The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-02-23
lBy Associated Pres..l

(By Associated Press.)
Chicago. H., Feb. 23-Johann
Hoch's attorneys today filed petit
tion in the United States court ask
ing Intervention to save Hoch, alleg-
ing that the state authorities we're
proceeding to execute him in viola
ton Of the fourteenth amendment of
the constitution, and without the due
process Of the law. Then they went
10 the criminal court to get a stay
Of execution, pending the action by
the United States court.
Jailer Whitman announced that
the execution be delayed until the
application for writ of habeas cor
pus could be passed on by some Judge
in the federal court.
After consultation with States
Attorney Healey, the jail officials de-
cided to delay the execution, if nee
cssary, until 2 o'clock p. M, the last
hour named in the court sentence,
providing for the hanging.
Before Judge Kenesaw NJ. Lam
dis, Hoch's attorney, contended that
a writ of habeas corpus should issue
forthwith, il the court found that
the petition was presented in proper
form. Judge Landis suggested that
it was also requisite that probable
cause for a writ be shown. He re-
fused the writ.
Hoch's attorneys began to prepare
an appeal bond after Judge aandis
had said he did not think any ap-
peal could be made. After waiting
almost until the hour FOR the execu-
tion they had the bond really for
Hoch's signature and started for the
Jail after the death march had be-
gun.
The sheriff telephoned Judge
Landis, who said: "I have refused
TO do anything in the Hocf matter.
You need not delay the execution on
my account
Hoch was then hanged at j "a
o'clock p. m.
Hoch is believed to have come
originally, from Horrweiler, small
town in Germany, not far from
Bingen-0 -0n-The- Rhine. His father,
Jacob Schmitt, is said to still reside
there. A wife, supposed 10 be the
first wife of Hoch, is also living on
the same place.
Hoeh has always been reticent re-
garding his career in this country,
and his, first wife. married in the
United States is believed to have
been Mrs. Martha Stcinbrecher, to
whom he was married in 1895. AZ
Ter living with Hoch for four months
she died, the cause of death being
given as nephritis.
In November, 1895, he married
Mary Rankin, in this city, and left
her the day after the wedding be-
cause she refused to give him money.
In April, 1896, Hoch married Mar
tha Hertzfeld, and left her in four
months after obtaining from her
5000. His next wife is said to have
been Mary Hoch, of Wheeling, W.
Va. She died of nephritis after
three months. Hoch has always de
MED this marriage, and declared
that he merely assumed the wOman's
name.
In the fall of 1896 Hoeh married
Clara Bartell, of Cincinnati, and
She died within three months of the
marriage. In January, 1897, he
was married to Julia Dose, in Ham
ilton, o., and abandoned her after
obtaining $500.
In April, 1898, Hoch was arrested
ii this city for selling mortgaged
furniture, and served Two years in
the House Of Correction.
In November. 1901. he was mar
ried to Mrs. Anna Goehrke. of Chi
cago. but abandoned her after fail
ing to obtain any money from her.
April s, 1902. he married in st.
Louis, Mrs. Mary Becker, who died
oily in 1908. Her relatives have
SAed that she was poisoned.
nber 10, 1904. Hoeh was
to Mrs. Marie Welcker. a
~ of this city. the woman for
whose murder he was condemned.
Dec. 20 the woman became i'll, and
Jan. 12 she died. the cause OF death
being stated in the physicians GER
tiicate as nephritis. Five DAYS
later Hoeh married Mrs. Emile
Fischer. a sister of Mrs. Weleker-