Friends, when this popped up earlier this week I saw an opportunity to acquire a very unique and seldom seen outside important collections... this cover and EGA. For my interests anyway, its more about the EGA than the barracks cover as most know.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=009

Here is a picture of the EGA from the auction:
Click to view attachment

Well I emailed the seller asking for a picture of the rear of the emblem, the reply: Hi and thanks for the inquiry. I apologize for the quality of the pictures, my camera is not the greatest. I looked inside the hat and honestly I don't know how the badge comes off. Also it seems like it has been on there a while and I don't want to risk doing any damage to the emblem or the hat itself. If there is any other questions I can answer, please feel free to ask. Thanks.

We have a photo of a identical emblem in our reference section: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=9806
Click to view attachment

And this is were my cautious nature comes to play, in viewing the EGA posted at the auction page the EGA sits very flat to the cover with no exposed areas to see. A true period pinback of the period as shown below would not sit like this (IMHO) on the cover:
Click to view attachment

Would also like your comments on the cover in general, appears to be absolutely pristine... I'm not certain about the scrambled egg's if these were correct for the period or what grade these would have represented?

IMO something's not right. I'm not an EGA expert in any way, so take my opinion for what little its worth.

The EGA in the auction picture appears to be of a lesser quality than the one in the EGA reference section. In particular, the top ring of the anchor on the EGA from the auction doesn't appear to be circular or symetrical. That really sits wrong with me.

Also, a pinback would be pretty easy to see on a hat like that without damaging it. It doesn't appear to sit on the visor like a pinback EGA would.

I have the same mis-givings, as the strike of the die on the barracks cover up for auction does not hold the same level of detail (esp the edge of globe and anchor stock) as our reference EGA.

In looking at the auction photo again... I'm no fabric expert... (we need someone who knows) the fabric appears to be of a modern weave nature and the stitching extremely neat, not of the type of stitching seen on a machine from 100 years ago. Need help here!!!!!!!!!!

I asked the same question about the EGA and received exactly the same answer. There has been something bothering me about this hat since I first saw it. Seems I was concentrating on the badge. The "Morry Luxenberg" label was bothering me as well because I don't seem to think of that firm as a WWI or earlier uniform vendor but I sure could be wrong about that. Looking again at the pics it struck me what was missing! There is NO MOHAIR band on the cover as it required for Officers Only by USMC regs, and have been all through the 20th Century. Also the chinstrap looks to be rounded as opposed to flat but that could be just me. I'm thinking that this could be a theatrical piece of headgear. Pic 1 is the EBay Hat - Pic 2 is the Hat in my collection - Pic 3 is the Hat in my collection - Pic 4 is the EBay Hat. Just my thoughts. I'm not bidding on this item. Semper Fi - Bobee

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

That is not a Marine Corps officer barracks hat and it is not from ww1 era either. It is some type of band, civilian or other hat. I dont know about the ega, but the hat is a no brainer.

CB

I have access to an original hat with the braid, and there is absolutely no comparison. This piece is a fabrication.

1) The chinstrap is wrong. The original is a deeper sold toned and wider.

2) Fabric is modern

3) Liner is cut out of a WW2/korea hat

4) Wrong bullion on brow. The original is deep toned high grade. The comment of the other individual with me was "Hollywood all the way. " The eagle is a wire back with colored continents, incorrect for this type of hat.

Basically, BIG FAKE

Darrell: Just saw this this thread and agree with the above comments....don't like the construction, weave, or the EGA....feels like a fire chief's hat now converted to a Marine Officers hat....on the positive side the seller has a nice Army Navy Union medal that matches the one on our e-stand. Sad that someone is going to loss big money on this hat...very sad...

maybe a train conductor cover?

I saw that auction, as well. By far not as advanced a collector as most of you, but it struck me as wrong for some reason too, so I didn't bother bookmarking it

It strikes me as odd that this hat is offered as "AS IS" but nothing else the seller is selling?

This hat is a put together and the EGA has been painted recently. Makes me wish I never posted pictures of my real one that Darrell re-posted earlier on this thread. There have been quite a number of these put together caps recently on E-bay. One sold about a month ago, it was a train conductors cap with a 1940's stitched quatrefoil on the top. The quatrefoil on this hat has been added as well, that is the reason for the "frayed" appearance as the seller puts it. The chinstrap is an Army one that has been colored with a red stripe, the bullion field grade on the bill is much to large for USMC (if the army had a blue dress cap, I'd suspect this is one). The cap is wrong all over, no mohair band, and the kicker is to look at his other USMC auctions....all bad. That canteen is laughable (but aged and made to fool a novice), and the patch is just plain ugly.


