Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-24
100000 IN GEMS
WAS BOECK'S LOOT
Detectives Think Theft Will Amount to
That Sum and jewelers. Are, Amazed
at Extent of Operations.

various ventures. Roseben lost. Boeck
disappeared the next day.
Numberless interesting chapters were
+told in many quarters yesterday in the life
of the man who has dealt the wholesale
jewelers. the hardest blow they have ever
sustained. That he is the smoothest swim.
dler that ever struck the Maiden lane dis
trict and could easily have obtained 1900,
O0O worth of precious stones was an admiS-
sion of all the large jewelers..
Interesting among the stories told of his
remarkable career, which extends to many
countries and includes experiences with no.
bility and government officials of high
rank, was one involving smuggling ven
ture which was participated in by an
American government employee in Cuba.
According to the story, this man brought
duties thousands of dollars worth of rare
Chinese porcelains and other objects of art
1t had been arranged that Boeck, who was
an expert in porcelains, should sell them at
a big profit and divide with the govern
ment employe. The sales were made and a
snug fortune realized, but Boeck refused
to surrender penny of 1t to his accom-
plice, who was unable to take action to re-
cover without revealing his own guilt
Recover $85, 900 in Gems.
Pawn tickets led yesterday to the recov-
cry of something like $4,000 worth of
jewelry obtained by Boeck from various
Well-known houses on memoranda Still
more will be recovered today; but 1t is the
belief of the dealers that only small pro-
portion OF the valuable consignments OBJ
tanned by him during the two weeks Just
prior to his sudden departure were pawned
or sold. The most valuable of his stealings,
they believe, he has with him. An effort
was made by the Pinkertons to OBJ
tain a complete list of all the jewelry that
was lent to him to be sold. but it was
not altogether successful Many firms
with which 1t is known Boeck did business
are disinclined to make known their losses
Tor fear OF sustaining injury to their credit
Because Of their determination to bear their
losses in silence it will never be known
just how heavy Boecks stealings We're.
1t was stated by representative of Mar
cellus, Pitt & Co. Of No. Maiden lane
that often Boeck had out for exhibition to
prospective customers jewelry valued at
100000 Many ~ef the largest firms had the
same confidence In him and 1t required
merely a word from him to have the rich
cases opened for him to take his choice
The belief was prevalent-and there was a
good basis for it-that he numbered among
his patrons many of the city's wealthest
men, and whenever he made sales he made
them at a good profit both to himself and
the firms which lent the goods.
Thought Him Dishonest.
Although Ludwig Nissen, one of the
Maiden lane dealers. suspected Boeck and
cautioned some Of his associates to beware
Of him, no manhad better standing than
Boeck among the jewelers.
when first saw him was Seven or eight
years ago." said Mr.. Nissen. "He came In
to get some pearls to show a customer I
sent one of my employees out with him.
Two or three times after that he came in
for more jewels, and eveEE-time 1 sent one
of my men with him ana cautioned him not
to let Boeck out of sight. 1 felt that he
was dishonest from the first Finally.
about five or six years ago told him /
did not care to- deal with him at all and
asked him to stay out of my place.