Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
George Boynton Tells Court of
Al Years of Fighting.
LOVES DANGER OF WAR
Follows Wars Not for Gain, but for
'Pure Deviltry of Adventure"
SERVED IN MANY REVOLUTIONS
Arrested for Counterfeiting Coin Of
Venezuela - Goes to Jail and
Pardoned by the President.
SERVED IN MANY REVOLUTIONS

NEW YORK, February 15.-The strang-
est witness ever called to testify in the
criminal branch Of the United States circuit
court was Capt. George Boynton, soldier of
fortune IN every quarter Of the globe, who
was examined yesterday in the govern
ments case against Joseph and Sidney Mill
er. two engravers, charged with making
the dies with which the silver dollar of
venezuela was to be coined for the purpose
OF financing a revolution for the overthrow
of Castro.
With courage characteristic of his forty
seven years of almost constant fighting,
Capt. Boynton shouldered all the blame for
what the Milers did.
It was with the greatest difficulty that
ex-Judge William Cohen, counsel for the
Millers. got Capt. Boynton to testify about
his own career. Bronzed, deep-chested,
broad-shouldered, with a livid cash on his
cheek made by a saber, the captain reluc-
family, almost timidly, told how he had de-
voted forty seven of his sixty-four years of
nghting for the pure deviltry of adven-
ture. He had never tried to earn money
py nghting. he said. as he had inherited
from MS rather an estate which provided
an income sufficient for all his needs. He
never had to work to support himself.
A Blockade Runner.
Born in New York city, he went south at
the outbreak Of the civil war and became
blockade runner. When the dangers of
this occupation became minimized it lost
its fascination. He returned north went
to Illinois and enlisted in a cavalry regi-
ment and was in a score of battles Block
ade running on the lower rivers of the
south then offered new excitement and he
switched to that service. Beginning as a
private he emerged from the war a mai
i Boynton "roughed it, around the country
until 1870, when the Franco-Prussian war
gave him chance to mix in that conflict.
Then, In quest Of trouble. the soldier Of
fortune wandered about the Leyant and
the orient. His travels took him through
China and Japan and to the gold fields of
Australia When he got back by way of
San Francisco he heard of an Instruction
in Chile and hurried there to help over
throw the government.
Before that trouble was we'll ended revo-
lutionsts started to terminate the reign of
Dom Pedro in Brazil and Boynton cheer
fully joined Them running blockade at Rio
Janeiro and other ports on the Brazilian
coast. When the empire was oyerthrown
the captain said he had nothing to do but
TOOL around with little penny revolutions
In half a dozen South American countries.
Forgets His Many Titles.
He had been major in Chile and a
general In Brazil and a high officer in
other countries, but he couldn't remem-
Der the titles. He never bothered him
self with names or dates, he said
Next the patriots Of Cuba organized
to throw off the Spanish yoke and Boyn-
ton lost no time joining them. He be-
came a colonel in their army and fought
with them even after the United States
took hand in the struggle.
When peace dawned in Cuba the SOL
der hurried over to Central America
where he scented some revolutions. They
didnt amount to much and finally he
drifted to Venezuela, became the personal
friend of Blanco. built up fine hatred for
Castro, and, as a preliminary to armed
strife, came here as the financial commits
sioner OF the revolutionary party. 1t was
then he met the Mllers.
The only time Capt. Boynton testified
without prodding was when he got on
the subject of Castro, whom he de-
nounced with eloquent abandon.
The captain was arrested himself in con-
nection with the charge against the MIL
lers. He came here voluntarily from Porto
Rico, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to
six months In prison. After serving half
this time President Roosevelt pardoned
him.