davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23
cOUNTERFEITER, WHO PLEADED
GUILTY TO SAVE SISTER, is
SENTENCED
Will Do Five Years at Hard Labor in
the United States Prison at
McNeil's Island

Frank Richards, formerly a convict
at the Walla Walla penitentiary, and
who a few days ago at Seattle pleaded
guilty to counterfeiting at Columbia
City to save his sister, Mrs. May Nc
Donald and her husband, Dan Nc
Donald, from being prosecuted for
conspiracy in the crime, was yester-
day sentenced by Judge Hanford in the
federal court to five years at hard la
Dor in the United States penitentiary
on McNei's Island, to pay a fine of
500 and the costs of the rial. The
man took the sentence calmly and
made no remarks when led away to
Jail by a deputy United States mar
shall He acted as if he expected no
less a punishment. His sister, Mrs.
Mcdonald, was Frustrated when she
received the news of the heavy SEN
tence melted out to the guilty man.
Richards was arrested in Columbia
Citl in January by Captain B. w. Bell,
chief Of the northwestern division Of
the United States secret service, and
by Operator Taylor. He was caught
in the act of pouring metal into a
mould in the kitchen of the Mcdonald
residence. The government officers
from the start took the stand that
Richards, who had an unenviable po-
lice record, forced the woman and the
man to assist him in the work.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23
NOTICE.

I am pleased to inform the bubble
that we have been appointed agents Of
the Washington Fire Insurance Com
pany of Seattle, splendid young insti.
tuition composed of many of our states
most prominent merchants and capital.
lists, with a capital and surplus Of
s262,500. This is the only regular stock
fire insurance company on the coast
out of San Francisco and as such
should command-and I trust will re-
ceive-Your hearty support. May l
ask you to see me before arranging for
your next insurance.
Very respectfully,
B. S. WOODRUFF & CO.,
Phone Main 1854 Agent
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23
STATE ENCAMPMENT SELECTS
WALLA WALLA AS NEXT
MEETING PLACE.
Members of Abraham Lincoln Posi-
Highly Gratified-Worked Hard
for the City.

Walla Walla will be the scene of the
grand encampment of the State Grand
Army of the Republic to be held again
next year. At Vancouver yesterday
the grand encampment Of the G. A. r.
concluded it's session by selecting
Walla WaIla as the next meeting place.
The selection of this city was source
of considerable qualification to MEM
bers of Abraham Lincoln post Of Walla
Walla, who labored hard to secure the
encampment for next year. The cleo
ton of officers for the G. A. r. and
Woman's Relief Corps resulted as fol-
lows: j. T. Goss, Vancouver, COM
mander; D. K. oliver, Spokane, senior
vice commander; J. D. Palmer, Wenat-
chez, junior vice commander; /. H.
Sprague, ballard, chaplain; H. P. Bost-
wick, Vancouver, medical director;
council of administration, B. G. Levy
Seattle, w. H. Wiscombe, Spokane, A.
w. HASTE, Seattle, ]. A. Snodgrass,
Vancouver, George Boardman, Ia
coma; delegates to the national con-
vention, Joseph Dickerson, Seattle, G.
w. France, Mount Vernon, and William
Badger, North Yakima.
The Women's Relief Corps elected
officers as follows: Susan L. Mock,
Bellingham, president; Jennie Burnett,
Vancouver, senior vice president; Alice
Graves, junior vice president; Jennie
N. Stearns, Bellingham, treasurer;
Susie Griffith, Bellingham, secretary;
Mary Blickensderfer, Pennington,
chaplain; executive board, Celia Bers-
landig, Bellingham, Jennie Ruscoe,
Linden, Lena Bequette, Charleston.
Clara Carpenter, Toledo, Julia Pan
coast, Bellingham.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23
HANsBoRoUGH HAS FIGHT.
President Hall Said to Have Markes
Him for Slaughter.

