The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-03-15
Court of Common Pleas.

second degree, for killing his own child
on the llth day of March, 1868,
The first witness called was Catharin
Boyer Have been acquainted with Johl
Hochs since 1865. Knew the child
Charles Hochs. 1t was sixteen months
and one week old at the time of it
death. Hochs married my sister. II
1865. Oct 18th. The child died on Sab
bath morning, and think it was Marcel
Is, 1868. went to sec my sister on tht
lIth of March My sister was sewing
and the child was sitting by her side
| fretting. Hooks came into the house
and took the child on the porch, and
whipped his bare limbs with a leather
strap. 1t was a common leather strap, about
the size OF a piece of bride rein, or line. he
might have struck it fifty times. The
child screamed. There were wells ON
the child nearly as thick as my finger,
bloodshot. He then brought the child
into the house and held it up with his
hand by one arm, and kicked it several
times in the stomach, with all his force.
Ny sister then took the child from him,
and he went to the table and got knife
and swore he would kill her. lie then
laid the knife down and took the child
and set it on a chair, and struck il with
his fist, striking it on the head, and
knocking it off the chair twice. Did not
see any blood 1t was bruised all over,
on its hands, head, face. arms and body.
lie then slapped the child in the face
until the blood gushed out OF its mouth
and nose. He must have slapped it rs
many as a dozen times. He then tried
t, make it drink water, but its mouth
and lips were SO swollen that it could not
take the water. This was on the llth,
and / did not see the child again until
the 18th It.was then dying. The blood
and corruption and froth were gushing
out of its mouth and nose when it was
dying A discharge from its bowels was
clotted blood. The bruises were on its
body at the time of its death.
During the time he was beating the
child, he swore he would kill it, Hochs
was very cross to my sister, and she acted
as if she was afraid Of him. He was en-
ragged at the child, but had nothing
against any one else, as / knew. The
child could not walk, | think. 1t could
stand and hold to a chair.
On the morning the child died. my
lister wanted Hochs to go for doctor.
He went to Monroe Furnace, but instead |
IF bringing doctor, he brought bottle |
If patent medicine. The child was dead |
when he got back There was a doctor
It Monroe Furnace, who had his Office |
It the Furnace Office. Hochs washed |
md dressed the child after death. The
bruises on its body at the time Of its
leath showed more plainly than before.
never knew the child to be sick in its
ife. 1t was a very healthy child.
Cross examination.
Hochs and his wife had one other
hid at the time Of the death Of this one.
they have had six children, three of
Vhom are living.
The cross examination extended to
reat length, and the witness kept close
o her narrative, and was not caught in
ny contradictions She is woman
ged % years, and was calm and collected,
nd possessed Of rather more than ordine-
y intelligence She did not exhibit any
ceiling. or prejudice against defendant
hat showed undue motive to injure him,
ut she evidently thought that he killed
he child.
Mary E. Boyer was the next witness.
i've two miles from Waverly. Know
ohm Hochs. Knew the child Charley.
Ie was IL or IA months old. Lived
bout quarter of a mile from Hochs at
be time of the death Of Charley. This
las about mile and half from Monroe
'urnace. in Jackson county. On the
tn of March saw Hochs whip Charley
18th leather strap, and afterwards he
vashed him with salt and water. He had
be child across his lap, and its clothes
p. He struck it several times. was
d the same room. do not know why
e whipped it. The child was fretful be
pre- he whipped it. l saw blood on the
hild He put salt in water and washed
be parts where he had whipped it. He
hen put it in bed and pulled the tick
yer it and put pillows on it and held
hem for a time. He did this three
ines. He then took~it and put it in
ront of the bed and kicked it under the
ed FIVE times The child was still fret
al. The child appeared to be badly
urt, and was almost dead. l do not
now how much it was hurt. Neither
ny sister nor / attempted to interfere
nth him. was young, and l think my
ister, Mrs. Hochs, was afraid of him.
Do not know of any trouble with his
rife or the child, Why he whipped it.
Iochs did not like my father, but / do
ot know why he did not like him.
The witness was asked whether she
,new of any jealousy existing on the
art of Hochs towards his wife. Objected
o, but the objection was overruled, and |
witness answered that she did not, and |
hat Hochs claimed that the child was |
lis.
Cross examined. We have not space |
o give the cross examination in full. 1t |
vas very thorough, and the witness con-
herself in some minor matters,
,ut in general held firmly to her state
nents in chief.
Mary A Chamberlain called am a
sister of Mrs. Hochs. Am acquainted
With Hochs. Saw Charley after he was
lead. The body was bruised and swol-
en. Saw the body an hour or so after
death. 1t was bruised, and purple and
hI.oI- D,.rIa oho,t H. fooo II;.