106:
25:
66:
1083:
543:
598:
1888, New York – After arriving from
Wurtemberg, Hoch said to have married an immigrant servant girl who "died" prior to two months passing {alleged}. At the time of his 1905 New York arrest it was also alleged Hoch had married and either left/killed women in Vienna, Austria; London, England and
524:
Chicago police would dub him "America’s greatest mass murderer", but statistics remain vague in this puzzling case. We know that Hoch bigamously married at least 55 women between 1890 and 1905, bilking all of them for cash and slaying many, but the final number of murder victims is a matter of
663:
1896: A Mrs. Henry Bartel dies in
Baltimore {Bartel being a Hoch alias. It is also alleged that Hoch married two other times in Baltimore: a Mrs. Nannie Klenke-Schultz; Mrs. Henrietts Brooks-Schultz; an unnamed Boston woman married to a "Louis/Charles Bartels" came to Baltimore and seized his
773:
1905 January 15: Hoch marries Marie's sister Mrs. Fischer in Joliet Ill, who gives Hoch $ 750 [$ 500{?}; Hoch leaves after Mrs. Fischer sister denounces Hoch as a murderer and swindler. Note Hoch married
Fischer under the alias of John "Hock"; he is also alleged to have married; swindled and
807:
In addition to the above, it is alleged that Hoch was involved with a Mrs. John Hicks of
Wheeling WV {died}; Mrs. Emma Rencke of Chicago; Mrs. Palinka of Batavia Ill; a Mrs. Fink of Aurora; Natalie Irgang; Hulda Stevens; Schwatzman of Milwaukee; and a Justina Loeffler of Elkhart Indiana who
965:
528:
Sensational reports credit Hoch with 25 to 50 murders, but police were only certain of 15, and in the end he went to trial (and to the gallows) for a single homicide. Hoch's first and only legal wife was
Christine Ramb, who bore him three children before he deserted her in 1887.
647:
1895 November: Hoch marries Mary Rankin of
Chicago; Hoch disappeared with her money the next day. {It is also alleged that about 1895 Hoch a.k.a. Schmidt went back to Germany but fled from a warrant charging that he was not only bankrupt but also owed 3,000
626:
1895 Chicago – arrested under alias "C.A. Calford" and charged by Mrs. Janet
Spencer with having eloped; married and deserted her with a few hundred dollars of her money; he is identified as abductor of a Hulda Stevans and a participant in a diamond robbery
643:
1895, August 5: A.k.a. Jacob Hoch he marries Mrs. Maria
Steimbucher of Chicago-she died four months later; Hoch sold property for $ 4,000. Before dying she makes declaration that she has been poisoned but no notice is taken of her
724:
1902 May – Hoch a.k.a. "Count Otto van Kern" marries Mrs Hulda Nagel; husband persuaded wife to convert real estate into cash; while wife is shopping, her trunk containing $ 3,000 is robbed on contents and "Kern" deserts
513:). He emigrated to the United States in the 1890s and dropped his surname in favor of assorted pseudonyms where he began to marry a string of women, frequently taking the name of his most recent victim. Hoch used
654:
1896 September 22: Hoch a.k.a. "Schmitt" marries widow
Barbara Brossett of San Francisco. "Schmitt" disappeared 2 days later with $ 1,465 of her money; she is so affected by the losses, she dies afterward.
1167:
777:
1905 January 30: Hoch alias "Harry
Bartells" proposes to his landlady Mrs. Catherine Kimmerle of New York City; she refuses and Hoch is arrested; Hoch claims alias of "John Joseph Adolf Hoch."
728:
1903 June 18 – Hoch a.k.a. "Dr. G.L.Hart" flees after trying to poison Mabel Leichmann-a bride of three days; Hoch flees with $ 300 worth of diamonds and $ 200 of her money {alleged}
808:"disappeared" in Chicago in 1903.; a Mrs. Lena Hoch died in Milwaukee in 1897; a Mrs. Hoch died 1897 and a Mrs. Hoch died 1898 – both sisters of Mrs. J.H.H. Schwartman of Milwaukee.
