[MSN] US. A Clinton County Historical Association board member is facing a felony charge for allegedly stealing items from a Civil War-era collection to sell on eBay.

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Man arrested for allegedly stealing from county historical association
Published August 14, 2007 04:17 pm
By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH — A Clinton County Historical Association board member is facing a felony charge for allegedly stealing items from a Civil War-era collection to sell on eBay.

According to Plattsburgh City Police, Matthew M. Boire, 25, took two ceremonial swords and scabbards, a rifle and a Civil War era American flag, which authorities allegedly recovered from his Oak Street home during the execution of a search warrant.

Police said Historical Association President Roger Harwood recently contacted authorities when he found the missing sword and scabbard posted on eBay.

Harwood, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, said the sword and scabbard had been presented to Capt. William B. Pratt in 1863 and were taken from the museum on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.

As authorities were continuing their investigation Tuesday morning, Boire was arraigned in Plattsburgh City Court on a charge of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

After the court appearance, he posted $1,000 cash bond and was released from custody.

Contacted by the Press-Republican Tuesday afternoon, Boire declined to comment on the allegations, but according to City Court records, he told authorities: “I have been involved with local history all of my life, and I have only been with the Historical Association for the last couple of years.

“Right now, there are internal problems with the museum where they are in debt for a ridiculous amount of money.

“I knew that a while back the Alice T. Miner Museum sold some items from their collection to raise money. This is what I wanted to do.

“I wanted to raise money by selling some items that didn’t have North Country ties,” Boire told authorities in his voluntary statement.

“Once I got the money, I would make a donation in either my name or do it anonymously.”

The Plattsburgh man said he used a key to enter the museum about two weeks ago when he took the items to his home and posted some of them online.

Boire is scheduled to return to court Aug. 21 to face the charge.

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