The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-24
Bigamist a nd UXorCide
Exempted While At
torney Still in Court
USES CHRISTS WORDS
AS HE FACES DEATH
Protests His Innocence and Asks
Forgiveness for Those About
to End His Life-Appeal
Still to Be Taken to
U. S. Supreme
Court.
fIy Associated press.l

{By Associated Press,
CHICAGO, February 23.--Johann Hoch,
convicted uxorcide and confessed biga-
mist, was hanged in the county jail to-
day for poisoning his wife, Marie Wclcser
Hoch.
He faced death with prayer on his
lips for the officers OF the law who took
his life, and save for the words Good
bye, his last utterances was an asser-
tion that he was innocent OF the crime
for which he paid the extreme penalty
Of the law.
The last scene in tho career OF Hocn
came at 1850 o'clock this afternoon, 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 behalf. and although the man him
self is dead they promise to carry the
case to the Supreme Court of the United
States.
Writ Of Habeas Corpus
The time set for the hanging was be-
tween the hours OF 10 A. NJ. and 2 p. NJ.
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 writ of habeas
corpus on the broad ground that Hoch
was held in peril OF death In direct vIo-
lation of the fourteenth amendment to
the Constitution of the United States,
which declares in effect that no State
shall deprive any person of life, liberty
or property without due process of law.
nor deny to any person within it's juris-
diction the equal protection of the law.
As soon as the application for the writ
had been filed. Attorneys Maher and
Comerford, who we're acting In behalf of
Hoch, fastened to the jail where they
informed Jailer Whitman and Deputy
Sheriff Peters that the application for
the writ had Ibcen made. and asked them
TO delay the execution until the court had
either granted or refused the writ. The
iailer and the deputy sheriff agreed 20
wait. The attorneys then returned to the
court and appearing before Judge Is.
NJ. Lands asked that the writ issue forth
with. IL 1t was found that it was drawn
In proper form.
After some consideration Judge L;lndis
replied:
"'rhe application for the writ is denied.
The proper remedy was a writ nj error
from the Supreme Court to the Supreme
Court of the United States. The writ is
fatally defective and cannot he made
good''
Attorney Mailer then asked for an ap-
peal from the decision OF Judge Lands.
which was also denied.
Preparations for Hanging.
AS soon as 1t was known that the ap-
plication for the writ of habeas corpus
had been denied by Judge Lands. pre-
parations were commenced at the Jail
for the execution of Hoch.
A s,1n COLI JOs,v AT, hnrtff -
companied b5 Jailer Whitman. entered
Hoch's cell md read tho death warrant.
Throughout the reading Hoch was t.n-
moved, and Deputy Sheriff Peters, at
the close, said to him:
Mr. Hoch, / wish to commend you for
the manner in which you have conducted
yourself and also for the preparation You
have made for the hereafter. I hope God
will have mercy on your soul.
Hoch smiled and quietly said: "I am
great sinner In some ways. but l am
innocent of this murder.
Then turning to Jailer Whitman, Hoch
said: Il want all that Is coming to me
in the way of time. II you try to take
me before t:so viii hglit.
Just as tho reading OF the death war
rant was finished. Attorney Comerford
appeared at the jail with an appeal bond.
to which he desired the signature OF
Hoch. 1t was Jailer Whitmans inten-
tion to proceed with the execution i'm
mediately following the reading of the
death warrant but when informed OF
tho errind Of Attorney Comcrford. he
issued orders that proceedings be de-
layed.
Last Plea for Appeal.
Before the appeal bond was taken to
the county Jail, Attorneys Maher and
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