Mike

No Mike it's not photos of the real thing that cause people to buy poor imitations. In fact, photos such as yours do a service for those who have the half a brain needed to fealize homework should be done before bidding on something like this. Anyone who buys something like this from a guy with a 95% feedback rating is the embodiment of "A fool and his money are soon parted."

QUITE AGREE, while there has been some here who have a degree of heart-burn over showing "the real deal" and discussing fakes, in the end we will have hopefully outed these fakes and their goods. AND saved allot of innocent, sincere collectors from wasting their bucks. I would be the first to say"been there, done that" and sadly may get snookered again some day s/f Darrell

No one but a few collectors even knew that officer version of the EGA even existed, and now I have seen no less than 4 fakes of it, 2 of which were on E-bay, that have surfaced since those photos were placed. Coincidence? Maybe. I say it is no coincidence. While someone may not do their homework and get had on a fake piece, the bottom line is we are educating the fakers as well and they are getting better.

Mike

Mike, I hear you and your point is a valid reason for concern... a good education is costly, no education is costlier

Has anyone notified the seller of this piece that it is bad and cited this thread?

By the way, for future reference, here is the description:

Up for auction today is this great looking piece I purchased at an estate auction this past summer. I was told by a collector friend of mine that I showed it to that this is a United States Marine Corp Officers dress visor cap likely dating from around the turn of the century, early 1900s era. The ornate woven wire on the brim, which not all of them had, was to represent a very high ranking officer, perhaps even a General! The cap has a very interesting and fancy braided knot on top of the crown as well as a gold chinstrap with a red strip accross the front. The "topknot" appears to have some minor fraying on some of the edges. There are domed brass buttons on either side of the chinstrap which depict an eagle clutching an anchor and stars. On the front of the cap is a very early looking EGA (eagle, globe, and anchor) badge which is two tone silver and bronze. The interior lining and sweatband are present as well as a diamond shaped maker's label which reads "Morry Luxenberg, Military Outfitters, New York and London, England." There are some dark stains to areas of the interior liner material and the sweatband is cracked and torn in one area with a small section of it missing. The stains are likely from the type of greasy men's hair dressing which was popular at the turn of the century. According to what I could find out online, at this time in history, just prior to WW1, the Marine Corp was extremely small, under 3,000 men, and officer's items dating from this era are quite scarce today. A great and hard to find piece to add to your U.S. Marine Corp or early U.S. Military collection.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Jan-29-08 at 15:41:37 PST, seller added the following information:

**Please note that I have tried to describe this piece as thoroughly as possible, but as I mentioned, this is not my area of expertise, I am not a collector and am simply passing on the opinions of a collector friend of mine on an item I purchased at a sale this summer. I very much encourage anyone who has any questions regarding the piece to e-mail me and I will be happy to do my best to fully answer them to the best of my ability, but please do so before the end of the auction as this piece is being sold "as is." Thanks and happy bidding.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Jan-31-08 at 13:04:01 PST, seller added the following information:

***To those buyers interested in this piece, I have literally recieved a flood of e-mails concerning it, everything from claims that it is a reproduction, to comments by actual Marines that it should be in a museum, even numerous offers to buy it outright! As I stated above, I am neither an expert in this field or a collector, this is simply an item I bought that I am offering for sale, nothing more, nothing less. So if you have any problems or concerns with this item, please do not bid. It has been honestly described to the best of my ability and is being sold "as Is." Once again, thanks and happy bidding!

I just took a look at the seller's past auctions and it appears that, despite the description, he collects Marine Corp items and particularly items from that period.

His past purchases include:

SAW Era VFW Medal Fob to USMC Marine Officer - Named!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=120210768308

Military Troop B 1 Cross Sword Medal & Pin Free Ship
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320208402216

Old hand stiched CLOTH MILITARY PATCH
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=300191051133

Buttons and Wool Belt from 1960's Marine Jacket Metal
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180208939699

WW1 MARINE PHOTO POSTCARD
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180186728667

30s China Marine Soochow Creek Medal Book Reference
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320191218581

USMC Marine Battle Soochow Creek Medal Ribbon Bar
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320162588660

Sad to say but the seller of this may be a member of this forum (:

I just looked at this seller's other current and past sales and it's pretty much all militaria, except for one interesting listing when he sold some fireman's hats and suggested they could be made into imitation USMC bell and crown hats:

