The sun., 1908-03-19
DICTATOR OF CHINA CAUGHT
BOECK, VINO MADE LOVE 10 THE
DIAMOND TRADE HERE,

Ventures Back 10 America From the
FiOwery Kingdom and lS Pihehod ~
saloon In san FrAneiseO-He Died New
Workers for some $500 900 Last Year
John Edward Boeck, soldier OF fortune,
clever jewelry salesman and prospective
dictator Of the Chinese Empire, who fed
from New York last May when he found
that he was to be indicted for stealing
$4,000 worth Of jewelry from local dealers
was arrested yesterday in San Francisco
by the merest chance after the Pinkertons
had trailed him over part OF Europe and
Asia
Word Of the arrest came to Inspector
NlcCaHerty from Chief Of Police Biggy Of
San Francisco, who was Immediately noti-
fed TO hold Boeck Boeck was seen coming
out Of saloon in McAllster street by
detective who recognized him from his
picture IN the circular sent out by the Pink
ertons, his appearance being unusually
striking Boeck denied his identity at first,
but when he was taken to headquarters and
confronted with his pictures he broke down
and confessed
Boeck said that since he left New York
he had been working as a iewelry salesman
in China much Of the time He said that
he had come to this country for a short
visit only and intended to go back to China.
Boeck who is only Ss years old, was the
son Of Polish scholar who at one time
taught mining and civil engineering in the
University Of Virginia, in which State
Boeck was born. Later the father taught
in u school near Philadelphia, and eight
years ago Boeck was a car tracer for the
Reading Railroad at Philadelphia He
borrowed so much money that he lost his
job and then auated q scheme for developing
a summer resort in Pennsylvania. He was
about to be arrested for swindlng In this
business when he was married to Mary
Glassmire Of Tamaqua, Pa, and was let on
In 1900 BOeck went over 10 China with
an exhibit sent there by the National Asso-
citation Of Manufacturers. The Boxer out
break came at the time and the exhibit
was a failure, so Boeck stayed there and
went into the copper business In Shanghai.
He got into the good graces Of many Chinese
officials, and when Prince Pu Lun came
over here 70 the st. Louis exposition as
the Chinese commissioner Boeck accom-
panied him as his right hand man,
After the exposition Boeck got the job
Of disposing Of most Of the exhibits, and
in doing so became acquainted with many
big iewelry firms and rich art collectors.
He was also commissioned to buy copper
for the Chinese mint, aud thus became
acquainted with Senator William A. Clark
and the Guggenheims Then he branched
out into the jewelry commission business.
Last spring BOeck had an office with Mar
af
VII re he had an exhibit OF Chinese porce-
Lain In February he went to Edwin W,
Dayton, dealer in Jewelry and antiques at
4 West Thirty-ninth street carrying letter
Of introduction from a prominent downtown
jewery firm with proposition to sell goods
for Dayton. BOeCk introduced Dayton to
Senator Clark Sol Guggonheim, p. A. B.
Widener and others and finally Dayton let
him have $50, 600 worth Of pearls which he
got on memorandum from Ludwig Nissen
4 Co, Mr.. Dayton had Boecks assurance
that he could sell the pearls TO his wealthy
friends in Newport and elsewhere in quick
time. BOeck kept putting Dayton Of and
finally disappeared He wrote Mr.. Dayton
from Philadelphia that the game was up and
he would remit for the pearls, but all the
jeweller ever got were the paWntlckets for
3l5,O 900 worth.
Ii then came out that Boeck had induced
Sol Guggenheim TO lend him &li2tS on his
collection Of pOrcelains and Mr.. Guggen-
helm levied on them TO recover the money.
Boeck also borrowed lot OF money from
a young woman to whom he had paid at
tentions until she found he was already
married.
Boeck told Dayton and others that he
expected 20 become dictator in China some
day on account of his close friendship With
Pi Lun, and this, with other romanoes
he conoocted, accounted for the willing
ness with which the jewellers gave him
rich gems without security.
II developed that Boeck had business
dealings with Mrs Thamas c. Plat which
didn't result to her advantage.
Boeck's interest in forty small porcelain
vases forty-three teakwood stands, china
cups, saucers and other articles which
we're attached last May and have been
in a storage warehouse ever since was
sold yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Porges
and brought only S7j.