Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-31
CAUGHT AT 0LD TRICK
ALLEGED CHICAGO BLUEBEARD
AprREHEnDED IN new YORK.
Discovered by Woman He Wanted to
Wed-Admitted His Identity
"A Hypnotist.

A dispatch from New York last night
says: A short, stout man, speaking with a
pronounced German accent who gave the
name Of Henry BaFtels, was arrested by
the police Of the West Attn street station
last evening and held on suspicion of being
Johann Hoch, for whom the police of Chi
cago have been looking for several weeks.
Hoch is charged with having married at
least eighteen women and murdered nine OF
them for their money.
Bartels turned up at the residence of Mrs.
Catherine Kimmerle during Wednesday $
storm and hired a furnished room on the
second floor. He was quiet and well be-
haved until yesterday. He had learned
that Mrs. kimmerle was widow and had
a little property. Yesterday he began to
take good deal of interest in her and her
homework.
First he made himself obnoxious by Of
fering to peel potat toes, wash dishes and do
other Homework. Accompanying these Of
fers of assistance were suggestions that he
was alone in the world and very anxious
to find good woman whom he could take
as a wife.
Repulsed His Early Advances.
Mrs. Kimmerle was indignant and re-
pulsed him. She drove the man from the
kitchen when he proposed immediate mar
riage with her. She was inclined to look
upon the whole affair as Joke. But later
in the afternoon she saw in a newspaper a
story of Hochs exploits in the marrying
line, the story being accompanied by a
picture.
Struck with the resemblance of the pic
ture to her new boarder, Mrs kimmerie at
once called his attention to the matter. He
laughed it off, and said he was wine
nt west
life The woman doubted his story and
went to the West 41th street station, where
she told her story.
Detectives O'Neill, Cahill, Kerns and
Frye were detailed on the case, O'Neill go
ing to the room which Bartels had hired
to await the dodgers return. Just before
$50 Bartels came into the room.
Answered to His Name
"How dye do, Mr.. Hoch?n was the de-
tectives welcome.
illustrate" was the response of the
lodger, but you make a big mistake. My
name is not Hoch, but Bartels."
well. you look enough like my old friend
Hoch to be mistaken for him, and l guess
you'd better come over to the station house
and convince the captainGthat you are not.
They want man that looks very much
like you out in Chicago
Bartes after some hesitancy, agreed to
GO assuring the other officers who had
joined O'Neill that they had made mis-
take.
At the station house it was found that
he answered the photograph and deScrip-
ton of Hoch in every particular save a.
mark on the right eye. Detective Sergeant
Fogarty went up from headquarters and
was SO much impressed with the resem-
blance of the prisoner that at, IL o CLOCK he
took the prisoner to Mulberry street Tor
Bertillon measurement. The Chicago police
said their man had sometimes been known
as Henry Bartels.
Charges at Chicago.
A dispatch from Chicago says: The only
specific charges that the Chicago police
have against Johann Hoch' at the present
time are bigamy and wife abandonment.
From all accounts Hoch has been married
to twenty five different women, and six of
these have died, it is said, 3ader circum-
stances which the police declare TO De sus-
picious. These women were:
Mrs Mary Schultz Hoch, disappeared
from Argus, Ind, with Hook in lSeO
Mrs Hoyle Hoch, died in Chicago in 1St2
Mrs. Mary Steinbrecher sHeeh, died In
Chicago in 1902 .
1898.
Mrs. Mary Becker Hoch, died in St Louis
in 1902.
Mrs. Marie Walker Hoch, died in Chicago.
January IL, 1903.
A diploma stating that Jacob Schmidt,
said to be identical with "Bluebeard' Hoch,
Is a qualified hypnotist was found by de-
tectives yesterday in trunk left by man
who in 1902 married Mrs. Marie Goerk OF
this city, and is alleged to have deserted
her after an attempt to have her insure her
life in his favor.
A Hypnotist's Diploma.
The diploma, neatly rolled up, and IN q
small cardboard covering certifies that
Schmidt having faithfully studied and COM
pleted instructions embodied in complete
mail course in modern hypnotism. Is de-
clared a perfect hypnotist, and is deemed
thoroughly qualified to practice the art OIL
hypnotism in all it's varied phases.
Schmidt advertised in a German pa
per-" said Mrs. Goerk, for room and board
/ wrote to Hoch. and he came here at once
A week later he asked me to marry him.
and did So Then he took out an 1nsuf,
ance policy, for which he did not pay, and
demanded that l have my life insured, TOO.
/ refused to do so. and he became angry.
A few days later ! became very sick AS
soon as l fell ill he asked me to let him
take care of me. l did not like the looks
of things, so refused, declaring that If l
did not get better soon I was going to a
hospital. Then he kept away, and got
WE'LL