The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-05-24
HOGH MUST HANG
JURY AGREES THAT aBLUE-
BEARD" MURDERED HIS
WIFE BY POISON.
Anxious to Have it Over-Verdict
Staggers Him, but He says He
Is Ready to Die-Dsnies
He Had Dozen Wives
and Murdered
Them.

Chicago, May 19.-Johann Hoch,
who by his own confession Is sever
al times a bigamist, and who is
charged by the police with having
married at least 40 women in the
past Is years, today was found gull
ty of murder and the death penalty
was recommended by jury in
Judge Kersten's court.
The crime for which Hoch will
be led to the gallows was the mur-
der of his last known wife, Mrs.
Marie Walcker-Hoch. Hoch had
been married to this woman but a
few days when she became sudden
| ly ill and died. He then formed
an alliance with the sister of the
dead woman and, securing the lat
ter's money, fed from Chicago.
This woman in quest of revenge,
notified the police that Hoch had
poisoned her sister, and search
for him was begun. He was found
two weeks latera in New York,
brought back to Chicago and con-
fronted by several of his supposed
wives. During the trial expert tes-
timony was offered by the state
that Hoch had poisoned the woman
lby administering arsenic.
! Today's verdict was one Of the
quickest on record in Cook county,
1 the jury having reached verdict
in less than half an hour. Three
ballots were taken. The first ballot
was unanimous as to Hoch's guilt,
and then a. ballot followed as to the
] punishment 10 be inflicted. This
q showed tea in. favor 0s the death
penalty and two for life imprison.
| ment. A third ballot resulted in
the -12 jurymen voting for the death
penalty.
"Well I guess it's all over with
Johann" groaned Hook, as the YER
dict was read in court, and it was
plain he was greatly affected. h
had sat in STOPPING position, but
when the dreaded word "death'
was reached, he turned pale, starec
hopelessly at the jurors and ther
sapk limp in his chair.
Hoch's attorneys will ask for I
rev trial, although the condemned
man, after reaching bis cell,sa de
clared he was ready to die, ant
would be betteresatisfed If they di,
not make the effort.
II wish they would hang me to
night, nows that I have been foun'
guilty." declared Hoch. II ammo
afraid to die. and the sooner it i
over the BETTER"
Hoch expressed great surprise a
the finding of the jury, and declare
| that the jurors did. not take time t
consider the evidence.
"The evidence was all circum
stantial," be said, "and my life wa
guessed away by the jury, whic
did not give sufficient consideration
to the testimony offered. Had the
done SO, I might have stood bet
tier chance. But there is no use i
finding fault now; it is all over wit
me, and I hope that no time will b
lost in taking me to the gallows.
do not want my attorneys to al
tempt anything more for me, as
know it will be Of no use. The Ell
cannot come too soon to suit me.
] committed no crime. If my vii
had been shot by me instead {
Y poisoned, as was alleged, it wou1
have taken the jury at least da
to return a verdict; but this cas-
of poisoning, and at ieast twice 9
much time should have been take
foI its consideration"
Hoch denied positively that
had murdered number of wive
as has been alleged, and displaye
some bitterness in speaking of tt
- matter.
"Such talk Is foolish" he salt
"The reports have been spread thl
am modern 'Bleubeard. Th
is untrue. All that can be sal
against me is that I committed bi,
amy. AS to the talk that I ha
nearly a dozen wives, it is nonsens
as are the stories that made ava
with them. There was no eviden,
that I had another sweetheart an
t wanted to get rid of the woman
am accused of poisoning. I spel
money to get her, but this part
the evidence was ignored by t
Jury"
Hoch said he preferred the dea