Iron County register., 1905-02-23
FOURTEEN THOUGHT MURDERED
Finding of Poison in Stomach of "Next-to-
Last" Spouse Points Accusing Finger at
Versatile German Whose Record
Covers Two Great Countries.
Holmes, Archfiend of History Declared Have Been
His Teacher in the Terrible Art-Biga mist Then
Known to Authorities Edward Hatch.

Mrs. Mary Becker Schultz Hoeh, st. |
Louis, 1908, disappeared
Mrs. Maria Schulz, Argos, Ind, died |
suddenly, 1900.
Mrs Hoch, sister of Mrs. j. H. H. |
Schwartzmann, Milwaukee, died 1898.
Mrs. Hoch, another sister of Mrs
Schwartzmann, Milwaukee, died 1897.
Mrs G. A. Meyer Hocb, d12G May, 1892
Mrs. H. Trick, Chicago, died suddenly,
1892.
Mrs. Jacob Huss Hoch, Wheeling, w.
Va, died suddenly 1896
Mrs. Hoch, Norfolk, Va, died sudden
ly, 1S99
Mrs. Henry Bartel, Baltimore, died
1896.
Mrs. Wilhelmila Hoch, Gied Buffalo,
1898.
Mrs. Justina LoeAer, Elkhart, Ind,
disappeared
May Have Been Hatch.
Authorities from Englewood one of
Chicago's suburbs, have become pos
sessed of the most sensational stNies
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, wom-
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 tortures were achieved by
means of weapons of force. Holmes,
with honeyed words, enticed his victims
to his so-called castle" and with prom
iseof future happiness would thrust them
into dungeon or secret vault and turn
on the deadly gases which would soon
end their lives. 1t is believed that many
of the unfortunates who disappeared
while attending the worlds fair in 1898
came to their end through his enigmat-
ical lust for human lives. Holmes ad-
mitted doing away with nearly 80 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
archfiend of history and the very idea
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 indispensableiin 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 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 Juror in the suburb at
the time.
Hoch Appeared in Many Roles.
If all reports of the sudden appear
ances of Mr.. Johann Hoch are to be ac-
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
wealthy stock holder, very often as
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 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 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 a boarding
house at Austin, Mimi, and upon being
presented with picture Of Mr.. Hoch.
declared that the photograph was a
life-like reproduction Of her lostil
count"
How His Downfall Came About.
The last Of Johann Hoch's alleged
dupes. however, proved his downfall, !