The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-20
HOCH TO BE HANGED
ALLEGED sBLUEBEARDv WILL DIE
 ON GALLONS.
Jury, Alter Deliberating for Less Than Half an Hour, Decides on Fcx-
 treme Penalty--Prisoner
 whistles c Lively Air.

Chicago. May 1s.---Johann Hoch. who. by his own confession. Is several times bigamiss, and who is charged by the police with having married at least forty women in the past fifteen years. was found guilty of murder today and the death sentence recommended by a jury in Judge Kersten's court.
 The crime for which Hoch will be led to the gallows was the murder of his last known wife. Mrs. Marie Welcker- Hoch. Hoch had been married to the woman only a short time when she became suddenly i'll and suddenly died. He then formed an alliance with the dead woman's sister. secured money and then fled from Chicago. This woman, in quest of revenge. notified the police that Hoch had poisoned her sister. and a search for Hoch was begun. He was found two weeks later in New York and brought back to Chicago and con- fronted by several of his supposed wives. During the trial expert tes- timony was offered by the State that ministering arsenic. Today's verdict was one of the quickest on record in Cook County, the jury having reached a decision in less than half an hour. Three ballots we're taken.
 Well, I guess it's all of with John. groaned Hoch as the verdict was read in court. but 1t was plain he was greatly affected. He had sat in stoop- ing position, but when the dreaded word, death" was reached. he turned pale, stared hopelessiy at the jurors and then sank limp in his chair.
 Hochs attorneys will ask for a new trial, although the condemned man. af- ter reaching his cell, declared he was ready to die and would be better satis- fled if they did not make the effort.
 T wish they would hang me tonight" declared Hoch. T am not afraid to die, and the sooner 1t Is over with the better"
 Hoch expressed great surprise at the finding of the jury, and declared that the jurors did not take time to consider the evidence.
 ''The evidence was all circumstan- tial," he said, "and my life was guessed away by the jury, which did not give sufficient consideration to the I might have stood a better chance. But there is no use in finding fault IL is all over with me, and I hope that no time will be lost in taking me to the gallows. I do not want my attorney to attempt anything more for me. as kno wit will be of no use. The end cannot come too soon to suit me. GOAAHthttCu hO 1T ny WILD Adu been shot by me instead of poisoned. as was alleged, it would have taken the jury at least day to have return ed a verdict, but this was case of poi- soning in which at least twice as much time should have been given for It's consideration"
 Hoch denied positively that he had murdered a number of wives as has been alleged. and displayed some bitter ness In speaking of the mater.
 Such talk Is foolish" he said. 'The reports have been spread that am a modern 'Bluebeard.' This is untrue All that can be said against me is that have committed bigamy. The talk that I had nearly dozen wives is non. sense. as are the stories that I made away with them. There is no evidence that I had another sweetheart and wanted to get rid of the woman I am accused of poisoning. I spent money