The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-10
HOCH SAYS HE
 HAS TEN WIVES Intended to End Trouble by
 Committing Suicide SEES HUMOR OF SITUATION Numerous Women Brought Before Him Identify the Prisoner As
 Their Husband--He Smiles
 At All O. Them.
SEES HUMOR OF SITUATION

Chicago, February 9.--Johann Hoch, in- dicted for hiramY. suspected of mnr- der, and man of many aliases, arrived in Chicago tonight, and for several hours after reaching here was interrogated by the police with small results. The train bearing Hoch and Officer Loftus who held him in custody was due in Chicago at 5:20. but 1t was o'clock before it rolled into the La Sale street station. A large crowd had gathered to see the famous prisoner but contrary to general expectation there were none of his al- legged wives among the number. Mrs. Emile Fischer~Roc declared that she would not come to the station under any circumstances. Mrs. Marie Goerk-Hoch asserted that she was willing to help the police, but that was all.
 q will help prosecute him." she de- clared, s'but I'm not so crazy to see him.
 Hoch had evidently expected a number of his wives to meet him at the sta- ton, and he was plainly disappointed that they did not come.
 "Where are those fourteen wives you talked so much about?' he asked of Officer Loftus.
 q don't see any of them," replied the officer, as he looked through the window. out of which Hoch had been peering. "There is nobody waving handkrechiefs at us'
 q guess you have been joking me about that part of the business" said Hoch.
 Anyway. there could not be fourteen of them, for I never had that many
 Crowd Hoots at Prisoner.
 When Hoch and Loftus alighted from the train. the detail of six policemen, who had been sent to the depot to meet them. was able to control the crowd with great difficulty When Hoch was recognized a number of people jeered and hooted him. The Interrogation of Hoch was commence ed at 7:30 o'clock and was still in oper- ation three hours later. Hoch admitted at the outset that he had married Mrs. Marie Goerk-Hoch, and that the marriage was illegal. He would admit nothing else.
 During the evening five women, who claimed to be wives of Hoch. called at the police station and were placed In separate room under guard Of several policemen. One of them, Mrs. Emile Fischer -Hoch, saw him for a minute and saluted him with the exclamation: You old hog. you got my s750 didn't you?"
 Hoch made no reply to this, but smiled as though he considered the affair of $750 rather a joke than otherwise.
 Later the five women were one at time admitted into the office of the in- spector, and all of them identified Hoch as the man to whom they were married.
 Hoch Feels Good.
 Mrs. Ellen Hoppe at first declared that she had married Hoch but later said she was not sure about 1t.
 Inspector Shippy asked ''Hoch, did you marry this woman?"
 "No,'' replied Hoch; but maybe will If you don't hustle her out of here pretty quick"
 Mrs. Mary Rankin-Hoch, who admitted last week that she had committed biga- my when she married Hoch was repu- diated in strong terms by the prisoner. He declared that he had not married her, and never saw her before. When Mrs. Mary Goerk-Hoch was ad- mitted into the room. Hoch for the sec- ond time declared that he married her, but that the marriage was illegal. He also confessed to having married Mrs Emile F'ischer-Hoch when she was shown into the room.
 A physician who had attended Mrs Walcker-H och, the last wife of Hoch identified him as the husband of Mrs Walcker, and showed him bill for $10l for attendance upon the woman.
 "Oh yes" said Hoch, T remember something about that. Bring 1t around in the morning. I'll still be here," and he laughed heartily at his joke.
 Confesses Marrying Ten Women. The examination of Hoch by the police