Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-20
HOCH GUILTY;
To Be EXECUTED
PRISONER GREATLY AFFECTED
BY VERDICT
WANTS END TO COME SOON
Declares the Evidence Was only Cir
eumstantal, and That His Life
Has Been Guessed
Away"
WANTS END TO COME SOON
Rv Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
CHICAGO, May 1a.-Johann Hoch,
who by his own confession is several
times a bigamist and who is charged
by the police with having married at
least forty women in the last fifteen
years, today was found guilty of muir
der and the death penalty recommend
ed in Judge Kersten's court. The crime
for which Hoch will be led to the gal
lows was murder of his last known
wife, Mrs. Marie Walcker- Hoch. Hoch
had been married to this woman but
a few days when she suddenly became
sick and died. He formed an alliance
with the sister of the dead woman and,
securing the latter's money, fled from
Chicago. This woman, in quest of re-
venge, notified the police that Hoch
had poisoned her sister and a search
for Hoch was begun. He was found
two weeks later in New York and
brought back to Chicago and con-
fronted by several of his supposed
wives During the trial expert testi-
mony was offered by the state that
Hoch had poisoned the woman by ad-
ministering arsenic.
Today's verdict was one of the
quickest on record in Cook county, the
jury having reached decision in less
than half an hour. Three ballots were
taken. The first ballot was unanimous
as to Hochs guilt and then ballot
followed as to the punishment to be
inflicted. This ballot showed ten in
favor of the death penalty and two for
life Imprisonment. a third ballot re-
suited in the twelve jurymen voting
for the death penalty.
"AII Off With Johann"
"Well 1 guess it's all off with
Johann" groaned Hoch as the verdict
was read in court, and it was plain
he was greatly affected. He had sat
in STOPPING position, and when the
dread word death" was reached he
turned pale, stared hopelessly at the
jurors and then sank, limp, in his
chair. Hoch's attorneys will ask for a
new trial, although the condemned
man after reaching his cell declared he
was ready to die and would be better
satisfied if they did not make the effort.
II wish they would hang me to-
night, now that 1 have been found
guilty" declared Hoch. Il am not
afraid to die and the sooner it is over
with the better"
Hoch expressed surprise at the
finding of the jury and declared that
the Jurors did not take time to con-
slider the evidence.
THE evidence was all circumstan-
tial," he said, land my life was
guessed away by the jury, which did
not give sufficient consideration to the
testimony offered. Had they done so
might have stood better chance. But
there is no use in finding fault now
it is all over with me and l hope that
no time will be lost in taking me to the
gallows. l do not want my attorney
to attempt anything more for me, as
I know it will be of no use. The end
cannot come too soon to suit me. 1
committed no crime. If my wife had
been shot by me instead of poisoned,
as was alleged, it would have taken the
jury at least a day to have returned a
verdict, but this was a case of poison
ing, in which at least twice as much
time should have been taken for
consideration"
Makes Strong Denial
Hoch denied positively that he had
murdered number of wives, as has
been alleged, and displayed some bit
terness in speaking of the matter.
such talk is foolish" he said. "The
reports have been spread that l am a
modern Bluebeard. This is untrue.
All that can be said against me is that
I committed bigamy. AS to the talk
that 1 had nearly dozen wives it is
nonsense as are the stories that made
away with them. There was no evil
dence that I had another sweetheart
and wanted to get rid of the woman
l am accused of poisoning. l spent
money to get her. but this part of thc
evidence was ignored by the jurors"
Hoch said he preferred the death pen
atty to life Imprisonment.
A prison guard who had heard Hoch s
talk, said, in an attempt to cheer him
up!
While there's life there's hope, you
know"
Hoch smiled and said:
Not for me and Johann is going tc
die"
Hoch then commenced to whistle q
lively tune as he was returning to his
cell. Hoch is said to be penniless, and
for that reason it is believed that he
will be unable to carry his case to the
supreme court should he change and
ask for new trial and be refused.