness then
wife's room. and the manner in which Mrs volkmer
explained the matter, still carrying out the role of
s him away When VoEmer the he
remained outside 10 await signal from his wife. but
BEER AND POISON. a
Witness then described her visit to museum on
the Bowery where she met Blair and Mrs. Volkmer:
she subsequently saw Joseph Volkmer ut his apart
ments; Mrs. Volkmer asked her upstairs stating she
was going pint OF beer; Mrs. Volkmcr went for
glass Of beer p to Blair there sne was aanuao no
poison in that; the beer poured out in
ordinary beer glasses. Blair drinking out Of red
come up; "No, said Mrs. Volkmer che is drunk in
saloon; he has not been here in eight days; he
about fifteen minutes some more beer was brought
in; Joseph Volkmer then appeared the scene.
and. pretending to be intoxicated, took chair in the
middle Of the room. THE witness initiated the ac-
ton OF Vokmer as he sat on the chair swayinR from
side to side. and the Court was 20 convuised with
any. ill feeling against me?" "Biair was pretty
we'll gone, too" added the witness. mot bit
shook violently; volkmer then suggested the
proprie.y of getting some more beer. stating that
out for the beer and came back he looked at Mary
Volkmer and spoke to her in German; witness sat
tacing tne winaow; MRS voixmer pus ner manu- an,
on it from her pocket poured some of the contents
into the glass Of beer intended for Blair Drink.
n1ukr aoih Vf1k so.As Aorth
''he drank it teetotay; he began to get sick;
Joseph asked what was the matter with him: II
have got terrible headache." replied Blair; Mary
and Joseph looked at one another in significant
manner and laughed the latter still pretending
getting Ses Of Beer but Blair said he did pot Want
any more; witness took the glasses and washed them
at the hydrant but Blair had already had two doses
OF the poison; witness said it shame and Volk
mer said 'Pshaw;" Mary Volkmer for the third
time put her hand in her pocket. and. taking out
the poison. poured ut least two spoonfus into q
lager beer glass; which given to Blair, who drank
half OF it, putting the glass on the msntepece; Blair
to his hotel but Blair said he could not walk voik-
mer told witness he never intended to take him to
hotel: but to take him to the back stairs. SIi.
had gone to bed Mrs. volkmer also retired. sleeping
next the wall, while Joseph volkmer lay the out
side; the Volkmers slept soundly. but Blair was sick
the entire night. vomiting frequently; witness
slept In the Kitchen; before going to bed she
witness went there early In the morning and
placed the bottle in her bosom; she subsequently
went to the police station. where she gave informa-
ton that led to the apprehension Of all concerned
CROSS EXAMINED.
The witness was cross-examined at great length
and reiterated most of her previous statements She
said she called Mary Taylor, alias Mary Con-
molly, alias Mrs. Williams. and was formerly Q do
mestic III New Jersey; she had also been employed
cook in ysrick street; she also kept house for
man named Taylor. who as mechanic had been
employed on the IL" road; witness admitted that
she had been twice in State Prison. the first time
being for two years. the charge of shopfting and
the second for picking pockets she had also served
two months in the Pententiary for assault and bat
terry; witness would not swear she had not been on
Blackwell's Island for six months she denied all
compcity in tho conspiracy, and emphatically con-
tradcted the statement that she had said that
volkmcr's plan to kill Blair. disguise him Q
tramp and place his body in the cellar.
The cross-examination will DO resumed this morn.
ing.
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE