The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1905-03-09

Mrs. Hoch, sister of Mrs. ]. II. II.
Schwartzmann, Milwaukee. died 1898.
Mrs. Hoch, another sister of Mrs.
Schwartzmann, Milwaukee, died 1897.
Mrs. G. A. Meyer Hoch, died May, 1892.
Mrs. H. Trick, Chicago, died suddenly,
1892.
Mrs. Jacob Huss Hoch, Wheeling, w.
Va, died suddenly, 1896.
Mrs. Hoeh, Norfolk, Va, died sudden
Iy, 1899.
Mrs. Henry Bartel, Baltimore, died
1896.
Mrs. Wilhelmina Hoch, died Buffalo,
1898.
Mrs. Justina Loeffler, Elkhart, Ind.
disappeared.
May Have Been Hatch.
Authorities from Englewood. one of
Chicago's suburbs, have become pos
sessed Of the most sensational stories
relating to the character and past life
Of Johann Hoch. 1t is actually believed
there that this Hoch was a pupil of
"~Bluebeard" Holmes, the wholesale
murderer, who, in his famous Sixty
third street castle" crushed out the
lives of almost two scores of men, WON
en- and children until his discovery, trial
and confession finally brought him to
the gallows. The Englewood people de-
clare that the methods of the two men
are so similar and that the pictures of
johann Hoch so nearly resemble the
well-remembered face of Edward Hatch,
said to be the right-hand man of Holmes,
that they have little doubt but that
Hatch and Hoch are one and the same
person.
Awful Methods of Holmes.
Holmes operations were of an awful
character and would have done credit
to the accomplished Spanish inquisi-
zionist, whose tCrtures were achieved by
of weapons of force. Holmes,
with honeyed words, enticed his victims
to his so-called "castle" and with prom
Use of future happiness wouldthrustthem
into a dungeon or secret vault and turn
on the deadly gases which would scon
end their lives. It is believed that many
Of the unfortunates who disappeared
while attending the worlds fair in 1895
came to their end through his enigmat-
ical lust for human lives. Holmes adj
mitted doing away with nearly so men,
women and children, and how many
more persons were victims of his cum
ming will probably never be known.
This Holmes has been classed as the
oroh fond nf hictnrv ond tho uNyxy ,laa
that Hoch should have been connected
with his awful crimes makes one shud-
der for the realization of the facts which
the near future is likely to bring forth.
Holmes derived financial profit from his
fiendish acts by doing away with many
trusting innocent little children. The
bodies were invariably burned in quick
lime, and so cunningly were the deeds
accomplished that it is little wonder
that so many years passed before his
crimes were brought to light. The part
which Edward Hatch, supposed by the
suburban authorities to be Johann Hoch.
took, was that of handy man around the
Sixty-third street castle" Such a man
was indispensable in covering the tracks
of the multi-murderer. Hatch's duty
was to build secret walls and passages.
lay floors and in many other ways pre-
vent the discovery of the awful carni-
val of slaughter which had been carried
on within the Castle walls for years.
Naturally such a helper was very much
in the confidence of his employer.
Holmes before his hanging accused this
same Edward Hatch with the murder of
the Peitzal boy, whose disappearance
caused such a Juror in the suburb at
the time.
Hoch Appeared in Many Roles.
If all reports CT the sudden appear
ances of Mr.. Johann Hoch are to be &C.
counted true, then that versatile Ger
man gentleman has appeared in almost
as many roles as there are leaves on the
trees. He has gone about, sometimes as
a poor but honest artist, several times as
a wealthy stock holder, very often as a
gentleman of leisure touring for his
health and ~endeavoring to rid himself
of as much currency as time would per-
NIT. Probably the most notable of
his poses is that in which he is said
to have represented himself as the
Count Otto O Kern, of Germany.
This little adventure took-him tt st.
Here he is said to have intro
duced hirself to Mrs. Hulda Nagel,
whom he married after a brief court
ship, in May, 1902. Very soon after
the simple ceremony the count induced
the newly-made countess to turn her
estate and other possessions into
cash, preparatory to taking a trip
a~broadein which, incidentally, the pair
we're to inspect the estate of the
"nobleman' in Germany. He left the
countess" to herself while he went to
the city to purchase tickets for their
trip. The count was never heard of
that, although a warrant was
sworn out for his arrest. Just at pres
ent the countess conducts a boarding
house at Austin, Mimi, and upon being
presented with a picture of Mr.. Hoch.
that the photograph was a
life-like reproduction Of her lost
count"
How His Downfall Came About.
The last Of Johann Hoch's alleged
dupea. boweYer. proYed hls doHnfall,
* ~ NF