The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-29
HOCH IS TO
 HAVE CHANCE
 a-e x 2; Rcpricved by Governor II Last Moment NECESSARY MONEY RAISED Case Will Now Go to the
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NECESSARY MONEY RAISED

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 Chicago. July 3s.--Johann HocA "Bluebeard" and confessed bigamiae sentenced to be hanged today for potS- oning one of his wives. was this aftss- noon granted reprieve until August 25 by Governor Denesn.
 The stay of the execution follows1 hours of anxiety on the part of Hoch, who had never given up hope, and wss allowed by the Governor only after tho latter had been assured that the nscss- sary sum to appeal the case had been raised. The amount. $500. was given by an attorney ana friend of Hoch's counsel. The attorney declared he wAs actuated purely by humanitarian luc- tives.
 An incident at the jail during tho preparations for the execution was tho appearance of . physician and . woman who told Jaiior Whitman that they wanted to help in Hoch's battle for life. They said they wished to raise funds for the condemned man and asked Jailer whitman to delay the haugin0 as long as possible. Hoch's attorney however. had already been in commu- nication with the authorities respects ing the stay of sentence
 
 attorney who furnished the money ap- peared. This attorney. 1t was said telephoned Hoch's lawyer that the former had $500 to give toward aiding to appeal the case. The two lawyers hastensd to the jail. told Jailer Whit man of the money secured and arranged with the tailor to postpone as long as possible the execution of Hoch.
 Meanwhile they sought States's Att torney Healy and had him arrange . conference with Governor Deneen over the long distance telephonc.
 Consented to Reprleve.
 Hoch's counsel told the Governor that there was lacking only small sum of the sum necessarily for a review of tho case. After discussing the matter with the States attorney the Governor finally conssntsd tc . stay for the con- demned man ana @ notiasd Hcch's
 Hoch. even several hours before the time set for the hanging, was quite com fdent of executive cfemency. although at times he seemed to despair of re- ceiving . reprieve. Unknown to Hoch the negotiations for reprieve were pro- gressing. It was noon and the delay up to this time inspired Hoch with re- newed hope. He ate dinner. smoked . cigar and read,
 Half an hour later, through the, win- dow of his quarters. he having been removed from the cell he had occupied. he received the news of his reprievc- He was disinclincd to believe the news at first, but when 1t was brought to him also by the ministers. he was over joyed He ciasped their hands and de- clared that he was the happiest man alive. The crowd about the jail sent up a shout that was heard for blocks. The prisoners joined in the demonstra- ton and Hoch was almost overcome. He said:
 If the Supreme Court decides against me. am willing to die. I ask no mercy and no favor. believe In the law but I feel that if the Supreme Court has a chance to review the case 1t will result favorabIy to me"
 Hoch's attorney announced that he would at once prepare to appeal the case. t
 A Remarkable Criminal
 Johann Hoch. convicted murderer and confessed bigamist, who was con- demned to die for killing ono of his many wives. was in some respects . most remarkable criminal. The ex- act number of women he married will probably never be known. but he is reported to have had moro than q score of wives in the last ten years. Seven of the number he welded In this city. some of whom are said to have died under suspicious circum- stances.
 Mrs. Marie weicker Hoch. for whose murder Hoch was sentenced to hang today, died of arsenical poisoning after a short illness. December 10. of last year. Preceding her death he ob- tained from the woman all her money. as he had done in most of his pre- vious marriagesl
 Five days after her death he mar ried her sister. Mrs. Emilia Fischer. his last wife as far as the record now shows, and the day following the wedding ne obtained from her s76o to be used. he said, in paying the mort gage on the furniture and house where he lived. A day or two later he disappeared and Mrs. Fischer told the police.
 search for Hoch. extending to Cincinnati. Pittsburg and New York then began. He was arr rested in New iork January 30. on in- formation given by a woman at whose home he was boarding and to whom he is said to have proposed marriage atfer an acquaintance of scarcely twenty four hours.
 The bisamous practice of Hoch start- < ed in Germany. 1t is said. where he was known as Jacob Schmidt, and it is supposed that was his real name. His first wife was deserted by him in Vienna. The list of wives complied by the police after his arrest numbers twenty-seven.
 Hoch was promptly brought back to Chicago The body of Mrs. Marie Hoch was exhumed. corc- ner's jury found she had died of arsenical poisoning. Hocn was indict- ed and after a trial lasting a month
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