The San Francisco call., 1905-02-10
MORBID WOMEN
WELCOME HOCH
Light-Headed Females Gath
er at Railroad Stations
to Lionize the Bigamist
LIKE A TRIUMPHAL TOUR
Alleged Poisoner of Many
Wives Throws Kisses to
the Admiring Throngs
LIKE A TRIUMPHAL TOUR
Special Dispatch TO The Cali.

CHICAGO, Feb. 1.-THE examina-
tion Of Johann Hoch by the police was
concluded after midnight. just be-
fore its close he confessed that he had
married ten women. Hoch also ad-
Dhtted that he had intended to COM
init suicide and that the white powder
found In fountain pen taken from
his room in New York was arsenic.
which he had purchased with tie In
tention of killing himself.
CHICAGO, Feb. 9.-Like q conuueror
returning from his triumphs. Johann
Hoch, Chicagos "Bluebeard." came
back to the city tonight to face the
array Of wives he is charged with hav-
ing accumulated during his marrying
career. Three thousand persons met
him at the Van Buren street station
when the Nickel Plate train from New
York steamed in. Most of them were
women. They ranged from gray haired
matrons, dragging children by the
hand, to 16-year-Old girls. In their
maudlin desire to see the prisoner they
rushed and fought and screamed.
disappointment was the lot of the
morbid, hungry mass. The police had
taken the fat little German out of a
rear entrance, where he was placed in
carriage and conveyed to the Chicago
avenue station. He was hurried to
Inspector Shippy's private office. where
sweatbox methods were Immediately
instituted.
Only three of the many Mrs. Hochs
were present. Two of them positively
identified Hoch as the man they had
married.
Hoch was greeted by large crowds at
the various stations where his train
StOnnQd
their handkerchiefs and men and boys
shouted their greeting to the man
whose wives are now numbered by the
score. Hoch apparently felt that the
tribute thus paid made his journey in
custody of Detective Michael Lotus.
to trial for many offenses. grand tri-
umphal progress.
At Bellevue, o., when young wo-
men waved their handkerchiefs to
him, Hoch half arose from his seat.
bowed deferentially and kissed his
hand with much gallantry. AS the
train pulled out from the station he
waved his hand gayly and threw moro
kisses to the young women to whom
he was given no opportunity of pay
ing court, as he confessed he would
have liked to do. This performance
was repeated at several other stopping
places.
The inquest on Mrs. Welker Hoch be-
the taking of preliminary evidence 1t
was decided to continue the hearing
until tomorrow. Several of Hoch's
victims are expected to testify then.
Hoch evidently had expected a great
er number of his wives to meet him at
the station and he was plainly dis
appointed that they did not come.
Where are these fourteen wives you
talked so much about?' he asked Of
Detective LOTUS. II guess you have
been joking me about part of the busi-
ness; otherwise there could not be four
teen, for 1 never had that many.
There seems to be lot of women who
seem to think that I am the only man
in the world who could marry them
and get away with some of their
money"
An Interrogation Of Hoch was COM
menced at 1880 o'clock tonight and
was not yet ended at midnight. Hoch
at the outset admitted that he had
married Mrs. Marie Goerk Hoch and
that the marriage was Illegal. He
would admit nothing else
During the evening five more women
who claimed to be wives of Hoch
called at the police station. One of
them, Mrs. Emile Fischer Hoch. saw
the prisoner for minute and saluted
him with the exclamation:
you old hog, you got my $3.50. didn't
you?'
Hoch made no reply to this. but
smiled as though he considered the
affair of $3.50 rather joke than other
wise.
Later the five women were. one at
time, admitted into the office of the
Inspector and all of them identified
Hoch as the man to whom they were
married. Mrs. Ellen Hoppe at first
declared that she had married Hoch.
but later said she was not sure about
it. Inspector Shippy asked:
"Hoch, did you marry this woman?"
No" replied Hoch, but maybe 1
will il you don't hustle her out of here
pretty quick
Mrs. Mary Rankin Hoch, who admit
ted last week that she had committed
bigamy when she married Hoch, was