Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-02-24

came suspicious and upon Hoch's arriv-
al in Chicago refused him.
Fourteen Thought Murdered.
Reports state that the following IA
women have been murdered by Hoch in
furthering his plans:
Mrs. Emily Welker Hoch, 6090 Union
avenue, died suddenly January 10, 1905.
Coroners physician found large guam
tity Of arsenic in her stomach.
Mrs. Julia Steinbrecher, 1913 Belmont
avenue, died suddenly.
Mrs. Lena Hoch, died in Milwaukee,
1897.
Mrs. Mary Becker Schultz Hoch, st.
Louis, 1903, disappeared.
Mrs. Maria Schulz, Argos, Ind, died
suddenly, 1900
Mrs. Hoch, sister of Mrs. ]. H. H.
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. Hoch. Norfolk, Va, died sudden
ly, 1899.
Mrs. Henry Bartel, Baltimore, died
1896.
Mrs. Wilhelmina Hoch, died Buffalo,
1898.
Mrs. Justina Loeff1er, 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, 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 eright-handman 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 awfu
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 victim!
l to his so-called castle" and with prom
Use of future happiness would thrust then
into dungeon or secret vault and turI
l on the deadly gases which would sool
end their lives. 1t is believed that man,
u of the unfortunates who disappeared
y while attending the worlds fair in 1S9
: came to their end through his enigmat
!. ical lust for human lives. Holmes ad
n mitted doing away with nearly 30 men
n women and children, and how man,
S more persons were victims of his Gun
n ming will probably never be known
n This Holmes has been classed as tn
o archfiend of history, and the very ide
n that Hoch should have been connecte
: with his awful crimes makes one shud
n der for the realization of the facts whic
1t the near future is likely to bring fortt
e Holmes derived financial profit from hi
r, flendish acts by doing away with man
% trusting innocent little children. Th
IS bodies were invariably burned in quick
IT lime, and so cunningly were the deed
y accomplished that 1t is little wonde
% that so many years passed before hi
n. crimes were brought to light. The pal
,r which Edward Hatch, supposed by tn
lie suburban authorities to be Johann Hocl
K took, was that of handy man around th
to Sixty-third street Castle" Such ma
was indispensable in covering the tracl
of the multi-murderer Hatch's dut
was to build secret walls and passage
~ - lay floors and in many other ways pr
20 vent the discovery OF the awful earn
:, val of slaughter which had been carrie
VI on within the castle" walls for year
= Naturally such helper was very muC
-, in the confidence of his employe
T., Holmes before his hanging accused tn
- same Edward Hatch with the murder
- the Peitzal boy. whose disappearan
caused such a furor in the suburb
~ the time.
IA Hoch Appeared in Many Roles.
fa II all reports of the sudden appea
"a ances of Mr.. Johann Hoch are to be a
ur counted true, then that versatile Ge
Id man gentleman has appeared in almo
ne as many roles as there are leaves on t
he trees. He has gone about, sometimes
m a poor but honest artist, several times
10 q wealthy stock holder, very often as
N gentleman of leisure touring for
I'm health and endeavoring to rid hims'