Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-03-01


an execution in Chicago since the an
archists were hanged in 1887, and as
large as that of 1887, surrounded the
Jail. 1t numbered thousands. CurioS-
ity TO see what they could of the Incl
dents surrounding Hoch's last mo-
ments attracted the crowd. The crowds
openly gambled on Hoch's fate, many
believing with the condemned man that
he would again escape the moose.
A final effort almost without prece-
dent in Illinois was made in Hoch's be-
half a few hours before the time set
for the execution. A petition was filed
in the United States Circuit Court 10y
Hoch'S attorneys. asking that the Fed
eral court interfere to save the con-
demned man. The petition stated the
State authorities were endeavoring to
execute Hoch in violation of the four
teenth amendment of the constitution
without due process of law. This move
served only to delay the execution. 1t
was the last act in the desperate legal
fight, waged by Hoch and his attorneys
tosecure a new trial or pardon, which
resulted in placing Hoch three times in
the shadow of the gallows instead of
once and extending his life eight
months
Hoch's Life Mystery.
Mystery that has defied all past efforts
to solve surround the early life of Johann
Hoch. He is believed to have been born
in TIOru-Oi1Io,,
many in 1868. When he grew into man
hood he left his native town and return
ed in three years, marrying Mrs. Joseph
Huff. He was first indicted for fraud in
connection with a petition in bankruptcy
which he filed. Hoch fled to a distant
village, where he is said to have married
again, but after securing the second
wifes fortune he fled to America in 1895.
He lived three months in New York
and went under the name of Joseph Huff.
Then he went to Wheeling. w. Va, where
he married widow who owned a sa-
loon. IN one month she was dead and
Hoch had two saloons. An inquiry fol-
lowed her death and Hoch fled after leav-
ing his clothes on the banks of the Ohio
river to them attached a note stating
that he had committed suicide.
The same year he came to Chicago and
opened a saloon, where he met Bruno
Leckner and was introduced to Mrs.
Martha SteiEnrecher, whom he mari sed.
Thirty days after she died.
Then followed roamings all over the
country, in which he is said to have mar
ried numerous women in various cities.
He was in and out of Chicago much of
the time, and in Cincinnati he married
Mrs. Mary Bartels. When she died a
month after the funeral was turned into
a feast by Hoch. He left Cincinnati
without paying the funeral expenses. He
returned to Chicago and was convicted
in Judge Bakers court of selling mort
gagged furniture. In 1897 he was sent
to the house of correction for that Of
Tense and served one year.
For two or three years ne worked in
the Pullman car works. The beginning
of the end came when he married Marie
Walcker, a widow. She answered a mat
rimonial advertisement in a German
newspaper. She conducted a small candy
factory, but disposed of it at the request
of Hoch, who induced her to give him
the proceeds of the sale. With her death
followed his marriage to her sister, Mrs.
Fischer-Hoch and his subsequent disap-
pearance and exposure.
Hochs downfall began with his depart
ure from Chicago with 500 that belong
ed to his last wife, Mrs. FischerHoch.
She was married to him the day after
his former wife, her sister, died. He
left her early in January, and the in
vestigation followed that led to Hoch's
arrest in New York. Hoch was placed
on trial in Chicago April 10, 1905, for
the murder of Marie Walcker-Hoch and
was found guilty May 49, The jury was
out thirty minutes.