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

Nheh Judge kersten passed sen
tence upon him. Hoch was asked II
ne had anything to say. AS II willing
TO sacrifice his life merely to con-
form to the courts idea OF propriety
ne replied, Judge. IL you think me
guilty. l am willing to lose my life
His dominating trait was vanity. If
the women who thronged the court
watched him he manicured his nails.
smoothed his hair with his fat hands.
Strengthened up. pulled the wrinkles
out Of his clothes and posed. Occa.
sionally, for a brief instant. the full
sense OF calamity was upon him. Then
he collapsed and suffered a panic OF
fright. Recovering. he would glance
up quickb, look about the room TO
ind sympathetic eyes. and smile at
one Of the women spectators. After
his conviction in the solitude OF HIS
cell, he was borne up by his egotism.
He spoke OF himself as a third per.
son Of interest and Importance. He
said. Johann will die like a man. n
Johann had money he would show you
what he would do" Again the hypo-
critic. while his eyes we're maievolent
with hatred for the woman who caused
his death. he declared his chief re-
gret was thai she would be disgraced.
While protesting love for Mrs. Fischer
Hocn. he adroltly insinuated that she
poisoned his sister. Mrs. weicker
Hoch. Anxious to pose as a gentle.
man. he added. II believe my wife
died Of arsenic poisoning. but no gen.
tleman would say what he thought OF
Il II lt might lncrlminate a woman"
Hoch denied making the confession
which was used as evidence in his
trial but would not take the stand to
disprove g. His last utterance TO
visitor was IN keeping with his hypo.
crlay towards the Judge and tae wife
he robbed lie said Death is better
than this confinement but have Civ.
en- mo- word OF honor to Jailer whit.
man would not leave. even Il I found
the doors OPEN
Hoch claimed 20 be a great Erani.
son OF Marshall Noy. who went 70 So.
Helena with Napoleon. and the scion
Of a prominent family In strauabourg.
lie said HE father was a retired min.
lster In Tou'on. ignorant Of the fate
Of bis son. Two OF Hoca's brothers
are ministers, Ho said; MY great
grandfather, Marshal Ncy. was one Of
the heroes Of Napoloon's army and I.
his descendant. shall iio like sol
dicr. am going before my Maker and
Jesus Christ my Saviour. I believe
In God and believe I shalt meet In the
llfe beyond those who were near and
dear TO me here. How could I stand
AZ the judgment seat with a ne on ny
soul7" On the u xt day he denied
having told this story
AZ different times Hooh claimed 10
have been born IN slrassbourg and
Toulon. French cities which passed In.
10 the possession OF the Germans In
1871 Other information tends 20
prove Hoch's right name Is schmidt
and a wife. supposedly the first one
By whom Hoeh is said 20 have had
two children, now resides In Ger
mans,
Information that led 20 the arrest Of
Hoch was giyen the police hy Mrs.
Emelia Fischer. his last wife. She
married him January isls05, a few
days after the funeral OF her sister,
who had been her immediate predeoes,
sor as Mrs Hoeh. On December 10
OF last year HOch married Mrs Marie
Welker and took her 20 HIS house.
6iSO Union avenue. where she died on
January l2 after a short Illness. and
when Hoch was alone with her. Pre-
eeiing her death he obtained from the
woman All heF money, as ne had done
In his previous marriages.
Three days after her death he mar
Fied Mrs, Fischer and. the day fol
lowing the wedding he obtained from
her $3.50 TO be used, he said In paying
a mortgage on the furniture aud house
at 64SO Union avenue. A day or two
later ne disappeared
The search for HOch extended toI
New York. where he was arrested,
suspecting he would seek ooncealment
In Germany. his former home. the po
lice kept watch on outward bound
vessels.
A complete list Of Hoehs specula
tions IN mairimOny would be dlfheuli
10 compile. SO far as can be learned.
he was born in Germany 40 years ago