Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-02-24
HocH's CRIMES.


iu Chicago yesterday.
Hoch is believed to have come oTi-
ginally from Herrweiler, a small town
in Germany not far from Biugen-on-the-
Rhine. His father. Jacob Scbmitt, is
said TO still reside there. A wife, sup
posed to be the FIRST wife OF Hoch, IS also
living in the same place.
Hoch has always bten reticent re-
earding his career in this country, and
the first woman be married in the United
States is believed to have been Mrs.
Martha Steinbreeher, to whom he was
married in 1895 After living with
Hoch for four months she died, the cause
of death being given as nephritls.
In November, 1895, he married Mary
Rankin In Chicago and left her the day
aft,r the wedding because she refused to
give him money. In April, 1896, Hoch
married Martha Hertzfeld, aud left her
in four months after obtaining from her
5000. His next vile is said TO have
been Mary HOeh, OF WheeliOg W. Va.
She died Of neohrits after three months.
Hoch has always denied this marriage,
and declared that he merely assumed the
wUmsn's name.
In the fall of 1896 H:ch married
Clara Bartell, of Cincinnati. She died
within three months Of the marriage.
10 January, 1897, he welded Julia
Dose in Hamilton, Ohio, and abandoned
her after obtaining SO, 700. In April,
1898, Hoch was arrested in Chicago Tor
selling mortgaged furniture, and served
two years in the house of correction.
In November, 1901, he married Mrs.
Anna Goehrke, of Chicago, but aban-
doned her after failing to obtaining money
from her. April s, 1902, he married 10
st Louis Mrs. Mary Becker, who died
early in 1903. Her relatives have
claimed that she was poisoned.
December 10, 1904, Hoch was mar
ried to Mrs. Marie Welcker, widow, OF
Chicago, the woman for whose murder
he was condemned. December 20, tbs
woman became III, and January II she
died. the cause of death being stated in
the physicians certificate as nephriils.
Five days later Hoch married Mrs.
Emile Fischer, sister of Mrs. WelckeI
Hoch. He obtained $3.50 from he' and
disappeared January 10.
The last Mrs. Hoch reported TO the
police the disappearance Of her husband.
Suspicion was aroused by her story, and
the body OF Mrs. Welcker Hoch was ex'
humed, and 7.6 grains of arsenic were
found in the stomach. Search was made
for Boch, and he was finally discovered
in New York, where his landlady, Mrs.
Kimberly, reported that she believed hel
boarder to be Hoch, because be bad pro
posed marriage to her on the day OF hi'
arrival in her house. He was arrested
aud later taken TO Chicago.
Hocb, after being placed in Jail il
Chicago, admitted that he had been mar
ried thirteen times, but always deniec
that be had caused the death of any o
his wives. He was placed on trial Apr
l9. and on May 20 the jury returned a
verdict, finding him guilty of murder anC
fixing the punishment at death. On
June 3 sentence was passed on him, thu
date of the execution being set for Jun'
%. Gov. Deneen granted him repriev'
until July 2S. Within one hour OF tht
time set for his execution Hoch was giveI
a second respite, until August 20.
Before this date arrived, however, th'
Supreme Court of the State granted
supersedas to permit of the review o
his case by the court. December 10 th
court handed down an opinion affirming
the verdict in the lower court and hx
ing the date of execution for Febru
AIRY %.
The last effort made by Hoch to secur
new trial ended on February 2l, wheI
| Gov. Deneen aud the board OF pardon
refused to interfere in his behalf. |
was alleged before the board by Mrs
EmeIie Fischer Hoch that she had beef
so bounded by the police that she haC
committed perjury during the trial, an'
that much of the evidence which sh'
had given against Hoch was not true
| A physician also declared that the deatl
of Mrs. Welcker Hoch had been caused
by kidney disease and not by arsenica
poisoning. On crossexamination beior
the board, however, be admitted that b.
had not made post -mOrtem examina
tion of the body of Mrs. Welcker Hech
while three physicians who had conduct
ed such an examination declared tha
death was caused by arsenic.