The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-02-17


sex, ending with love and kisses" be-
came suspicious and upon Hoch's arriv-
al in Chicago refused him.
Fourteen Thought Murdered.
Reports state that the following IA
women have been murdered by Hoch in
furthering his plans:
Mrs. Emily Welker' Hoch, 5000 Union
avenue, died suddenly January 10, 1905.
Coroner's physician found large guam
tity Of arsenic in her stomach.
Mrs. Julia Steinbrecher 1913 Belmont
avenue, died suddenly.
Mrs. Lena Hoch died in Milwaukee,
1897.
Mrs. Mary Becker Schultz Hoch, st.
Louis, 1903, disappeared
Mrs. Maria Schulz, Argos, Ind, died
suddenly, 1900
Mrs. Hoch, sister of Mrs. ]. H. H.
Schwartzmann, Milwaukee, died 1898.
Mrs. Hoch another sister Of Mrs.
Schwartzmann, Milwaukee, died 1897.
Mrs. c. A. Meyer Hoch. died May, 1892
Mrs. II. Trick, Chicago, died suddenly,
1892.
Mrs. Jacob Huss Hoch, Wheeling w.
Va, died suddenly, 1896.
Mrs. Hoch, Norfolk, Va, died sudden
ly, 1899
Mrs. Henry Bartel, Baltimore, died
1896.
Mrs. Wilhelmina Hoch, died Buffalo,
1898
Mrs. Justina Loefler, Elkhart, Ind,
disappeared.
May Have Been Hatch.
Authorities from Englewood, one Of
Chicago's suburbs, have become pos
sessed of the most sensational stories
relating to the character and past life
Of Johann Hoch. 1t is actually believed
there that this Hoch was a pupil of
"Bluebeard" Holmes, the wholesale
murderer, who, in his famous Sixty
third street castle" crushed out the
lives of almost two scores of men, wom-
en- and children until his discovery, trial
and confession finally brought him to
the gallows. The knglewood people de-
clare that the METHODS of the two men
are so similar and that the pictures OF
johann Hoch so nearly resemble the
well-remembered face of Edward Hatch,
said to be the right-hand man of Holmes,
that they have little doubt but that
Hatch and Hoch are one and the same
person.
Awful Methods of Holmes.
Holmes operations were of an awful
character and would have done credit
to the accomplished Spanish inQuisi-
ZIONIST, whose tortures were achieved by
means Of weapons of force. Holmes,
with honeyed words, enticed his victims
to his so-called castle" and with prom
iseo of future happiness would thrust them
into dungeon or secret vault and turn
on the deadly gases which would soon
end their lives. 1t is believed that many
of the unfortunates who disappeared
while attending the worlds fair in 1899
came to their end through his enigmat-
zeal lust for human lives. Holmes ad-
mitted doing away with nearly 30 men.
women and children, and how many
more persons were victims of his cum
ming will probably never be known
This Holmes has been classed as the
archfiend of history, and the very idea
that Hoch should have been connected
with his awful crimes makes one shud-
der for the realization of the facts which
the near future is likely TO bring forth
Holmes derived financial profit from his
fendish acts by doing away with many
trusting innocent little children. The
bodies were invariably burned in quick
lime, and so cunningly were the deeds
accomplished that it is little wonder
that SO many years passed before his
crimes were brought to light. The part
which Edward Hatch. supposed by the
suburban authorities to be Johann Hoch.
took, was that of handy man around the
Sixty-third street castle" Such a man
was indispensable il covering Il tracks
of the multi-murderer. Iiatch's duty
was to build secret walls and passages,
lay floors and in many other ways pre-
vent the discovery of the awful carni-
val of slaughter which had been carried
on within the castle" walls for years.
Naturally such helper was very much
in the confidence of his employer.
Holmes before his hanging accused this
same Edward Hatch with the murder of
the Peitzal boy, whose disappearance
caused such a Juror in the suburb at
the time.
Hoch Appeared in Many Roles.
If all reports Of the sudden appear
ances Of Mr.. Johann Hoch are to be ac-
counted true. then that versatile Ger
man gentleman has appeared in almost
as many roles as there are leaves on the
trees. He has gone about, sometimes as
poor but honest artist, several times as
a wealthy stock holder. very often as a
gentleman of leisure touring for his
b and endeavoring to rid himself