FARGO, N. D., June Ex-senator
Hansbrough Is between the devil and
the deep blue sea, politically speaking
The "old gang" and the new gang
are after his political scalp and figure
that his toga will look good on some
one else.
The "old gang believes that State
would be a good man to success Hans
brough. The reorganizers. with for
mer Congressman Spalding and john
son at the head, think a change In
the senatorship would be the proper
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23

General Passenger Agent,
WaJla Walla, Washington.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23
THE WASHINGTON E. COLUMBIA
RIVER RAILWAY

Announce the following reduced rates
to the East:
Chicago and return ............ $64.OO
Milwaukee and return ......... 1920
st. Louis and return $4,000
Kansas City and return $3.50
Omaha and return $3.50
Tickets on sale June 14th, 18th, 18th
and 18th. Limits, 80 days.
For additional information, cal1 on
or address, J. P, GOODHUE,
F. F. ROOT, Agent. City Agent.
s. b. CALDERHEAD,
General Passenger Agent,
WaJla Walla, Washington.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23

Feel all knocked out? An Electro
Turkish Bath will fix you up right.
One full treatment including full body
massage, $1.00; TX South Third street.
Ladies' day every Tuesday. A skilled
lady attendant.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23

Good Meats, Fresh and Salt Fish,
at Peoples Market. Phone %. II
South Third Street, A. E. Augustavo,
Prop.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23

Where are all the people going? To
the White House Restaurant to get O.
good zoo meal; 215 West Main.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23
LADIES.

Man-tailored Skirts to order at Nc
Kean's, Fourth and Main.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

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 Won Kern, OF Germany.
This little adventure took him to St.
Paul. Here he is said to have intro
duced himself to Mrs. Hulda Nagel,
whom he married after brief court
ship. in May, 1902. Very soon after
the simple ceremony the count induced
the newly-made countess" to turn her
real estate and other possessions into
cash, preparatory to taking a trip
abroad, in which, incidentally, the pair
were 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
after that, although warrant was
sworn out for his arrest. Just at pres
ent the countess" conducts boarding
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

Strange as il may seem, no clear cases
OF Johann Hoch's work had come to the
knowledge of the police anywhere in the
United States until the present dis
closure, although his marriage business,
ii Is declared, has been carried on ever
since 1881. This fact may be due to the
desire Of many sensitive women who
have been duped by this man to keep
their desertion from the public.
Worked from Town to Town.
Hoch's policy, it seems, was always
to extract as much money as his intend
ed victim could summon without waste
Of time, and, after begging leave of alb
sence on some pretext, would disappear
as If the earth had completely swallowed
him up. Then the tale of wife in a
nearby town, who would pitifully de-
clare that she had given her newly ac-
quired husband all her money. and that
he had not been home for several Gays
and some accident must have befallen
him. would bring to light the fact that,
in all probability, Mr. Hoch was carry
ing on operations in the neighborhood.
Hoch's method was to advertise in
the daily papers, preferably the German
publications, saying that his loneliness
had forced him to seek a life companion
who could tend his wants. Some women
answered out Of curiosity, others who
felt the same absence of some person
to share their condolences, would COM
municate with him. Then the German
would select what he considered the best
for his purpose and devote his whole
energies In that direction. Hoch never,
according to reports, sought out those
women whose beauty or other charms
would make them the target for other
mems affections, but women whom, by
his superior will. he might find easy to
persuade. These women. mostly German.
had had little sympathy expressed for
their welfare during their lives, and the
tender passion which Johann Hoch ex.
pressed in his letters seldom failed to
execute its aim.
Samples of His Courtship.
All through his missives to his in.
tended victims runs a strain Of feeling
which would do credit TO the most high
" accomplished Beau Brummer' ol
the old days Of chivalry. One repre-
sentative epistle that came to a Chi
cago woman. supposedly from Hocf
when he was in San Francisco. simpl,
breathed love to the woman who reat
IL. A portion of It follows:
Dear child, you took my heart BY
storm. can't get over 1t, my dear 10
hanna. How is 1t with you, dear child
sou like to spend the rest OF your lif'
alone? II you only feel toward me a
1 feel and could bring one-half YOU
love to me as to you, how lucky woult
be. II you could wed your heart to mine
for the rest of our days l would be the
Iuckiest man in the world" The In
tended victim, who had almost sue
cumbed to the tender passion of Hoch
whom she read letter sent to him ir
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

