Tag: May 1905
Johann Hoch Convicted of Murder, Chicago IL, 1905
In a shocking verdict, Johann Hoch, a man with a reputation for bigamy, was found guilty of murder in the first degree. The crime took place in Chicago, where Hoch had recently married his last known wife, Marie Welcker-Hoch. But their marriage was short-lived, as Marie became ill and died just days after the wedding.…
David C. Troyer, Fraud, Nebraska 1905
In a shocking verdict, the Nebraska Supreme Court has sided with local stockman David C. Troyer, awarding him compensation for injuries sustained while traveling on a freight train as a stock shipper. The high court’s decision marked a reversal of a lower court’s ruling, which had initially favored the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company…
John Hoch Guilty of Murder, Chicago IL, 1905
On May 20, 1905, John Hoch, a man with a dubious past, was found guilty of murder in a Chicago courtroom. His fate was sealed: death by hanging. Hoch, a self-proclaimed bigamist, had been accused of marrying at least 40 women in the past 15 years. But his latest marriage turned deadly. His wife, Mrs.…
Embezzlement of the Benevolent Few: Fields Found Guilty of Stealing $16,000
In a shocking verdict, Thomas M. Fields was found guilty of embezzling nearly $16,000 from the defunct Washington Beneficial Civil Endowment Association. The trial, which commenced several days prior, came to a close on May 15, 1905, before Justice Wright in Washington D.C.’s Criminal Court No. 1. The courtroom was packed with spectators eager to…
Crawford’s Culpability: A Tale of Deceit and Betrayal
On a fateful Monday in May 1905, Washington D.C. was abuzz with the news of a shocking scandal involving three men: Machen Lorenz and William G. Crawford. The Evening Star, Washington’s trusted newspaper, revealed that the indictment against the trio had been deemed ‘bad in substance’ by their counsel. It was a bombshell that sent…
