Today is Sunday February 23rd, 2020. On this day in 1906,

con artist Johann Hoach was executed for the murder of his wife Marie Volker Hoek.

But shockingly, Marie wasn't the first wife he'd killed. Welcome to today in true crime, a parcast original.

Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original.

Due to the graphic nature of today's crimes,

listener discretion is advised.

Extreme caution is advised for listeners under 13.

Today we're covering the final hours of Johann Hoek, who was sentenced to death after

marrying and subsequently murdering countless women. Let's go back to the morning of February 23rd 1906,

shortly before noon in a county jail in Chicago.

Johann was restless. He'd laid awake all the night before.

Even a hearty dinner hadn't been able to lull him to sleep.

After all, he was scheduled to be executed today and didn't want to waste his final hours of life on slumber. Of course, he hadn't fully let

go of the hope that maybe these wouldn't be his last hours after all, since he'd been found guilty of his late wife's homicide,

Johann and his lawyers had worked tirelessly to overturn his conviction.

He'd persuaded an endless stream of journalists, visitors, and female

fans that he was innocent. Hopefully the judge was similarly susceptible to his charms. The only way to know The

hangman was similarly susceptible to his charms. The only way to know for sure was to wait.

The hangman was supposed to arrive sometime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Now that noon approached he could only hope that the window would pass

and he wouldn't be summoned. The sound of footsteps approaching his cell dashed his hopes. Soon enough, the deputy sheriff and a jailer arrived to read him his death warrant. It was too late, or perhaps too early. Johann announced,

I want all that is coming to me in the way of time, if you try to take me before 1.30, I will fight."

His argument seemed to work.

...