789:
1905 June 23: Cora Wilson of Chicago advances money so Hoch can appeal sentence to Illinois Supreme Court, which sustains lower court and sets execution date for August 25, 1905.
1152:
1162:
995:
630:
1895 April: Under the name Jacob Huff, Hoch marries Karoline/Caroline (Miller) Hoch, widow, Wheeling, WV. She died June 15, 1895. He faked his death, took her surname
752:
1904 October 8: Hoch alias "Leo Prager" marries Bertha Dolder of Chicago-he disappears after buying $ 1,200 of rugs from $ 3,500 she gives him for a furniture store.
1187:
1182:
1094:
740:
1903 December – Hoch uses marriage license for Zazuil engagement and marries Mrs. T.O'Conner of Milwaukee-deserts her and absconds with $ 200 of her money {Alleged}
1072:
743:
1904 January 2: A.k.a. "John Jacob Adolf Schmidt" marries Mrs Anna Hendrickson of Chicago in Hammond Indiana, and disappears January 20 with $ 500 of her money.
1105:
1147:
1058:
761:
1904 November 16: Hoch alias "Joseph Hoch" leases a cottage in Chicago from a bank from November 16, 1904, to January 1, 1905; buys $ 120 worth of furniture.
824:
703:
1900: Allegedly Hoch a.k.a. "Albert Buschberg" married Mary Schultz of Argos, Indiana; Schultz, her 15-year-old daughter Nettie and $ 2,000 "disappeared".
1212:
1172:
623:
1894 Hoch aka Jacob Erdorf, marries Mrs. Martha Hertzfeldt; she withdraws $ 1,800 of her own money and $ 800 of her sisters money and gives it to Erdorf
1157:
1177:
912:
682:
1898 January 16 – Hoch a.k.a. "William Frederick Bessing" marries Mrs. Winnie Westphal in Jersey City-Hoch disappears with $ 900.00 {alleged}
232:
651:
1896 April: Hoch a.k.a. "Jacob Erdorf" marries Maria Hartzfield of Chicago; Hoch disappeared with $ 600 of her money after four months.
1197:
691:
1898 June: Hoch a.k.a. Adolf Hoch a.k.a. Martin Dose arrested Chicago for selling already mortgaged furniture; gets one year in jail.
1192:
207:
189:
123:
52:
38:
764:
1904 December 10: Marries Marie Walcker of Chicago-who sells her candy store for $ 75.00 and gives Hoch her life savings of $ 350.
694:
1899 Milwaukee: Hoch marries an unnamed sister of Mrs J.H. Schwartz-Marue; bride dies and Hoch disappears with $ 1,200 {alleged}
170:
939:
608:
1892, Chicago – May: Hoch under name C.A. Meyer rents flat and has a new wife {wife reportedly died after three weeks} alleged
142:
127:
829:
611:
1892, Chicago – June: Hoch under name H. Irick rents flat and has a new wife {wife reportedly died a month later} alleged
850:
149:
755:
1904 October 20: Hoch alias "John Schmidt" marries Caroline Streicher of Philadelphia-he disappears October 31, 1904.
712:
1901, January: Hoch a.k.a. "Carl Schmidt" marries in Columbus, Ohio; after two weeks he deserts her-along with $ 400.
485:. He was found guilty of the murder of one wife but is thought to have killed more, perhaps up to 50 victims. He was
819:
667:
1897 January: Marries Julia Dose of Hamilton Ohio-in Cincinnati; Hoch disappears same day with $ 700 of her money.
156:
673:
1897- Hoch aka "DeWitt C. Cudney" married Callie Charlotte Andrews; 2 hours later "Cudney" disaspears with $ 500
620:
1894 Chicago – Under a new alias Hoch rents flat with a new wife {wife reportedly died after two months} alleged
780:
1905 February 1: Two indictments returned against Hoch for bigamy; alleged number of wives to be twenty-nine.
709:
1900, December 12 – Hoch a.k.a. "John Healy" marries Amelia Hohn of Chicago; deserts her after getting $ 100.
