The Topeka state journal., 1905-07-28
sHIPPY's REPORT.
The Chicago Police Inspector Gives
Hoch's History in Detail.

AAONA AAAOtOAJ OO1AAs
Inspector Shippy submitted the fol-
lowing report on the arrest of
Johann Hoch, poisoner and bigamist.
found guilty of murder and sentenced
to death by hanging:
This man, whose correct name is
Jacob Schmitt, has killed by slow
poison in the past ten years five wo-
men in the United States and one in
Paris, France. He escaped punish
ment owing to the fact that each
body, except the last, was embalmed
with fluid containing arsenic, which
was the poison used by him.
Hoch, or Schmitt. was an interna-
tional matrimonial swindler. He op-
Grated in all the larger cities in the
United States, advertising in German
papers for his victims. The follow
ing will show to what extent he has
operated in the United States:
Arrived in New York city from
Horweiller, Germany, on January Is,
Huff he married woman named
Mary Hoch in Wheeling, w. Va, in
April, 1895. She died of arsenical
poisoning on June of the same year.
Hoch obtained $500 from this wo-
man. He disappeared shortly after
her death, leaving his clothing and
watch and note on the bank of the
Ohio river, the note stating that he
had jumped in the river.
On June Is, 1895, he appeared in
Chicago under the name of Adolph
Hoch, and in August married Mary
Stein brecher. On December 16 of the
same year she died under the same
conditions. This funeral was stopped
by the late. Inspector Schaack, but
Hoch produced a doctors certificate.
Just prior to her death this woman
told three different persons that her
husband was poisoning her. He OBJ
tanned $4,000 worth of property.
January IS, 1895, just thirty days
after his wifes death, Hech married
Minnie Warnke. Two days afterward
he put a revolver to her head and de-
manded her money. She said it was
in the bank, and he deserted her.
Thirty days later Hoch married
Martha Hertzf1eld under the name of
Adolph Heb. He deserted her two
weeks later, taking $1,000 of her
money and $1,000 belonging to her
sister.
He then went to Cincinnati, and in
March, 1895, married a woman named
Clara Bartels. She died of poison in
April and he succeeded in getting hold
erty. He then married woman
named Does and got $500 from her.
While in Cincinnati he went under
the name of Jacob Schmitt.
Hoch then went to Europe, and was
next heard of when arrested in this
city in March, 1898, under the name of
Martin Dotz for selling mortgag ged
property. He was sentenced to one
year in the house of correction. At the
expiration of his term he was rearrest-
ed as Adolph Heb and given another
year in the house of correction.
On October 20, 1901, under the name
of Jacob Schmitt, he married Marie
Guerke. He tried to get her to ex-
change wills and deserted her on March
10, 1902. aArFaA y 4+
April 8, 1902, he married Mary, Becker
at St. Louis. She died of arsenical
poisoning and he collected $500 fnsur-
ance.
On January ?. 1904, Hoch married a
Mrs. Hendrtckson at Hammond, Ind,
and after getting hold of $500 of her
money went to San Francisco; in June
of same year married Mrs. Won Klenki
at Baltimore getting $500 from her:
October 20 married Carolina Steiger at
Philadelphia and deserted her after OBJ
| tanning 5000 of her money.
Hoch came to this city on November
s, 1904. and registered at hotel at 740
East Sixty-third street under the name
of Jacob Smitt, ST. Louis. He rented
and furnished a house at 6430 Union
avenue and advertised for a wife. Marie
Welker, II Willow street, answered the
ad., and on December 16 they were mar
ried. She drew $3.50 from the bank and
gave it to Hoch, and on December 20
she was taken sick. On December Is
Hoch leSrned that her sister, Mrs.
Fisher, had $3.50 in bank. and on jan