[MSN] Museum theft. PLATTSBURGH - After being arrested earlier this month, Matthew Boire told police he was trying to sell a sword and scabbard from the Clinton County Historical Association collection to help raise money for the museum.

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Published August 29, 2007 06:52 pm - Matthew Boire returned to court
Wednesday to face five new charges in connection with Clinton County
Historical Association collection thefts.

Museum thefts bring more charges
By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
Staff Writer


- PLATTSBURGH - After being arrested earlier this month, Matthew Boire told
police he was trying to sell a sword and scabbard from the Clinton County
Historical Association collection to help raise money for the museum.
The 25-year-old Plattsburgh man failed to mention he had already allegedly
taken an 1800s officer's saber, valued at more than $1,500, from the museum
and sold the antique weapon on eBay.
That's the same place where authorities previously found the missing museum
sword and scabbard posted for sale, which is what led to Boire's Aug. 13
arrest. 
According to Plattsburgh City Court records, the new information has landed
Boire an additional felony charge of fourth-degree grand larceny in
connection with Plattsburgh City Police Department's ongoing investigation
into missing items at the Ohio Avenue museum.

NEW CHARGES
Besides the new grand-larceny charge, Boire is also now facing additional
charges of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property,
second-degree false sworn statement and fifth-degree criminal possession of
stolen property.
In total, Boire is facing three felony and two misdemeanor charges in
connection with the missing collections.
During the initial search of Boire's Oak Street residence earlier this
month, authorities allegedly recovered the sword that was posted online, a
second ceremonial sword and scabbard, an antique rifle and a Civil War-era
American flag. 
Boire reportedly told authorities they were the only museum artifacts in his
possession. But during a subsequent search, authorities allegedly recovered
two additional missing weapons: a Starr single-action revolver and a Smith &
Wesson .32-caliber pistol.
Their discovery led to Boire's arrest on the false-sworn-statement charge.

MUSEUM INVENTORY
As the police investigation was continuing, Historical Association Board
Member and Treasurer Maurica Gilbert was asked to inventory the museum
collections.
Gilbert said she found at least four missing weapons: the Starr revolver,
Smith & Wesson pistol, a Harpers' Ferry pistol and a Sharps rifle.
According to court documentation, Gilbert also told authorities she found at
least four sabers or swords missing, including the officer's saber and Capt.
William B. Pratt's 1863 sword and scabbard, which was the sword authorities
previously found posted on eBay.
An antique weapons appraiser valued Pratt's unique bejewel-handled sword at
around $3,500.
The Harpers' Ferry pistol and a Masonic sword are still believed to be
missing.
In a previous statement to police, Boire said he took the items because
"there are internal problems with the museum where they are in debt for a
ridiculous amount of money.
"I wanted to raise money by selling some items that didn't have North
Country ties. Once I got the money, I would make a donation in either my
name or do it anonymously."
But, in a statement to authorities, Gilbert said: "As a board member of the
CCHA, I am aware that no one has or had permission to possess or sell the
above items (missing weapons) on behalf of the museum or for themselves."
Boire, who was a board member at the time, has declined to comment on the
charges since his initial arrest and is scheduled to reappear with his
attorney, Stephen Johnston, Sept. 19 to face the charges.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:
avanvalkenburg at pressrepublican.com