Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-02-23

~ NudhudTy atter this
last move Of Comerford's appeal Tbev
went for advice to the states attorney
and his assistants. Hoch ordered ois
dinner, and ate heartily. enjoying every
morseL He was the only man in the
prison unagitated.
Chicago, Feb. 2S.-2 p. m.-Hoch is
hanged.
His neck was broken. He was pro.
nounced dead, and his body cut down
at 1852 D. IN
Johann Hoch. or Schmidt. as he de.
clared his rlghtful name to be. was a
snort. heavy set German.Frenchman
shout 40 years old, bald. except on the
sides Of his head, where he wore black.
carefully combed, curly silken hair
tinged with white threads. His nose
was long and aquiline. his lips thick
wide and sensuous, masking irregular.
carefully kept teeth. A blonde mus.
tache ornamented his upper lip. The
remainder Of his face was clean shaw.
en-. His head. neck and shoulders
were leonine. His features had a Jew.
ish cast; his manner was courteous
deferential, and always seemingly con.
sijerate for others. He received those
who approached him with a smile and
a confidential nod, AMI usually a hand.
clasp. He studied TO establish conn.
Dental relations by whispering some.
thing OF no consequence. as n lmpart.
Ing an important secret n encou~
aged ne put his hand upon the knee
or shoulder Of the person he came IN
contact with and pattod him "anoc.
uonately" lie was gentle a. a wo.
man; IN fact. his movements suggest
cd a femininlty. a. II he were an ob.
aossod woman His manners and na.
turo were like a tigers foot. soft ans
yolyotsl but ahoathlng talona.
When Hoch met middle aged Ger
man widows. be adopted the reserve
.of a refined German tradcsman. Ho
manifested courteous consideration
for them while planning TO SGT their
money and kin them by poison. Ho
sought externally 10 realize tae ideal
OF a husband IN the mind OF the aver.
age German illlterate woman who has
tolled for years and saved money, Ills
black broadeloth suit, white tie. white
linen shirt cuffs and collar glistening
shoes. nicely eombed hair. round face
and cultured manner convinced his
victims he was a desirable "catoh %
He forgot his reserve long enough 10
boast OF his wealth, This was the
most onucing bait he offered, The
majority Of his victims married him In
the hope that they would escape a lie
OF drudgery and become the mistress
OF a rich mans home
Hoeh's motive was always gaia. He
was impellei by a commercial spirit
Other men deal In commodities 20
profit upon the labor OF producers,
Hoch dealt In crime. The eredulity
OF his victims produced his profits.
He had a pleasing personality and
sold Il many times. Murder was Incl
dental to the business. Like all res
ular homicldes. Hoeh was a moral
idiot. He had no conscience 10 be
narrowed By remorse. no moral ma
ture to see wrong In injuring others;
no sympathy 70 be outraged By wit
Messing suffering, His was an intel
ligenee capsule only OF realizing IL
was necessary 20 destroy life 10 OBJ
tain results desired, He was a moi
ern Henry VIII, without the power
OF the regal uxoreide.
What England's royal wife muir
derer did with the eonniyance OF
ehurchmen and statesmen. HOch did
secretly through his own knowledge
OF chemistry. and the eonhding faith
OF his Victims He tried the plan OF
a woman 10 get her money,
and having procured 1t used poison 70
got rid OF her. Il worked so we'll he
adopted il as a regular plan.
Hoeh was a gentle. smiling, demon
stratiyely anectiOnate, mild hammered
hypOcrite. When he asked the hand
Of a victim he declared he wanted 70
provide her a good home" When she
became IN from arsenic he gave her
he summoned medical aid, sat by the