Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-24
Wife Murderer Pays the
Penalty at Chicago.
Drop Falls at LA ?. N. Fri
day---Neck Is Broken.
Respited Three Times and Counsel Fought
Case to Last Hour.

| Chicago, Feb. 23.-Johann HOch, con.
victed uxorcide, confessed bigamist and
who, If but fraction of the stories
of crime that are told of him are true,
was one of the greatest criminals this
country has ever known, was hanged
in the county Jail today for posing his
wife, Marie Welcker Hoch. He faced
death with a prayer on his lips for the
officers of the law, who took his life;
and save for the words Good bye" his
| last utteranceS was an assertion that
he was innocent OF the crime for which
he paid the extreme penalty Of the
law.
The last scene in the career of the
Hoch came at 1.34 o'clock this after
noon while his attorneys were still
making desperate efforts for little
more time on earth for him. His death,
the lawyers say, has not ended the ap-
peal that was made in his behalf and
although the man himself is dead they
promise to carry the case to the SUI
preme court of the United States.
| the time set for the hanging was be-
tween the hours of 10 A. M. and p.
NJ. Shortly after . o'clock Hoch's at
torneys appeared in the office Of the
clerk of the United States circuit court,
where they filed an application for a
writ OF habeas corpus on the broad
ground that Hoch was held in peril Of
death. in direct violation Of the 18th
amendment of the constitution of the
United States which declares in effect
tat no state shall deprive any person
OF life. liberty or property without
due process of law, nor deny to any
person within it's jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.
rs soon as the application for the
WITT had been filed. Attorneys Maher
ana ComeIford, who were acting in be-
half of Hoch. FASTENED to the Jail.
where they informed Jailer Whitman
and Deputy Sheriff Peters that the ap-
plicatinn for the writ had been made
| and asked them to delay the execution
until the court had either granted or
refused the writ. The jailer and the
deputy sheriff agreed to wait. The at
torleys then returned to the court and
appearing before Judge X. NJ. Lands
asked that the writ issue forthwith If
it was found that it was drawn I'm
proper form.
1T is also requisite said Judge
Lands. that proper cause be shown
The attorneys then argued that the
writ should be issued because the
state court was not court of compe-
tent jurisdictions; that the sentence
was in violation of the 18th amend
ment to the Constit ution; that Hoch
was compelled 10 give and did give,
evidence against himself; that he was
arrested in New York and extradited
on charge cf bigamy. and on being
brought to Chicago was charged with
murder.
After some consideration Judge Lam
dis replied:
The application for the writ is de-
MED. The proper remedy for counsel
was writ of error from the decision
Of the state supreme court to the su-
preme court Of the United States The
writ is fatally defective and cannot be
made good"
Attorney. Maher then asked for an
appeal from the decision of Judge
Lands. The court responded to this re-
quest: t'@ se,
Later in the day will enter such
an order as will enable you to have
this case reviewed by the supreme
court in the absence of your client:
VIII not complicate matters by fur
ther delay. 1t would be much easier
for me to grant this man 10 days time
in which to have this case reviewed by
the United States supreme court. but
respect for orderly procedure compelS
CONTINUED on Page TwelveS
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