The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-13
MARRIAGE MANIA
To. Be HOCH PLEA
Man of Forty Wives Just Couldn t
Resist When Cupid Beck I
oned Him.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
Chicago, Feb. l3.-Johann Hoch, the
man with hobby: for widows and an
irresistible fondness for separating
them from their money, is insane, &C
cording. to his attorney, Isadere Plotke.
When the man is arraigned, insanity -
will be the defense, unless present plans
are changed 81 :, s".. 49,
"Br-r-r-r!" said Hoch when, he was
asked if he was insane. It was appar:
ent that he did not take kindly to the
idea: 1t was apparent there will be. a
tussle with his counsel before he con.
sents to pose as mental weakling be:
fore jury. i :.
ed, more affabiy. q If se lave an att tor
ney,' he said, "but T may have some.
thing to say about my defense. Am
L crazzyg If you ask me, say that
ev GyberEy ,; is crazy. Only some more
Hoch always is sphynx.i like. He talks
great deal, but, there is little he has
said so far to the point. Sometimes
he appears "fighty. f. By way of Tv.
ing up to his reputation, he calls near
ly every woman who visits the station
to look at him either Gimme liebe' OF
sweetheart. - !. ~ ......, :
Can't Resist Cupid.
1t the views of his attorneys are cor.
rect, this is only one manifestation of
an unfortunate monomania on the part
of the captive bigamist. Perhaps, thru
some defect in his mental makeup, he
cannot resist getting married, being
particularly helpless in the case of ell
derby women with property.
1t was learned on good authority that
VT IN L
demented, the attack on the prisoner
in court will be met with a battery
OF allenists and textbooks on insanity
Instead OF being a deliberate swindler
the man will be held up as worthy
object for jury's compassion, in that
ne has been the victim of designing
women in search Of a husband =
Attorney Plotke: refused to saw
whether, in case his client was indicted
tor giving arsenic to some of his wives
this failing also would. be attributed to
a deranged intellect: Before deciding
this, matter he will wait until the coro:
ner's jury in the inquest of Mrs. Wei
ker-Hoch returns it's verdict.
Hoch Used Makeup.
The presence of wigs, false boards
goggles and other 'properties' in the
trunk Of Johann Hoch' was explained
today when Johann Greikowski. {
vegetable dealer, positively identife:
Hoch as man who, disguised as Z
prosperous farmer, swindled Grekowski
Ibis IS the. first appearance of mai
among HOch's accusers, and the polio
believe other men will appear with sim
liar tales, because Of the well-worn ap
pearance Of the disguise paraphernalia
The articles were found in Hoch IS trunk
left at the home, Of Mrs. Mary Eliza
beth Goerk, lO2 Eugene street. -.
In his loud sharp tones, and wavin,
his hands wildly. Hoch asserted his in
nocence. =, The little <bigamist had re
gained much of the energy he lost dur
ing his three days and Four nights ez
perience in the sweat box -.
Latest Wife Wants Money.
Mrs. Emelie1 r 9sher taoch, the lates
4 wife Of Johann Huth, rca1led upon hin
:, today to make a demand for her money
After Hoch had been brought. from
cell into Police Inspector Shippy's OF
fee the wife said:" ~s...- :.
"John,; you have'got my money, am
I want it. Give it, back to me If yo,
have any part at all, for need ever.
Unmoved by the earnest, plea, Hoe
answered:
''Now, my dear, don't get excited
You will get all your money back, an
more, if you do the right thing. Al
of these stories about me are false
You leave me alone and you will com
out all ri ght: Wait and we will tai
it over later.'
The woman made no reply.