New-York tribune., 1907-05-24
JEWEL THEFT S5OO,OOO.
TOO.
WOMEN VICTINS, TO'
Urs. Thomas &. Plat SAID TO Be a
LOser-BOeck Played Races.

| JO"eiiy VIII amount TO something ike haIf a
million of dollars New complaints have been
| pouring into the office of the jewellers Secur-
ty Alliance since his defalcation became known,
| and it was said yesterday that a number of
| women were among those who lost their va!u-
| ables
boeck 1t was learned yesterday bOasted con-
stantly to his friends that he was the agent Of
Mrs. Thomas c. Platt and that she had gven
| MN the task of selling Tioga Lodge. which came
10 Mrs Platt when she was separated from her
husband. He also told his friends that Mrs.
Platt had allowed him to use house in WASH
ington belonging to her. 1t was said that Mrs.
Platt had advanced him sums of money. which
he had never repaid. Another woman who is
not on the trail of the missing man is daughter
OF Pittsburg man who met Boeck some time
ago and lent him large sums of money
Boeck and his methods were the talk of the
Maiden Lane district yesterday for not in many
years has the trade suffered as heavy losses as
IN this Instance. As Il member of a large firm
said yesterday "Boeck was one of the smoothest
takers that ] ever met and l am not sur
prlsed at the success he had with his schemes"
HOW JEWELLERS WERE SWINDLED.
The method Boeck used in obtaining the
goods was learned yesterday. He would take
$4,000 necklace out on approval and pawn it,
When 1t became time for an accounting he would
go to another dealer and get an article worth
sl"p", pawn this and redeem the first article.
and so on. 1t is the common belief that up to
two weeks ago BoecH had no idea of defraud-
ing the dealers but had a business deal on
hand which he thought would clear up large
sum. with which he hoped to he able to redeem
all OF the articles that he had taken In proof
of this it was learned that he pawned one neck
lace in Sixth avenue pawnshop for 5000
lie took II up and pawned il again at the
same shop, several days before he left town
This time he told the clerk that he didn't mead
5000, but only wanted s3,4O0 One necklace
1t was learned yesterday had been pawned sir
different times
1t was fully verified yesterday that Boeck vas
on intimate terms with a number Of wealthy
art collectors. Ex-senator ". A Clark relied
great deal on Boeck's Judgment in the mat
ee' ol art ana once visited the store of Edwin
Dayton. who lost over $4,000 through Roeck
to look AZ some Majolica ware The ware had
Formerly belonged 10 the Duke OF Parma and
was considered very valuable Boeck sent wor,
'iiat he was goins to bring Senator Clark and
the store vas kept open AT night for them.
III was said also that Boeck was on intimate
terms with several member. Of the Gussenheim
family "T know nothing about the man So
ciaiiy, and he was never at my house" said
NJ r. Guggenheim yesterday He came here
several times with jewelry that he wanted to
sell me- but l never made any purchase of him.
IL was great surprise To me TO learn that
he had left New York. He was a fine appear
Ing fellow and a smooth talker. and I suppose
that he owes his success 10 that"
II was learned that Boeck had for some time
been paving attention to a Miss Rfdpath of tho
Iowa apartment house. West 1O4th street who
is supposed 10 have thought him to he bache-
lpr A- F,,,
living with him at the time in Putnam Court
an apartment house almost opposite the Iowa.
Miss Ridpaths sister is the wife OF sim. Die
mel. and ii is reported that Demel who is a
well known horseman. showed BoeCk something
OF the racing game. Miss Ridpath it is under
stood, discovered recently that Boeck was mar
ried, and their intimacy. according to the story.
then ended.
IT was learned yesterday that Roeck untiI
1900 was a car tracer for the PHILADELPHIA &
Reading Railroad under W D. GotwalIs ITS
transportation manager Mr.. tiotwalIs over
the long distance telephone said that Roecl
came from Pennsylvania Dutch family and
that his mother lived in GIenside Penn.
just outside of Philadelphia The family is
highly respected and Boecks sister was at one
time secretary at the school of Industrial Arts
in-Philadelphia.
BOECK'S CAREER. IN CHINA
Boeck left the employ of the railroad in 1890
to go TO China in charge of exhibit sent out
by the National Association of Manufacturers
OF America. He then drifted about China and
became intimate. 1t is said. with high govern
ment official who In that country at the
time The official wanted some one to take
charge of a quantity Of valuable porcelain which
he was anxious to bring here without paying
duty. Boeck was successful, the porcelain
sold and both Boeck and the official made a
good
number Of the dealers who heavy losers
by Boeck's defalcation are keeping the matter
to themselves. trusting that he will he appre-
hendcd by the Pnkertons. AS far could he
learned Yesterday the heaviest Individual losers
are Ludwig Nissen & Co, Edwin Dayton Mar
cellus Pitt & CO.. and Smith & Co. Mr.. Nisscn
said Yesterday that he had known Boeck for
several years and had never trusted him. He
said that several times when Boeck applied for
iewelry on approval he had sent one OF his most
trusted along with him
Some time ago he said. he thought that this
was risky and told Boeck that he had no desire
Ia do business with him, and requested him to
keep away from mis- office
In Boeck's deserted offices yesterday his stem
oerapher was waiting for the few dollars that
Is owed to her, still confident that her employer
would appear and pay her.
According to O. C. Fessenden, president of
the Jewellers Security Alliance. pawn tickets for
$4,000 OF the property taken by Boeck have
been returned, and it is understood that action
will he Immediately taken by the alliance to re-
cover the iewelry from the pawnbrokerS Mr.
Fessenden said also that the last report that
had been received of the missing man was in
Philadelphia. where he had shaved off his mus