The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-20
LONG CAREER AS
AN ADVENTURES
Special to The Journal.

New York March 19.-John Edward
Boeck. soldier OF fortune. clever jew
elrv salesman and prospective dicta-
Tor of the Chinese empire, whose ar
rest has been reported from San
Francisco. skipped out of New York
last May when he found that he was
to he indicted for stealing $500. 600
worth of jewelry from local dealers
New York detectives have traced
him all over Europe and Asia. His
arrest was made by the merest
chance. He was seen coming out OF
a saloon by A detective who recog
nized him from his picture in the cir,
cglar sent out by a detective agency.
Boeck denied his identity at first, but
later he broke down and confessed.
Boeck said that since he left New
York ne has been working as a jew
t.ry salesman in China much of the
time He said that he had only come
70 this country for a short visit, and
Intended to go back right
His Life.
Bopch, who is only IS years old, is
the son of a Pcli n scholar who at
one tine taught mining and civil en-
cheering in the University of Vir-
gina. in which state he was born
Later his father taught in a school
near Philadelphia, and eight years ago
BOeCk was a car tracer for the Read
ing railroad at Philadelphia. He Dor
raUcd 80 much money that he lost his
job and then foated a scheme for de-
veloping a summer resort in Pennsyl
yania- He was about to be arrested
for Swindling in this connection when
he was married to Mary laSSm1re, or
Tamaqua Pa. and he was let off.
In 1900 Boeck went over TO China
With an exhibit sent there by the Ma,
ttGnal Association of Manufacturers
The Boxer outbreak came at the
time and the exhibit was a failure; sol
Boeca STAYED there and went into the
copHer business in Shanghai. He got
INTO he GOOD graces of many Chinese
officials. and when Prince Flu Lun
came over 10 the st. Louis EXPOSE
non as the Chinese commissioner
Boeck accompanied him to help ham
de the exhibit.
After the exposition Boeck got the
JOB Of disposing the most of the exhib-
us. aud in doing so became acQuaint
ed with many big jewelry firms and
rich art collectors. He was also com
m!SSloned TO buy copper for the Chi
heSe' mint. and thus became acquaint-
I'd with Senator William A. Clark and
the Guggenheims.
Keen Salesman.
Then he branched into the Jewel
~ commission business and got the
leWelTy which led to his arrest. His
success was unusual He began by ne
rouaung with J. p Morgan for the
S9iH Of diamond and pearl collar
mat oSt probably $780, 900. Soon he
Was asking odds of no man as a sales
man or precious stones, and in an as
.'A.ShnSlE short space of time he
3"Manded position which enabled
I'm 10 demand from diamond deal
ea > heir cost prices and to offer tol
them. ''ii
,-;F continued to make wealthy
t.'5"cs IN this city, and although he !
Ia Wife, carried on courtship with |
c. ny Young girl of Pittsburg, who
ns ~ ~. mere brOken-hearted on learning |
- Us dlsIppearance, wearing his en-
Io.,.n| nj ring on his finger She had
-,' 'neo the broker $4,000, she told
10 people. but she did not regret
~ money No one cared TO tell her
p h9eck was already married.
-le-h father served in the Hun
No." revolution and later in diplo-
60 - positions. He came TO this
c,,r.fy after the civil war and be-
60, 80 d professor of mathematics and
gir,,''eeFlng in the University of Vir-