The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-02-24
up TO THE VERY LAST
He Maintained His innocence While
Attorneys Fought Legal Bat
tie to Save Neck Of Modern
Bluebeard.
Father forgive them, they y
know not what they do. ! must :
die an innocent man. Good >
bye."-JoHANN HocH. >

Chicago Feb, 90 Johann IiocI,
convicted murderer. confessed biga-
INST, and who if but fraction Of
the stories Of the crime told Of him
are true. was one of the greatest
criminals this country has ever known.
was hanged in the county pail today
for poisoning his wife, Marie Welcker
Hoch.
Faced Death Calmly.
He faced death calmly and without
ear. He stood ON the soaffold be.
leath the dangling moose in the atti-
ude, and with the placid courage OF
4 solder who realizes to the full that
cath was his portion. but is still UNI
afraid. He died with a prayer on his
ips for officers of the law who took
his life, and save the words Good
Bye, his last utterance was an al ser.
ion that he was innocent Of the crime
'or which he paid the extreme penalty
of the law.
Appeal Not Ended.
The last scene In the carer of Hoch
,ame at 1;34 in the afternoon while
lis attorneys were stlll making des-
,erate efforts for little more time
IN earth for him. His death the law.
'ers say. has not ended the appeal
made m his sbehalf and although the
nan himself Is dead, they promise 70
AIRY the case to the supreme couft
II the United States and II it is there
'ecided he was unIawfully hanged,
proceedings will be commenced,
gafnst the officers who off,ciated at
he execution.
Appealed For a Writ.
The time set for the hanging was
between 10 a m. and p. m. Shortly
fter nine his attorneys appeared IN
he Office of the clerk of the United
states circuit court where they filed
IN application for writ ef habeas
'orpus on the broad ground that Hoch
vas held in peril OF death IN direct
dt LAT on OF the fourteenth amend
uent of the constitution of tie United
hates, which declares in effect. that
10 state shall deprive any person OF
lie, liberty or property. without due
process of law. nor deny 10 any per
ion within it's Jurisdiction equal pro-
ecticn of the laws.
Agreed TO Postpone Hanging.
As soon as the application for writ
rad been filed Attorneys Maher ana
Homerford In behalf OF TI0eh. hasten.
ID to- the jail where they informed
Taller Whitman and Deputy Sheriff
Peters that the application for The
writ had been made and asked them
- delay the execution until the court
had either granted or refused the
writ The officials agreed TO this.
The attorneys then returned TO the
court and appearing before Judge
Landis asked that the writ issuc forth.
rith.
Denied the Writ.
The attorneys argued The petition
nut Judge Lands refused 10 grant r.
IS soon as It was known that appli
alton for a writ Of habeas corpus
lad been denies. preparations were
commenced az the jail for the execu.
ion OF Hoch
Read Death Warrant.
At IL O'Clock Deputy sheriff Peters
accompanied by Jaller Whitman On.
erred Hochs cell the former holding
he death warrant. which be read to
,lm. Peters spoke 3 few kind words
o Hoch. who declared his inBOcensc
md also declared hi intention 20
ight II taken TO the soanold before
go
Filed Appeal Bend.
Just a. the reading Of the death
-arrant was completed. Attorney
'omcrford appeared with an appeal
0nd. 10 which be desired Hoch's sig.
AZURE, The deputy sheriff ordered
be- proceedings DELAYED. while he tel
phoned Judge LanIis. who stated be
ad refused to Interfere ia TIE H0ch
ase
Further Delay Refused.
Further delay in execution sas re-
.sed by the deputy sheriff and the
arch 10 the gailoRs vas hen taken
p Just at 1.32 O'Clock Hoch stepped
bon the drop. beneath the cross
sams. His face vas very pale. but
IS manner Wa COMPRISED and his
lurage unsurpassed He siocd erect.
s heels close together. as shoul1ers
ick ard his gaze directed over the
ads q the crowd at the fer end %
e corridor.