138:
116:
514:
80:
44:
786:
1905 May 19: Hoch tried and found guilty of murder of Marie Walcker; sentenced to death June 23, 1905.
1142:
1137:
506:
502:
279:
253:
1207:
679:
1897 December 6 – Hoch marries a woman in Williamsburg New York and disappears with $ 200 {alleged}
1202:
1132:
810:
Allegedly Hoch married twice in Cincinnati, Ohio under alias of "Henry Bartel" and "Fred Doess".
377:
746:
1904 June: Hoch marries Lena Hoch of Milwaukee; she dies three weeks later leaving Hoch $ 1,500.
688:
1898 March – Chicago Hoch appears a.k.a. "Martiz Dotz" with a wife who died June 1898 {alleged}.
595:
1883, New York – Hoch arrives with wife Annie, an invalid who dies several years later {alleged}
588:
A turn of the century account partially reports on many of Hoch's victims, except where noted:
908:
267:
163:
517:
to find victims. He would swindle all their money and either leave them or kill them with
660:
1896 November: Hoch marries Clara Bartel of Cincinnati Ohio; she dies three months later.
792:
1905 August 25 – Hoch execution put off until October session of Illinois Supreme Court.
749:
1904 Summer: South Haven-Michigan-young woman body washes ashore-wife of Hoch? {alleged}
79:
Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the
1033:
423:
876:
1126:
614:
1893, Milwaukee – Hoch under name "Dr. James" marries Lena Schmitz-who died {alleged}
410:
568:
602:
June 1891 Chicago Hoch aka H. Frick in Chicago furnishes an apartment with $ 115.
657:
1896: Hoch proposes to landlady Mrs H. Tannert of San Francisco, who refuses him.
1008:
105:
231:
498:
361:
249:
676:
1897 July 20 – Hoch a.k.a. "Henry F. Hartman" marries in Cincinnati {alleged}
557:
715:
1901: Hoch marries Mrs. Loughken-Hoch in San Francisco; she dies "suddenly"
65:
553:
478:
474:
469:) (1855 – February 23, 1906) is the most famous and last-used alias of a
435:
349:
617:
1893 Milwaukee – Hoch marries Lena Schmitz sister Clara {died} {Alleged}
518:
510:
486:
470:
414:
737:
1903 Milwaukee – Hoch courts Ida Zazuil but leaves her after a quarrel
734:
1903 Dayton Ohio – Hoch marries Mrs Regina Miller Curtis (deserts her)
1068:
1066:
721:
1902, April 8 – marries Mrs Mary Becker of St Louis; she dies in 1903
706:
1900, A "Jacob Hoch" married Anna Scheffries of Chicago (LDS record).
419:
367:
1116:
In 1955 in a Chicago Cottage owned by Hoch Human bones were found
902:
795:
1905 December 16 – Illinois Supreme Court refuses to intervene.
685:
1898 Buffalo – New York – a Mrs. Wilhelmina Hoch died {alleged}
536:
99:
59:
18:
991:
989:
987:
783:
1905 February 5: Five more alleged wives of Hoch identify him
731:
1903 Dayton Ohio – Hoch marries Mrs Annie Dodd {deserts her}
942:, 357 (Supreme Court of Illinois 20 December 1905).
718:
1901, November: Hoch marries Anna Goehrke; he deserts her.
904:
Buying a Bride: An Engaging History of Mail-Order Matches
670:
January 1897 - Hoch aka "Warneke" married Minnie Rankin,
564:
1009:"Caroline Miller Hoch Huff: Victim of a Serial Killer"
697:
1899 Norfolk, Va – A Mrs Hoch died suddenly {alleged}
1168:
Emigrants from the German Empire to the United States
851:"Infamous Piece of Chicago History Goes on the Block"
442:
429:
406:
396:
388:
383:
373:
359:
345:
285:
275:
260:
238:
222:
130:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
77:about Hoch's adult years, murders, arrest/trial.
