The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-27
JOHANN AOtII HANGED
Wife Murderer Ex cuted After Every
Effort 10 Save Him Failed.
HE WENT TO DEATH sRAVELY

Maintained a Military Attitude On the
scafold and Met Death With a
Prayer For thc oTcers-Neek Was
Broken Hy Fall.
Chicago. Feb. "a - Johann lIoch,
convicted uXorcide confessed bigam-
lrt. and who, 1t but a fraction OF the
ftorles Of crime that are told Of him
ire true, was one OF the greatest
criminals this country has ever known
was hanged in the county Jail for poi
soning his wife. Marie Welcker Hoch.
lie faced death with a prayer on his
lips for the officers OF the law who
took his life, and save for the words
Good bye" his last utterance was an
assertion that he was innocent OF the
crime for which he paid the extreme
penalty Of the law.
The last scene in the career of Hoch
came while his attorneys were still
making desperate efforts for a little
more time on earth for him. His
death. the lawyers say, has not ended
the appeal that was made In his be-
half and although the man himself is
dead. thoy promise to carry the case
to the supreme court Of the United
States.
The time set for the hanging was
between the hours of 10 a. IN. and
y. m. Shortly after . o'clock Hoch's
attorneys appeared in the office OF the
clerk OF the United States circuit
court. where they filed an application
for a writ OF habeas corpus on the
broad ground that Hoch was held In
peril OF death in direct violation OF
the 14th amendment to the Consutu-
ton OF the United States. which de-
clared in effect that no state shall de-
prlye any person Of life, liberty or
property without due process OF law
nor deny to any person within It's
Jurisdiction the equal protection OF the
laws The attorneys appeared before
Judge K. VI. Landis and asked that
the writ issue forthwith If It was found
that IT was drawn in proper form.
at Is also requisite said Judge
Landls. that proper cause be shown
for the issuance Of the writ"
After some consideration. Judge
lands replied: "The application for
the writ Is denied The proper remedy
for counsel was a writ OF error from
the state supreme court to the SUI
preme court OF the United States. The
writ is fatally defective and cannot be
made good
Just as the reading Of the death war
rant was finished, Attorney Comerford
appeared at the Jail with an appeal
bond 10 which he desired the sigma
ture Of Hoch. It was Jailer Whitman's
intention TO proceed with the execu'
tlon Immediately following the reading
NJ the death warrant, but when In
formed OF the errand Of Attorney Com
erford he issued orders that proceed
ings be delayed.
Before the appeal bond was taken
10 the county Jail Attorneys Maher
and Comerford presented II to the
court and again asked for an appeal
Judge Landls refused to grant the ap'
peal
Jaller Whitman then went to Hoch's
cell with six guards. Johann, your
time has come" he said.
Hoch had advanced to meet the
party and said calmly: 81 am ready,
Mr.. whitman"
As the death march started. Hoch
stopped several times to shake hands
with the attendants, saying "Gosd
bye. boys" Hoch's face was pale, but
his manner was composed and his
courage unsurpassed He had said sew
cral times that when the hour OF his
death came he would meet It bravely'
that he had been a soldier and knew
how to die. His attitude on the scaf'
fold bore out his words in full. He
stood erect, his heels close together,
his shoulders back and his gaze d.
rected over the heads Of the crowd
toward the far end Of the corridor.
Rev. J. r. Burkland. who was reciting
the prayers for the dying as the pro-
cession approached the scaffold, con-
tinued them while Hoch was prepar-
ing for execution. He had said that he
did not care to say anything on the
scaffold. but while the deputy sheriff
was pinioning his feet, Hoch spoke to
him in low voice.
"Do you want to say something?"
asked Deputy Sheriff Peters.
"Yes." said Hoch. In strong, clear
tone. with a pronounced German ao'
cent. he said
Father. forgive them; they know
not what they do. must die, an inno-
cent man. Good bye"
lie bit off the last two words In a
crisp. incisive fashion, and Just as soon
as he had uttered them the drop fell
DR.. Mcnamara, a county physician,
was at Hochs side the instant he fell.
and declared that death had been In
stantaneous. the neck having been
broken.
Hoch's pulse continued TO beat for
10 seconds after DR.. Mcnamara had
declared his neck broken.
While the Hoch execution was In
progress Attorney Ward Maher was
still making desperate efforts to In
duce Judge Landis to sign an appeal
and grant Hoch supercedas until his
appeal for a writ of habeas corpus
could be tested by the federal SUI
nremp court