Horrweiler, in tho province OF Bingen
on the Rhine, November, 1862. After
getting married he kept small store
in his native village and later became
a broker and wine merchant In the city
Of Bingen. W
In his capacity as a wine merchant
he lived pretentiously and used his
acquaintance with high society as The
means OF extracting large sums of
money from business men, whom he
impressed as good fellow. There 1t
was that Hcch learned the winning
ways that capt.vated his American vic
Tins. However, the pace grew too fast
for Schmidt in Bingen and after a fare
well swindle Of sugar refinery he
sailed for the United States. leaving q
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

stay In Chicago. the bigamist becomes
greatly confused. denying his state
ments time and again.
Will Hoch Be ConvictedP
Whether this character will be con-
victed Of the crimes with which he Is
charged is merely a matter Of conjec-
ture, but whatever turns up 1t will be
recorded In the annals OF crime In the
United States, and doubtless In the
world. that no greater case OF whole
sale marrying and pitiless swindling
has ever come into the public lime
light than that which Is charged
against Johann Hoch, man whose
operations have been felt nationally in
two countries and have attracted al
most universal attention.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25
nd furnIture on Union avenue.

and furniture on Union avenue.
went with him to the bank and got the
money and gave 1t to him. Then he
disappeared" Mrs. Fisher says she
believes that she and her sister have
been made victims Of deep-laid plot
to deprive them of their earnings and
savings. She declares that she believes
that, seeing that he could not disap-
pear from the presence OF Mrs. Welker
and marry her without the Knowledge
OF both, he formulated the plot
to murder the first wife by some sys-
tenn and, securing what money he could
from Mrs Fisher, disappear for all
time Poison found in the stomach OF
Mrs. Welker, the police believe, prac-
tically corroborates the statement OF
the latest wife of Hoch.
Cases in Other Cities.
Word has come to the local police
from st. Louis, Cincinnati and San
Francisco that man who operated ex-
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

liked me. She said she did. so mar
ried her, and here am.
But am not afraid. Let them
come on, all these other women, FL
81, 10l. Let them all come who have
been deserted and robbed by me-"
What about the arsenic, then, that
the Chicago police say they have dis
covered in the stomach of your dead
wife?"
Hoch fidgeted.
Arsenic? Pooh! II was her kid
neys that killed her. She was sick"
One Woman Hypnotized.
Mrs. Leo Prayer. 1910 Cortez street,
has been added to the list of Mrs.
Hochs." When she married Hoch,
some time ago. It is said that he gave
the name of Leo Prayer. Mrs. Prayer
secured $500 through the death of her
former husband, and shortly after the
marriage to Prayer" she gave him
$500, with which he started second
hand furniture store at 704 Sixty-third
street. They fitted out a fat at 4431
State street
One day Prayer" purchased $1,000
worth of rugs from the A. s. Klein
Carpet company, and when the goods
were delivered the Sixty-third street
store was found closed. Prayer" dis
appeared and has not been heard from
since.
Amelia Holm. 5122 Princeton avenue,
declared she was married to John
Healy" December IL, 1900, and desert
ed by him after he had secured 500
of her money. She believes from the
description that Healy was Hoch.
The story came to light through the
good memory of Policeman Ward, of
the Hyde Park station. He recalled the
story the woman had told him, and,
struck by the similarity of It to Hoch's
methods, after search of several days
found the woman. She said the man,
after six days acquaintance. showed a
roll of money and proposed marriage.
After the wedding he disappeared.
"He hypnotized me. was compelled to
obey him." Miss Holm said.
Career Began Early.
1t is very clear that Hoch's career
has not been Of the meteoric variety
as have the developments in the lives
of many great criminals He began
his career in this sort of life. 1t is said,
in Germany, his native country, by
petty swindling. From this, which he
carried on in Bingen. Germany, he
went to greater things. He was a wine
merchant in Bingen and associated in
high society, where he learned his
charming manners, that have proven
so captivating in this country. A swim
die in German town compelled his
departure. and, leaving wife and
three children destitute, he skipped .
All over Germany where he has per-
petrated his swindles there is great
rejoicing because Of his apprehension,
and the belief is expressed that the
magnitude of his crimes will be
found to increase as developments pro-
coed. A dispatch from Berlin contrib
utes the following to the known facts:
Berlin.-Johann Hoch, whose many
mysterious marriages are vexing the
Chicago police. was compelled to leave
Germany January, 1895. to escape i'm
prisonment as an embezzler and COM
mon swindler His real name Is Jacob
Schmidt. He was born In the town of
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