798:1906 February 23 – Hoch is executed in Chicago.
1013:The WVGenWeb Project: West Virginia Genealogy
605:1892 Chicago – Mrs. Hoyle Hoch died {alleged}
8:
820:List of serial killers nicknamed "Bluebeard"
767:1904 December 20: Marie Walcker becomes ill.
592:1881, Austria – marries Annie Hock {alleged}
825:List of serial killers in the United States
700:1900: Claimed to married a Mary Hendrickson
521:and then begin his pattern all over again.
53:Learn how and when to remove these messages
1153:20th-century executions of American people
230:
219:
1163:Executed people from Rhineland-Palatinate
907:. New York: NYU Press. pp. 148–149.
770:1905 January 12: Marie Walcker-Hoch dies.
758:1904 November 9: Hoch appears in Chicago.
208:Learn how and when to remove this message
190:Learn how and when to remove this message
960:
958:
956:
954:
952:
950:
948:
841:
640:1895, July 15: Buys a saloon in Chicago
497:Hoch was born John Schmidt in 1855, at
1188:People executed by Illinois by hanging
1183:People convicted of murder by Illinois
1034:"Re: Mary Schulte missing after 1900?"
966:"Remarkable Career of Bluebeard Hoch"
7:
774:desertered Anna Frederickson in 1904
128:adding citations to reliable sources
1148:20th-century executions by Illinois
1106:San Francisco Call 10 February 1905
1084:San Francisco Call January 22, 1905
1059:San Francisco Call January 11, 1905
1007:Fluharty, Linda Cunningham (2009).
1095:San Francisco Call 2 February 1905
1073:San Francisco Call 2 February 1905
14:
1213:Executed suspected serial killers
1173:German people convicted of murder
34:This article has multiple issues.
1040:. Genealogy.com. 6 December 2008
875:Schutzer, A. I. (October 1964).
541:
104:
64:
23:
637:1895 July 5: Arrives in Chicago
115:needs additional citations for
42:or discuss these issues on the
1158:American confidence tricksters
849:Lydersen, Kari (31 Oct 2006).
556:format but may read better as
264:February 23, 1906 (aged 50/51)
1:
1178:German people executed abroad
830:List of homicides in Illinois
533:Timeline of swindles/killings
996:Clinton Mirror Feb 25, 1905
1229:
970:Perrysville Journal (Ohio)
1198:People from Rhenish Hesse
452:
355:
311:William Frederick Bessing
229:
1193:People from Mainz-Bingen
901:Zug, Marcia A. (2016).
565:converting this article
803:Other reported victims
463:The Bluebeard Murderer
339:John Joseph Adolf Hoch
329:John Jacob Leo Schmidt
289:The Bluebeard Murderer
75:is missing information
634:and went to Chicago.
507:Rhineland-Palatinate
503:Grand Duchy of Hesse
280:Execution by hanging
254:Grand Duchy of Hesse
124:improve this article
16:German-born murderer
940:76 N.E. 356
398:Span of crimes
325:Count Otto van Kurn
276:Cause of death
567:, if appropriate.
