The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-31
HOCH is CAUGHT.
Much Married Man Is Arrested in
New York.

New York, Jan. 31.-JOhann HOch,
charged with bigamy in Chicago, and
who it is alleged married twenty wo-
men, was arrested at a boarding
house in West Forty-seventh street
last night by central Office detectives.
He admitted his identity, although
when first arrested he gave the name
of Henry Bartels. At the Forty-sev-
enth street station, wnere he was
taken, he said:
Il am Hoch, and a much abused
man.
How abused % he was asked
He had nothing to say He gave
his name as John Joseph Adolph
Hoch, said he is As years of age, a
nachinist living at 6430 Union ave-
nue., Chicago
Hoch stated that he had not been
married twenty times. He said he had
been married only twice, and that his
first wife is still living.
Mrs. Catherine Kimmerle. his land
lady, said he engaged board on Sat
urday, and had not been IN the house
twenty minutes when he asked to be
Then he proposed marriage, and she
told the police She added that the
man talked good deal to her yester-
day, and became much interested in
her, she thought.
In his room were found nearly a
dozen new suits. of clothing. In most
cases the tags had been torn from
these, but those that had not showed
western cities, among them Seattle.
Charge Is Bigamy.
Chicago, Jan. 31.-Although the po-
lice hope to convict Hoch of murder,
the only specific charges that they
have against him at the present time
are bigamy and wife abandonment.
From all accounts Hoch has been
married to 25 different women, and
six of these have died under circum-
stances which the police declare to be
e-74c- 51ir FThaGn on
Mrs. Mary Schultz Hoch, disap-
peared from Argus, Ind, with Hoch in
Mrs Hoyle Hoch, died in Chicago.
Mrs. Mary steinbrecher Hoch, died
in Chicago, 1892.
Mrs Lena Hoch, died in Milwaukee,
1898.
Mrs. Mary Becker Hoch. died in St
Louis, 1892.
Mrs Marie Welker Hoch. died in
Chicago. January II, 1905.
DR.. c. w. Leweke, corOner's physi-
clan said today that he would ask for
a continuance of the inquest over the
body of Mrs Marie Walcker Hoch,
whose death ed to the revelations of
the 7nuch-nlarried life of Johann
Hoch- The physician has not COM
pleted the chemical analysis of the
woman's stomach, and will ask for
more time.
There is a possibility of the
said DIR. Leweke. The chemical
analysis when completed ought to set
tie the question whether the woman
died naturally or not AFTER I finish
my work an expert will go over it and
will give me a confirmatory report.
All this takes time.
Unless the physician finds some
trace of poison in the woman's stom-
murder will be practically gone
There will. however, remain many
charges of swindling and bigamy on
which Hoch will be prosecuted
It probably will be two weeks be-
fore Hoch is brought back to Chicago.
Anxious to Face Charges.
New York, Jan. 31.-Johann Hoch
of Chicago, who was arrested here
last night charged with bigamy and
wife abandonment, after a search eH-
the officials at police headquarters
that he is anxious to retur nto Chi
cago at once. He wanted to face the
charges against him in that city, he
said, and has no intention of opposing
extradition. Hoch was photographed
for the ROgue's gallery before taken
to court.
Has Lived in California.
Chicago. Jan. 31.-Some details of
the California end to the history of
Hoch was learned by Police Inspector
Wheeler today. Mrs. Reichel, widow
of a salOonkeeper, say that Hoch paid
attentions to her across the country
from the Pacific coast.
According to INSPECTOR Wheeler
Mrs. Reichel has known Hoch as John
Hoeck for the last five years. When
shown a. picture Of the man today the
woman identified it as the man who
courted her in 1904.
Three letters dated San Francisco
on February u, Is and IS, 1904,
written in German, were given to the
police and translated. On the reverse
side of one of the envelopes is writ
ten: eff not delivered in ten days
return to John Hoeck, 1104 Clay
street, San Francisco
The letters were written by Hoch
while in the California city and speak
of the writer's love for the widow.
BREAKFAST AT HOME.