wife and three children In utter desti-
tuition. A receiver was appointed for
his business, but his creditors are still
waiting for dividend. The people In
Bingen are grimly rejoicing that their
former townsman is at last In the tolls.
Hoch Will Feign Insanity.
From previous experiences Inspector
Shippy declares that he believes the
alleged bigamist will, as is usually the
case when he has been placed on trial.
profess insanity. His actions on the
train en- route to Chicago made 1t ap-
pear that possibly this might be his
scheme when brought to account. His
rambling talk, and repeated declara-
ton that he was IAN educated man and
gentleman" give the authorities the
belief that this Is to be the defense of
Johann Hoch. And judging by what
old men on the police force who have
seen Hoch say. the man is no mere
novice at the insanity gag" and they
declare that even the insane officials
who have to deal with such cases of
shamming almost every day, were
fooled at previous appearance before
law court in Chicago. 81 rather ex-
pect Hoch will sham insanity" said
Inspector Shippy. when caught and
charged with selling mortgaged furni-
ture In 1898, he played the same dodge.
"On trial in Judge Bakers court he
cut up queer antics, shook his head at
f. ]. Magerstadt. who had furnished
four fats for him, and declared he
never had seen him before, and when
Mrs. ]. H. Schwartzmann, of Milwau-
kee, pointed dramatic finger at him
and said: That man poisoned my two
sisters he made faces at her. In the
county Jail he kept up the farce, raw
ing like wild man until the guards.
who believed in the genuineness of the
seizure, feared to come near him. AS
soon as Hoch realized his pretended
insanity would not save him from hard
work, he suddenly became as sane as
any man."
Summary of His Life.
In an interview Johann Hoch vouch-
es for the following summary of his
career. ending with his arrival In Chi
cago, in 1895. II has been reported
that his operations began in 1881, or
about that time. but according to his
own story he did not arrive in this
country until two years later The his
tory is:
November 81, 1860, born in Horn
weller, Germany. Father, Wilhelm
Hoch; mother, Margaret Hoch, nee
Schiller.
o5-1S76-Attended common school
and gymnasium.
S76-1SSO.Learned trade of sheet
metal worker.
1SS0-1S82-Served as soldier
SS2-18S4-Served as reserve.
1884-Left native town, went to
Paris.
1SS4-1SSS-Worked at trade in Paris;
lived at Rue de Seine. 43.
1SS8-Went to London.
1885, 1895-Worked at trade in Lon
don; lived at 1872 Eugenia avenue.
June Is. 1895, sailed from Southamp-
ton, England.
July 1, 1895-Arrived in Chicago.
July Is, 1895-Bought saloon at 1108
Western avenue.
When speaking of events during his
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