139:"Johann Otto Hoch"
914:978-1-4798-8283-0
881:American Heritage
877:"The Lady-killer"
586:
585:
467:Chicago Bluebeard
456:
455:
438:, others possible
268:Chicago, Illinois
218:
217:
210:
200:
199:
192:
174:
98:
97:
57:
1220:
1117:
1114:
1108:
1103:
1097:
1092:
1086:
1081:
1075:
1070:
1061:
1056:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1019:
1004:
998:
993:
982:
981:
979:
977:
962:
943:
937:
931:
925:
924:
922:
921:
898:
892:
891:
889:
887:
872:
866:
865:
863:
861:
846:
581:
578:
572:
563:You can help by
545:
544:
537:
459:Johann Otto Hoch
444:Date apprehended
432:
374:Criminal penalty
364:
319:Albert Buschberg
309:Henry F. Hartman
286:Other names
234:
224:Johann Otto Hoch
220:
213:
206:
195:
188:
184:
181:
175:
173:
132:
108:
100:
93:
90:
84:
68:
60:
49:
27:
26:
19:
1228:
1227:
1223:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1218:
1217:
1123:
1122:
1121:
1120:
1115:
1111:
1104:
1100:
1093:
1089:
1082:
1078:
1071:
1064:
1057:
1053:
1043:
1041:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1017:
1015:
1006:
1005:
1001:
994:
985:
975:
973:
964:
963:
946:
933:
932:
928:
919:
917:
915:
900:
899:
895:
885:
883:
874:
873:
869:
859:
857:
855:Washington Post
848:
847:
843:
838:
816:
809:
805:
582:
576:
573:
562:
546:
542:
535:
515:matrimonial ads
495:
461:(also known as
445:
430:
418:
399:
360:
346:Criminal status
340:
338:
336:
334:
332:
330:
328:
326:
324:
322:
320:
318:
316:
314:
312:
310:
308:
306:
304:
302:
300:
298:
296:
294:
292:
290:
271:
265:
256:
247:
245:
244:
225:
214:
203:
202:
201:
196:
185:
179:
176:
133:
131:
121:
109:
94:
88:
85:
78:
69:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1226:
1224:
1216:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1125:
1124:
1119:
1118:
1109:
1098:
1087:
1076:
1062:
1051:
1025:
999:
983:
944:
935:Hoch v. People
926:
913:
893:
867:
840:
839:
837:
834:
833:
832:
827:
822:
815:
812:
804:
801:
800:
799:
796:
793:
790:
787:
784:
781:
778:
775:
771:
768:
765:
762:
759:
756:
753:
750:
747:
744:
741:
738:
735:
732:
729:
726:
722:
719:
716:
713:
710:
707:
704:
701:
698:
695:
692:
689:
686:
683:
680:
677:
674:
671:
668:
665:
661:
658:
655:
652:
649:
645:
641:
638:
635:
628:
624:
621:
618:
615:
612:
609:
606:
603:
600:
599:Paris, France.
596:
593:
584:
583:
577:September 2020
549:
547:
540:
534:
531:
494:
491:
454:
453:
450:
449:
446:
443:
440:
439:
433:
427:
426:
424:United Kingdom
408:
404:
403:
400:
397:
394:
393:
390:
386:
385:
381:
380:
375:
371:
370:
365:
357:
356:
353:
352:
347:
343:
342:
337:Henry Bartells
287:
283:
282:
277:
273:
272:
266:
262:
258:
257:
248:
242:
240:
236:
235:
227:
226:
223:
216:
215:
198:
197:
112:
110:
103:
96:
95:
72:
70:
63:
58:
32:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1225:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1130:
1128:
1113:
1110:
1107:
1102:
1099:
1096:
1091:
1088:
1085:
1080:
1077:
1074:
1069:
1067:
1063:
1060:
1055:
1052:
1039:
1035:
1029:
1026:
1014:
1010:
1003:
1000:
997:
992:
990:
988:
984:
972:. 24 Feb 1905
971:
967:
961:
959:
957:
955:
953:
951:
949:
945:
941:
936:
930:
927:
916:
910:
906:
905:
897:
894:
882:
878:
871:
868:
856:
852:
845:
842:
835:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
817:
813:
811:
802:
797:
794:
791:
788:
785:
782:
779:
776:
772:
769:
766:
763:
760:
757:
754:
751:
748:
745:
742:
739:
736:
733:
730:
727:
723:
720:
717:
714:
711:
708:
705:
702:
699:
696:
693:
690:
687:
684:
681:
678:
675:
672:
669:
666:
662:
659:
656:
653:
650:
646:
642:
639:
636:
633:
629:
625:
622:
619:
616:
613:
610:
607:
604:
601:
597:
594:
591:
590:
589:
580:
571:is available.
