Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-23
Chicago Bigamist Dies on
GaII0Ws at Cook
County Jail.
KEEPS UP HIS COURAGE
Asserted innocence to Last
Final Appeal to Federal
Court Failed.

Chicago, Feb. 23.- Johann Hoch
many times a bieamist and probably
murderer of number of women, was
hanged at the Cook county Jail at 1: "a
this afternoon. The last desperate eff
forts of his counsel, while failing to
save his life, delayed the execution two
or three hours.
STILL FIGHT CASE
After the hanging, Hoch's attorneys
said they would appeal to the United
States supreme court, and if Judge
Landis' decision in refusing to grant
a writ of habeas corpus is reversed,
they would try to have all who took
official part in the hanging indicted for
murder.
Ate Hearty Dinner.
Shortly before the march to the scat
fold commenced Hoch ate hearty din
ner with evident relish. At 1882 Hoch
accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Peters,
Jailer Whitman. Rev. Schlecter and
Rev. ]. r. Burkland stepped upon the
scaffold, and two minutes later he was
a corpse.
Walked Like n Soldier.
He walked upon the scaffold 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 courage When
asked if he had anything to say Hoch
replied: yes" and in strong German
accent said:
Father, forgive them, they know
not what they do. | must die an inno-
cent man. Goodbye
Last Words Cut on.
He chopped off the last words in a
short incisive manner and before his
voice was silenced the drop fell. DR.
Mcnamara, the county physician, de-
clared death was instantaneous, the
neck being broken.
The body late in the afternoon was
delivered to a local undertaken who
had engaged to inter it at his own ex-
penSe.
COnfesses Bigamy.
Rev. Burkland had a talk with the
prisoner shortly before he went to the
scaffold and said later Hoch had con
fessed that he had been a bigamist
and a very wicked man. but the minis
ter declined to say whether or not
Hoch had confessed the crime for
which he was executed.
slept Well.
Chicago, Feb. 23.-Hoch slept well |
all night, and was in apparently a jo- |
vial mood when he awoke. The attor- |
neys for the condemned man shortly |
before the hour set for the execution |
in hn |
asking Intervention to save Hoch. The |
petition stated the authorities were en-
deavoring to execute Hoch in violation |
of the Fourteenth amendment and |
without due process of law.
Remained Good Natured.
As the morning passed on and the /
time set for the execution approached, |
Hoch abated nothing of his good ma
ture. In talking with the guards he |
again and again reiterated his often |
expressed boast that he would meet his
death bravely and would die an inno-
cent man.
Under Great Strain.
Despite his brave words. it was evi-
dent Hoch was under severe strain
He appeared nervous, but his strong
VIII StOOu Hllll III SOOu Sledu ana ne
held himself under marvellous control.
Announces Delay.
As a result of legal complications
Jailer Whitman announced the execu-
ton would be delayed until the appli-
cation for a writ of habeas corpus
could be passed upon by the federal
judge.
Denies Petition.
Judge Landis denied Hochs petition
for writ of habeas corpus saying the
proper remedy for counsel was a writ
of error from the decision of the state
supreme court to the United States
supreme court. and. counsel failed to
take advantage of that move.
Get Appeal Bond.
Preparations for the hanging were
Immediately begun, following Landis'
refusal of a writ of habeas corpus. but
Hoch's attorneys while the death
march was starting in the Jail were
just leaving the federal building to get
Hooks signature TO an appeal bond.
stopped Agafn-
The attorneys arrived at the Jail with
the appeal bond just il time to again