The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1906-02-23
Hanged at Chicago This After.
noon at 1884 O'clock.
Desperate Legal Battle Wagcd to
Save Him Today-Iiad OIL
GERS Guessing.
HOCH CHEERFUL TO THE LAST

Chicago, H., Feb. PA desper-
ate legal struggle was waged to save
Johann Hoch, the alleged bigamist
and wife poisoner, from the gallows.
Shortly before the time set for the
execution. Attorney Comerford APP
piled for a writ of habeas corpus,
which was refused by Judge Lands.
When Hoch heard this he said he
would resist execution by physical
force.
Comerford then filed a petition In
the United States court asking inter-
ference on the ground that the four
teenth amendment to the constitu-
ton was violated in sentencing Hoch.
The ground was that Hoch was ar
rested in New. York on charge Of
bigamy and brought to Chicago and
tried for murder.
The execution was delayed pend
ing the legal struggle. Just as prep
rations for reading the death war
rant were completed, Attorney Com
erford appeared on the scene waiv-
ing an appeal bond, duly signed and
demanding further stay of execu-
| ton.
The appeal was from the decision
of Judge Lands on denying the writ
of habeas corpus. Comerford, Dep
uty Peters and Jailer Whitman i'm
mendiately went into conference. In
the meantime Hoch was enjoying a
hearty dinner unconcerned and APP
peared to enjoy every morsel.
Whitman and Peters found them
selves in such quandary that they
sent for States Attorney Heily and
his assistants.
Later the death marched COM
menced and he reached the gallows
at 1881. Hoch made speech say
ing he was innocent and asking for
giveness for his executioners. The
drop was sprung at 1874.
Hoch. arose at $3.50 this morning
and as he jumped out of bed re-
marked: "This is a fine day for
February; just like the first day Of
spring" When asked how he felt
he replied. Fine"
Hoch spent almost an hour eating
hearty breakfast. After breakfast
he lighted a cigar and again asserted
that he would not hang. as he was
innocent.
Johann Hoch gained international
notoriety through his arrest and
prosecution for the. death of Mrs. Ma
rie Welker-Hoch, a German-Ameri-
can widow of Chicago, who died
shortly after he married her. A
post-mortem revealed the fact that
arsenic was in the blood, and or
gans of the woman. 1t was learned
that Hoch carried a fountain pen
which contained arsenic. He had
made practice of marrying widows
to secure their money. Many of the
women died a few weeks after their
marriage to him. He was suspected
OF having poisoned his victims.
After the death of Mrs. Welker-
Hoch the bigamist married her Sis
ter, Mrs. Amelia Fischer, another
widow, who had. bank account.
Hoch robbed his first wife. and she
caused his undoing. He was arrest
ed in New York. and being brought
back to Chicago was convicted on
Mrs. Fischer's testimony.
After Hoch had been sentenced to
be executed Mrs. Fischer-Hoch chang
ed her desires to revenge herself. In
order to save him she swore that she
had perjured herself during the trial.
She has threatened to kill herself II
Hoch is hanged
Hoch was originally sentenced to
be executed August 20, 1905. Stays
we're obtained, and a writ of super
sedeas delayed the execution until
the supreme court passed upon, and
denied it. Hoch then applied to the
governor and the pardon board for
clemency but this was denied. AL
though Hoch always claimed that he
was innocent, and would never hang.
he paid his penalty for the crime in
the Cook county Jail today.