" Up for auction today is the great lot of 8 vintage firefighter dress hats. These hats are in good condition, just dirty from long storage, and are all size 6 3/4 with the exception of one (the older one with the red liner) which is size 7. These hats are all dated "1964" and were made by Wentworth, a model called the "Headmaster." The one hat by itself (again the one with the red liner) was made by the "Russell Uniform Company, Lexington Ave, New York" and appears to be much older, likely from the 40s - 50s. These hats would be great for a vintage firefighter display or for reenactors or collectors portraying (reenacting) WW1 era U.S. Marines, as these hats are very similar to the "bell crown" hats the Marines wore at the turn of the Century, just missing the EGA, especially the rare white type. Marines of this period wore white covers on their blue dress hats when on duty in the tropics or assigned to a ship's Marine detachment and these hats are very rare today. A great and interesting group to add to your collection!! "

Click to view attachment

Not that I am aware of To late to notify ebay that it is a repro and wrongly listed, impossible to inform bidders... because of the way bidders are masked nowadays. I am just plained surprised in the way the seller has handled "the flood of emails"... why not post more pictures. Is it not the way to ensure the validity of his claims and get a higher price... or perhaps mask what he already knows, a repro.

Perhaps... the winning bidder ought to be notified right after it closes with a link to this thread to make his own judgment?

Well, I thought I recognized a couple of those pieces. It appears the seller germannpinkk is USMF member DevilDan1900.

Here is the "SAW Era VFW Medal Fob to USMC Marine Officer - Named!!!" watch fob that germannpinkk purchased:
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...c=14712&hl=

And here is the "Military Troop B 1 Cross Sword Medal & Pin Free Ship" pin that germannpinkk purchased:
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...c=14783&hl=

I've forwarded him along to this thread. Hopefully he will see it in time to end the auction.

Hadn't looked there yet Bob, but that's not good.

Hmmmmm? Well the consensus is the Hat is crap! Wish we could tell the EBay bidder! The seller would be doing the right thing if he pulled it. BTW Wasn't that Littleton W.T. Waller Fob posted here on the forum recently? Have to try to find it.
S/F.....Bobgee

Here's the link to the auction Bob posted:

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-Vintage-Firefighter-...1QQcmdZViewItem

I just posted it above... so read my above post #19. I put the links there too.

Here are some of germannpinkk's past sales of items he (as DevilDan1900) posted here:

EBAY: United Spanish American War Veterans Officer's Medal
http://cgi.ebay.com/United-Spanish-America...1QQcmdZViewItem

USMF: Spanish American War Veterans Officer's Medal, (Colonel's), MINTY!!
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=14170


------------------------------------------------------------

EBAY: Spanish American War Veterans USWV Medal MINT Numbered
http://cgi.ebay.com/Spanish-American-War-V...1QQcmdZViewItem

USMF: Spanish American War Veterans Medal, Numbered, MINTY!!!
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=14173

------------------------------------------------------------

EBAY: 1890s Army Navy Union Medal Marines USMC on Orig Card!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=190193586640

USMF: Army - Navy Union Medal on Orig. Sales Card, Metal Arts Made, MINTY!!
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=14172

--------------------------------------------------------------

EBAY: Orig Numbered U.S. Army Spanish American War Medal MINT
http://cgi.ebay.com/Orig-Numbered-U-S-Army...1QQcmdZViewItem

USMF:Numbered Spanish American War Army Service Medal, Wrap Broach, MINTY!!
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=14168

--------------------------------------------------------------

That does not look good - hope he has a reasonable explanation because we would not want anyone on this forum who knowingly scams the collector community.

Things do not look good:

On December 29, 2007, member DevilDan1900 made this post on the forum http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=13799

Just got this as a late Christmas gift from my Dad! Havn't had time to research it much yet but it's definately an Anson Mills piece, marked with their stamp and "Pat. Feb. 1, 81" on the reverse of the buckle. Might be an Officer's belt. It has loops for 45 rounds of what I initially thought was .44 cal pistol shells, but they are too large, so possibly .38s? Very dark blue/black on the belt itself with some interesting grommets for suspenders (?) and a brass hook for hanging accoutrements. The best part, though, is the story that goes with it. My Dad told me he got this over the summer at a yard sale mixed in with a large box of children's toys, for a DOLLAR! Anyone encountered a belt of this type before or know the model designation?

He posted this photo:



In an ebay auction ended JAN 29, 2007, ebay seller germannpinkk sold this item with the same photo:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=190193012482

Click to view attachment

This sort of erases any doubts about who is selling the faked Bell and Crown cap.

The more I read this one, the worse it appears to me.

The seller germannpinkk / DevilDan1900 made the amendment to his auction saying "I am neither an expert in this field or a collector, this is simply an item I bought that I am offering for sale, nothing more, nothing less." So, seller claims to not be a collector and just stumbled upon the fake visor for sale. True honest mistakes do happen and unknowning people buy something "neat" at a yard sale that turns out bad. But, I don't think that is the case here. It is a fake visor being sold by a seller that claims not to be a collector of those items, yet his entire time on the forum and his posts here indicate he is a very serious collector...

