Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-28
WOMAN TOTHE RESCUE
Appeal Made for Hoch in
Nick Of Time.
EXECUTION rs STAYED
ALLEGED MURDERER OF MANY
WIVES rs RETRIEVED.
Opportunity Afforded Him to Carry
Case to the Supreme Court
by Offer of Funds.

finance that has been throughout the re-
markable career of the ulti-bgamist and
wife murderer developed anew and Sc
cured him at least two hours longer lease
of life
After all arrangements We're completed
and death faced Hoch within two hours a.
woman went to his rescue. So earnest did
she appear in an offer to furnish money
necessary to allow Hoch to appeal his case
that there was hurried consultation be-
tween officials. The upshot was that the
execution. planned to take place at noon
was postponed until pm. the last minute
allowed by law unless the governor should
grant a further reprieve,
Woman Said to Be Wealthy.
The woman is said to be wealthy and
professed to have become interested in the
case from humanitarian motives only. She
enlisted in her aid DIR. Iiston H. Montgom-
cry, one of the most prominent physicians
in the city.
DIR. Montgomery acted as her intermedi-
ary in the negotiations
at o'clock this morning Jailer Whitman
was aroused from his sIeep to answer a
telephone call.
Some person, who refused to give his
name at the time, announced that he would
appear at the jail at 10 am. prepared to
hriiIiSii HioHey, the lack OF Wnlch 1t has
peen alleged prevented Hoch from complet-
Ing the legal records required by the Ili-
nois supreme court IN case of an appeal.
The record cost SLIGO. Hoch had S1OO and
a conditional promise of S4O0 additional.
Because no name was given on the tele-
phone Jailer Whitman attached little i'm
portance to the notification But TODAY at
the hour named DR.. Montgomery, with Mrs
wilson, appeared at the Jail Their talk
with Whitman convinced him they were in
earnest, and steps We're a once taken for a
new appeal to the governor.
Stood Ready to Assist.
Mrs. Wilson said she stood ready to ad-
vance portion If the money necessary to
enable Hoch to carry his case to the SUI
preme court and that three persons had
last night also agreed to advance part of
the sum necessary. Mrs. Wilson departed
to see these men and if possible to appeal
to the governor herself. She assured
by the jailer that he would delay the exc
cCton as long as possible in order to give
Hoch the benefit of all possibilities
Meanwhile Hoch, who had about given up
the outcome
It was stated that DR.. Montgomery In his
efort to shield the woman from publicity
Vouched for the production Of the money
and whatever assurance the governor
would require. DIR. Montgomery and Mrs
Wilson left the Jail together Mrs. Wilson
clung tenaciously to her anonymity. She
said: Il am interested In the case solely
because 1 think the man ought to have an
equal chance"
Name Must Be Kept Secret,
DR.. Montgomery said: This lady. whose
name. as far as I am concerned, must ever
remain secret, is actuated solely from
humanitarian motives. 1t Is the same
cause which determined me to assist her
I became interested in the case from a
scientific standpoint long ago. I went
over the testimony thoroughly. The de-
duction made by experts as to how Hoch
administered arsenic to his wives I have
always deemed absurd. When I returned
from the Pacific coast, two days ago,
after several weeks absence, I learned
that Hoch was on the point of being
hanged. I have thought him a poor, un-
fortunate man, and when this lady, having
read In the papers of my sentiments ap
peared at my Office and offered to give the
money for Hoch's appeal l was glad to
assist her."
After DR.. Montgomery and Mrs. Wilson
left the jail States Attorney Healey talked
| over the telephone with Governor Deneen;
who is at Springfield, and who was made
acquainted with the latest phase of the sit
uation The governor told the states at
torney to ascertain whether the offer was
bona fide, to make sure of the money and
then to call the governors office again.
The governor thereupOn instructed Sheriff
Barrett to delay the execution until so p. m
The Attorneys Closeted.
Soon afterward DIR. Montgomery and Mrs
Wilson returned to the states attorneys 8
off1ce where they were closeted with the
states attorney and Hoch's attorney. After
a long conference Hoch's lawyer emerged
and announced that Dr. Montgomery and
Mrs Wilson had failed to convince the
states attorney that the woman would
give the money. The lawyer for Hoch said
however. that telephone message from
an attorney known to Hoch's lawyer had
been received. stating that the sender of
the message had $500 to give toward saving
Hoch. The offer was said to be ac-
count of personal friendship for Hoch's at
torney.
Hochs representatives had replied that
the money, to satisfy the states attorney
and Gov. Dineen, must be either in cash
or a certified check
Appeared With Check.
Covered with perspiration and breathless
the attorney mentioned by Hoch's lawyer
arrived at the states attorneys Office in
a short time, and showed bank check for
$500. The states attorney insisted that he
ought to have the money, but promised that
with that amount of cash he would recon-
mend to the governor that reprieve be
granted. Hoch'S attorney therupon depart
ed post haste with the announced inten-
ton of cashing the check and calling up
the governor direct to save time.
Identity of Woman Revealed.
It developed later that the woman who
interviewed to save Hoch was Miss Cora
Wilson. She Is said to be an acquaintance
of Governor Deneen. Her plan and that
of DR.. Montgomery was not to give the
money, but to guarantee to the governor
| that they would raise the money by sub
scription provided the governor would re-
prieve Hoch. The governor did not think
| this plan was certain enough and he re-
fused to act.
Jalor Whitman while negotiations were
pending went to Hoch's cell and informed
the prisoner of the situation. He chuckled
and laughed like a school boy.
IT knew my chance would come" he
cried.
At this time Hoch's attorney was calling
up the governor and announcing that the
! check had been cashed. The governor, 1t