570:
566:
560:
559:
555:
550:This article
548:
539:
538:
532:
530:
526:
522:
520:
516:
512:
508:
505:(present-day
504:
500:
492:
490:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
464:
460:
451:
447:
441:
437:
434:
428:
425:
421:
416:
412:
411:United States
409:
405:
401:
395:
391:
387:
382:
379:
376:
372:
369:
366:
363:
362:Conviction(s)
358:
354:
351:
348:
344:
327:Dr G. L. Hart
303:Jacob Erdorff
288:
284:
281:
278:
274:
269:
263:
259:
255:
251:
241:
237:
233:
228:
221:
212:
209:
194:
191:
183:
172:
169:
165:
162:
158:
155:
151:
148:
144:
141: –
140:
136:
135:Find sources:
129:
125:
119:
118:
113:This article
111:
107:
102:
101:
92:
82:
76:
73:This article
71:
67:
62:
61:
56:
54:
47:
46:
41:
40:
35:
30:
21:
20:
1112:
1101:
1090:
1079:
1054:
1042:. Retrieved
1037:
1028:
1016:. Retrieved
1012:
1002:
974:. Retrieved
969:
934:
929:
918:. Retrieved
903:
896:
884:. Retrieved
880:
870:
858:. Retrieved
854:
844:
806:
631:
587:
574:
569:Editing help
551:
527:
525:conjecture.
523:
496:
483:John Schmidt
482:
466:
462:
458:
457:
323:Carl Schmidt
243:John Schmidt
204:
186:
177:
167:
160:
153:
146:
134:
122:Please help
117:verification
114:
86:
74:
50:
43:
37:
36:Please help
33:
1143:1906 deaths
1138:1855 births
333:Joseph Hoch
321:John Healey
317:Martin Dose
313:Martin Dotz
299:C.A.Calford
1208:Uxoricides
1127:Categories
920:2021-05-16
836:References
664:furniture}
644:statement.
499:Horrweiler
493:Early life
341:Fred Doess
335:Jacob Hock
331:Leo Preger
315:Adolf Hoch
301:Jacob Hoch
297:Jacob Huff
250:Horrweiler
150:newspapers
39:improve it
1203:Poisoners
1133:Bigamists
627:{alleged}
501:, in the
402:1890–1905
291:C.A.Meyer
180:June 2019
89:June 2019
81:talk page
45:talk page
1044:24 April
1038:GenForum
1018:24 April
976:24 April
886:24 April
860:24 April
814:See also
479:bigamist
475:murderer
436:Illinois
431:State(s)
350:Executed
295:Dr James
293:H. Ireck
519:arsenic
511:Germany
415:Austria
407:Country
389:Victims
384:Details
307:Bartell
305:Schmitt
164:scholar
938:,
911:
648:Marks}
552:is in
487:hanged
473:-born
471:German
420:France
368:Murder
270:, U.S.
166:
159:
152:
145:
137:
558:prose
392:1–50+
378:Death
171:JSTOR
157:books
1046:2013
1020:2013
978:2013
909:ISBN
888:2013
862:2013
725:wife
632:Hoch
554:list
477:and
465:and
448:1905
261:Died
246:1855
239:Born
143:news
126:by
1129::
1065:^
1036:.
1011:.
986:^
968:.
947:^
879:.
853:.
509:,
489:.
481:,
422:,
413:,
252:,
48:.
1048:.
1022:.
980:.
923:.
890:.
864:.
579:)
575:(
561:.
417:,
211:)
205:(
193:)
187:(
182:)
178:(
168:·
161:·
154:·
147:·
120:.
91:)
87:(
83:.
55:)
51:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