tensively in all those cities in the same
manner as Hoch is thought to be the
"Bluebeard." 1t is believed that more
wives will be heard from in each of
these cities as the picture of Hoch is
more widely circulated.
Hoch's method with such of his
wives as he did not find it necessary
to otherwise dispose of is illustrated
in the case of Mrs. Anna Schmidt Hen
erickson Hoch, one of the women he
deserted He married this woman in
Hammond. Ind, in 1903, and took her
to live at Ill Watt street. Two days
later he fled with $500 she had saved
THE day after the marriage" Mrs
Hendrickson told Inspector Ship
pey, who is in charge of the fIoch case
my husband told me he was heir to
an estate in Germany. A few hours
later he hurried in from downtown
with a fake cablegram which read:
Father is dead. Your brother, Will
liam
"He told me $21 1000 was coming to
him from his fathers estate and
must prepare to leave for Germany
with him the next night. He said he
had no money for the voyage and
asked how much had. l told him
$500 in the Illinois Trust and Savings
bank.
Gle asked me to draw 1t out and
give it to him for our trip to Germany.
Just to show that he was on the square
with me, he said, he made his will in
drew out the money and gave 1t to
him. At the same time he handed me
the will he had made out. Then he
hurried away to buy the tickets. That
is the last have ever seen of him."
Calls Police "Foolishnesses."
Hoch. when approached regarding
his alleged multi-marriages, emphat-
ically denied ever having INDUCED in
such an escapade as bigamy and in his
quaint German way indicated that the
very thought Of such a thing was ex-
tremely repulsive to his highly toned
character. He strenuously denies mar
rying as many persons as have ap-
peared claiming Mr.. Hoch as their
long-lost life companion. In broken
English he said that there were 5000
deserted wives in Chicago, and IL the
police persisted in connecting him with
80 many, they must be big foolish
nesses." Mr. Hoch gives the follow
ing version of his trouble: That's all
humbug about 1881. How could be
running around marrying women when
I wasn't here? came to this country
in the first week Of July, 1895.
When first got to Chicago I
opened saloon. paid $1,000 for It
to man named Louis White, but my
trade is sheet metal working, and I
found out in q few months that the
best thing I could do was to go back
to II.
After that worked for the Pullman
company and the Northwestern rail-
road and the Rock Island. In 1900 I
married. Mary Hendrickson, and had
trouble with her. guessed then !
wouldn't stay home any more.
Last December got lonely. and !
got my eye on widow that thought
would make me good wife. That was
Marie Weller. was told Mrs. Hen
6riclson had got divorce. and So ]
got tied up again, but no sooner did ]
get tied than Marie died. and I am
Just the same as before.
Then said to myself: I'll marry
i her sister, and I asked Emile II she
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-25

house at Austin, Mimi, and upon being
presented with a picture of Mr. Hoch.
declared that the photograph was a
life-like reproduction of her lost
count"
How His Downfall Came About.
The last of Johann Hoch's alleged
dupes, however, proved his downfall,
and with the accusation of Mrs. Anne
liza Fisher, a Chicago woman. came the
apprehension of man whose career,
the police say, is without an equal or
even rival in the history of any city
in this country. Last December Hoch
inserted a matrimonial advertisement
in local German publication, stating his
longing for companionship and asking
that some kind woman become his life
companion. Mrs. Marie Welker. a
widow who owned prosperous con-
fectionery business, replied to his ap-
peal by answering the lad" After a
brief courtship she allowed herself to
be persuaded that she was the only
woman who could relieve his loneli-
ness. Hoch. who had previously rent
ed and furnished a small fiat, took his
latest wife to the house, which, Incl
dentally, happened to be near the To-
cation of the notorious Holmes "cas-
tle" She had disposed of her store
and turned the money derived from its
sale over to her husband, who, repre-
senting himself to be wealthy. said he
did not care for the cash, but desired
TO invest II in safe project, for her
benefit. The day following her mar
riage she became deathly sick. A ply
sician was called, and Mr.. Hoch was
informed that his wife was suffering
from kidney trouble. The arrival of
a trained nurse followed, but, although
her condition was worse, the nurse was
sent away the following day. Then
Mrs Fisher, the sister OF the sick
woman. came to care for her. One day
later, while Mr.. Hoch was alone with
his wife, she died. Mr.. Hoch went
downstairs to inform the dead WON
ans sister. after which Mrs. Fisher
went upstairs to clean the death cham
ber Very soon after this operation
the alleged bigamist proposed to Mrs
Fisher that she become his wife.
81 am an unfortunate man." Mrs
Fisher reports Hoch to have said to
her. Marie was not my first wife.
was married before, and my first wife
was an invalid. and now. Just as
thought was to have another happy
home. my new wife Is dead. am
lonely and have no means. You are q
good woman and a good housewife, and
I want you to marry me. I will bring
your children here from Germany and
you can be happy with me-"
Repulsed Then Accepted Hoch.
Mrs. Fisher has nine children in Ger
many. Continuing her narrative OF the
occurrence. she said:
Il resented his proposal. and told hin
he should not talk Of such things sc
soon after his wife's death. Januar,
Is rooe with him to the cemetery
and again. over his wife's grave, h,
asked me to marry him. The follow
ing Wednesday he came to my HON,
and consented TO become his wife
He told me we would go out Of tow
and no one would know Of It until m.
sister had been dead long time.
went with him to Joliet that afternoon
and we were married. We came bacl
and went to my house that night. TIL
next morning he asked me to give hin
$3.50 had saved to pay on mortgage
he claimed was held against the hous