The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-23
JOHN HOCH HANGS
ChicagO's "Bluebeard' Pays the
Penalty for UxOrcide.
Was Dead in Two Minutes After
Mounting the Scaffold.
WITH AIR OF SOLDIER.
He Walked to His Place Under
the Moose.
He Maintained That He Was
Innocent to the Last.

Chicago, Feb. 23-Jchann Hoch, con
victed of the murder of his wife, Marie
Hoch. was hanged in the county jail
today at 1:34 o'clock. Three times re-
spited, Hoch insisted 70 the last that he
be granted all the delay that the law
conceded him. Under the wording of his
sentence the criminal was to hang be-
tween the hours of 10 and 2 o. m. When
the last resources of his attorneys-an
appeal to the federal court on viola
tion Of the fourteenth amendment to
\ the constitution which forbids that a
man shall not be deprived of his life
without Cue process of law had been
denied, Hoch abandoned all hope of
saving his life but still insisted that he
/ be allowed to live as nearly to 2 o'clock
as D tssible.
When Jailor Whitman, who has long
\ been friend of Hoch, appeared in his
I cell and remarked, It's all off, John,
nothing more can pe done for you"
Hoch replied That's ali right. That's
I all right but I want to have all the
/ time that is coming to me. III go when
/ 1870 o'clock comes, but if you try to
take me before that time III fight
1T wouldn't do you any good to
I fight" replied Jailer Whitman.
Il know that" replied Hoch, ''but I
want all that is coming to me. I'll go
all right at 1880"
The jailer, after consultation with
/ Deputy Sheriff Peters agreed to the de-
/ lay. Hoch then asked that his dinner
/ be sent for. His wish was granted and
he ate with an evident relish and ap-
/ parently without though that he would
never enjoy another meal.
1t was exactly 1882 o'clock when
Hoch, preceded by Deputy Sheriff
Peters and attended by Jailer John L.
4 Whitman. Rev. A. Schleter and Rev.
J. r. Burkland, stepped upon the scaf-
fold and two minutes later he was a
1 corpse. He walked upon the scafOld d
/ quietly and stood directly under the
moose with heels together and head
/ erect like a soldier on parade. He was
/ pale but composed and full of cour-
/ age. Rev. Burkland was steadily re-
4 citing the prayers for the dying when
4 Deputy Sheriff Peters asked Hoch tc
/ step back on the trap. He took two
steps quickly glanced down to see Il
he was in the proper place and then
| turned his face to the deputy sheriff.
DO you want to say something ?"
asked Deputy Sheriff Peters.
Eyes" said HOch.
Mr. Burkland was still reciting the
! prayer and Jailer Whitman held out
his hand to silence him. The clergy
man not noticing, kept on with the
/ prayer and one Of the guards spoke to
( him He ceased inam ediately and HOcl
as soon as he could speak without in
4 terruption said in a strong voice:
Father, forgive them, they know not
! what they do. must die an innocent
! man. Goodby."
He chopped the last words of
| in a short incisive manner and before
his voice was silenced the drop fell. DR..
! Francis W. Mcnamara, the jail phySl-
! clan was at HOch'S side the instant he
! fell and declared that death had been
! instantaneous, the neck being broken.
\ The body late in the afternoon was de-
Hvered to a local undertaken who had
I engaged to inter it at his own expense.
! p nd ri STir-
itual advisers had a talk with the
/ prisoner shortly before he was led to
the scaffoId and said later that Hoch
/ had confessed.
was asked, the clergyman hesitated and
( then answered, well. he said that he
had been a bigamist and very wicked
/ man."
whether or not Hoch had confessed the
crime.
Was in Jovial Mood.
Chicago, Feb. 23-Hoch slept well all
! night and when he aWoke this morning
he was apparently in jovial mood. He
turned to Guard James Cummings, who
/ was in the room with him and wished
him good morning" Cummings i'm
mediately summoned Night Jailer
I O'NeiI who came at once to the room
and said: Good morning John, how are
you this morning?"
I feel fine" said Hoch. 'T had a
good night and was not disturbed I'm
/ feeling fine"
fast and while awaiting its arrival was
given several papers to read.
Look here, O'Nen,' he called out,
"see what one of the papers says about
me-"
He then read to O'Neil the article
which said he had given up all hope
and was in a state of collapse
''That thing says I have lost hope, =
1 remarked Hoch, "but have not. !
will Keep my nerve to the last.
Tries for Another Stay.
A short time before the hour set for
execution, petition was filed in the
United States court by HOch's attOr-
neys asking federal Intervention to
save Hoch. The petition said that the
state authorities were endeaVOring tC
execute Hoch in violation Of the four
teenth amendment of the constitution
| and without due process Of law. After
filing the petition, the attorneys left the
federal building Immediately, intending
it was said, to go to the criminal court
building to try to get stay of execu-
tion pending action by the federal
As result Of the legal complication
Jailer Whitman announced that the ex-
ecution would be delayed until applica-
tion for writ Of habeas corpus coulo
be passed upon by some judge in the
federal court.
HOch Sets 'En1 Up.
As the morning passed on and tht
time set for the execution approached
Hoch abated nothing Of his good nature
As one of the guards passed before his
cell he called him to the door and, hold
ing out a five cent piece, said:
Here. Tony. 60 and get glass O.
beer"
s'It's getting close to the time ism
t2'' continued Hoch. 'fEVell, Tn ready
you people won't have any trouble witt