The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-08-02
A WOMAN AIDS HOCH
She Secures Reprieve For Wife
Murderer.
HOUR FOR HANGING WAS NEAR.
Miss Cora Wilson, Of Chicago. Succeeds In
Raising $500 Needed by the Condemned
BIuebenrd to Complete Records for an
Appeal Of His Case 10 Supreme Court
Of Illinois.

Chicago (Special). = Johann Hoeh
"Bluebeard" and confessed bigamist
sentenced TO be hanged Friday for pois-
oning one of his wives, was granted a
reprieve until August z5 by Governor
Deneen. The stay Of execution follow
ed hours OF anxiety on the part OF Hoch
who had never given up hope, and was
allowed by the Governor only after the
latter had been assured that the neces-
sary sum to appeal tine case had been
raised. The amount-$5oo-was given
by an attorney and friend OF Hoch's
counsel The attorney declared he was
actuated purely by humanitarian mo-
! iivCs.
After all arrangements were completed
and death faced Hoch within two hours
a woman went to his rescue. So earnest
money necessary to allow Hoch TO ap-
peal his case, that there was hurried
consultation between officials. The up
shot was that the execution, planned &c
take place at noon, was postponed un-
til p. NJ, the last minute allowed b,
law, unless the Governor should gram
a further reprieve.
The woman who interviewed TO save
Hoch was Miss Cora Wilson. She i.
said to be an acquaintance of Governor
! Deneen. Her plan and that of DR.. Mont
gomery was not to give the money, bu
TO guarantee to the Governor that they
would raise the money by subscription
provided the Governor would reprievt
Hoch. The Governor did not think thi'
plan was certain enough, and he re-
fused to act.
Jailer Whitman, while negotiation!
were pending, went to Hoch's cell anC
told the prisoner of the situation. Hocl
chuckled and laughed like schoolboy
81 knew my chance would come" h
cried.
AT this time Hoch's attorney was call
ing up the Governor and announcing
that the check had been cashed. Tht
Governor, it was said, thereupon repieC
that he would reprieve Hoch, and woulC
telegraph the sheriff Immediately.
States Attorney Healy announced ;
few moments subsequently that the Gov
ernor had teephoned information of ;
repreve for four weeks to enable Hocl
to present for examination the record il
the case to one of the justices of tn,
Illinois Supreme Court.
Miss Wilson professed to have be
come interested in the case from hui
manitaran motives only. She enlisted
in her aid DR.. Liston II. Montgomery
one of the most prominent physicians il
the city. DR.. Montgomery acted as he
Intermediary in the negotiations.
At o'clock A. NJ Jailer Whitman
was aroused from his sleep to answe
a telephone call. Some person, who re
fused to give his name at the time, an
nounced that he would appear at the jai
at 10 A. NJ. prepared TO furnish money
the lack of which, il has been alleged
prevented Hoch from completing the lie
gal records required by the Illinois Su
preme Court in case of an appeal. Th
records cost $I.Ioo. Hoch had SIoo ant
a conditional promise OF $500 additional
Because no name was given on the tele
phcne Jaler Whitman attached littl
importance TO the notification. But a
the hour named, DR. Montgomery, will
Miss Wilson, appeared at the Jail. Thei
talk with Whitman conwnced him the!
were in earnest, and steps were at ono,
taken for new appeal to the Gov
error.