Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1906 — JOHN HOCH IS HANGED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JOHN HOCH IS HANGED

NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL MEETS FATE DEFIANTLYAll the dclayM of the Lnw Are JReeorteil To, and Prisoner’* Hops I.nxt.M Till Noose Is Fixed—Soma Hoch History. JohannHoch, bigamist, robber and poisoner of women, paid the penalty of his crimes, when he 'was hanged in

Chicago. Friday. Bls neck was broken by the fall. Hoch hoped for a reprieve to the last and resigned himself to hjs fate only when the ’ hangman’s noose tightened about his neck. • A crowd surpassing any gathering at

an execution in Chicago since the anarchists were hanged in 1887, and as large as that of 1887, surrounded the ‘jdll. It numbered thousands. Curiosity to see what they could of the incidents surrounding Hoch’s last moments attracted the crowd. The crowds openly gambled on Hoch’s fate, many believing with the condemned man that he would again' escape the noose. A final effort almost without precedent in Illinois was made in Hoch’s behalf a few hours before the time set for the execution. A petjtjon..was fifed ’Tn" the United States ICii-cuit Court by Hoch’s attorneys, asking that the Federal court interfere to save the condemned man. The petition stated the State authorities were endeavoring to 'execute Hoch in violation of tlie fourteenth amendment of the constitution,' without due process of law. This mwe served only to delay the execution. It was the last; act sh the desperate fegat fight, waged by Hoch, and his attorneys tosecure a new trial or a pardon, which resulted in placing Hoch three' times in the shadow of the gallows .instead of once, and extending his life eight months.

Hoch’s Life a Mystery. Mystery that has defied all past efforts to solve surround the early life of Johann Hoch. He is believed to have been born in Germany, in 1863. When he grew into manhood he left his native town and returned in thre ( e years, marrying Mrs. Joseph Huff. He was first indicted for fraud in connection with a petition in bankruptcy which he—filtfd, Hogh fled' to w distant village, where he is said to have married again, but after securing the second wife’s fortune he fled to America in 1895. He lived three months in New York and went under the name of Joseph Huff. Then he went to Wheeling, W. Va., where he married a widow who owned a saloon. In one month she was dead and Jloch Jiad- two saloons; -An inqutrytollowed her death and Hoch fled after leaving his clothes on the banks of the Ohio river, to them attached a note stating that he had committed suicide. The same year he came to Chicago and opened a saloon, where he met Bruno and was introduced to Mrs. Martha Steir.brecher, whom he married. Thirty days after she died. Then followed roamings all over the country, in which he is said to have married numerous women in various cities. He was in and out of Chicago much of the time, and in Cincinnati he marriefl Mrs. Mary Bartels. When she died a month after the funeral was turned into a feast by Hoch. .He left Cincinnati without paying the funeral expenses. He returned to Chicago and was convicted in Judge Baker's court of selling mortgaged furniture. In 1897 he was sent to the house of correction for that offense and served one year, For two or three years he worked in the Pullman car works. The beginning of the end came when he married Marie Walcker, a widow. She answered a matrimonial advertisement in a German newspaper. She conducted a small candy factory, but disposed of it at the request of Hoch, who induced her to give him the proceeds of the sale. With her death followed his marriage to her sister, Mrs. Fischer-Hoch, and his subsequent disappearance nnd exposure. Hoch’s downfall began'with his departure from Chicago with S7OO that belonged to his last wife, Mrs. Fischer-Hoch. She was married to him the day after his former wife, her sister, died. He left her early in January, and the investigation followed that led to Hoch’s arrest in New York. Hoch was placed on trial in Chicago April 19, 1965, for the murder of Marie Walcker-Hoeh and was found guilty May 19. The jury was out thirty minutes.

JOHANN HOCH.