DevilDan1900 actually wrote most of the posts in the Bell Crown thread in our reference section: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=3011

I have reported this listing to ebay and asked them to investigate and referred them to this thread for proof this is a fraud. I hate to do that because such reports can backfire on the person doing the reporting, but this is just not some naive ebay'er who found something in a garage sale: this appears to be an outright fraud that could cost some poor schmuck hundreds of dollars.

Holy Moly, Batman.........errrrrr, I mean ADMIN.......Are we dealing with Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde right here in our own cave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DARN!!!!! S/F.....Robin.......errrrrr, I mean Bobgee

This is making me sick

Good detective work Bob. Please do not miss the fact that his USMC canteen and patch in his other auctions are equally as deceptive, and equally as fake. The canteen is at $300 and climbing, it is not a military canteen. This is a desperate person who has not made a great attempt at covering his tracks, he has been indentified, we will see if he has the nerve to ever post here again.

The high bidder as of yesterday is a friend of mine, and I have yet to call him. The high bidder now, I do not know who it is. I have been sent this auction by about 5 collector/buyers not on the forum asking me if it is good. If the auction is not pulled down, you might be surprised at what it ends for!

Mike

The visor listing has been pulled now... I am thinking he read this.

The seller has probably been aware of this thread since at least Thursday....

This auction has been "ended early" when I checked it about 10 min ago.

I almost bought that SAW medal from him when it was in the For Sale section a couple weeks ago

Guess I'm glad I paassed on it now.

For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing. As was said earlier, anyone can make an unknowing mistake. However, knowingly and deliberately selling absolute fakes is reprehensible. Not being an expert, I've been suckered a couple times by fakes, repros and put-togethers sold as originals (more often than I had previously thought, it seems) and I have no use for those that resort to this sort of charade for the sake of a couple bucks.

Here is the canteen pictures and auction link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Spanish-American-War-e...1QQcmdZViewItem

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

DevilDan1900 / germannpinkk has relisted the same piece for auction here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=190195852759

The listing wording was changed quite a bit and it is copied below as it appears on ebay (please make special note of the changes in the top paragraph and the addition of the last UPDATE):

Up for auction today is this great looking piece I purchased at an estate auction this past summer. I was told by a collector friend of mine that I showed it to that this hat is PURPORTEDLY MADE TO REPRESENT a United States Marine Corp Officers dress visor cap of the style dating from around the turn of the century, early 1900s era. The ornate woven wire on the brim, which not all of them had, was to represent a very high ranking officer, perhaps even a General! The cap has a very interesting and fancy braided knot on top of the crown as well as a gold chinstrap with a red strip accross the front. The "topknot" appears to have some minor fraying on some of the edges. There are domed brass buttons on either side of the chinstrap which depict an eagle clutching an anchor and stars. On the front of the cap is an EGA (eagle, globe, and anchor) badge which is two tone silver and bronze. The interior lining and sweatband are present as well as a diamond shaped maker's label which reads "Morry Luxenberg, Military Outfitters, New York and London, England." There are some dark stains to areas of the interior liner material and the sweatband is cracked and torn in one area with a small section of it missing. There are some dark colored stains on some areas of the liner. According to what I could find out online, at the turn of the Century, just prior to WW1, the Marine Corp was extremely small, under 3,000 men, and officer's items dating from this era are quite scarce today. A great piece, whatever it may be, to add to your U.S. Marine Corp or early U.S. Military collection.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Jan-29-08 at 15:41:37 PST, seller added the following information:

**Please note that I have tried to describe this piece as thoroughly as possible, but as I mentioned, this is not my area of expertise, I am not a collector and am simply passing on the opinions of a collector friend of mine on an item I purchased at a sale this summer. I very much encourage anyone who has any questions regarding the piece to e-mail me and I will be happy to do my best to fully answer them to the best of my ability, but please do so before the end of the auction as this piece is being sold "as is." Thanks and happy bidding.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Jan-31-08 at 13:04:01 PST, seller added the following information:

***To those buyers interested in this piece, I have literally recieved a flood of e-mails concerning it, everything from claims that it is a reproduction, to comments by actual Marines that it should be in a museum, even numerous offers to buy it outright! As I stated above, I am neither an expert in this field or a collector, this is simply an item I bought that I am offering for sale, nothing more, nothing less. So if you have any problems or concerns with this item, please do not bid. It has been honestly described to the best of my ability and is being sold "as Is." Once again, thanks and happy bidding!



****UPDATE - Due to some repeated, very threatening, and harrassing e-mails I have received regarding this item by members of some group, (which I have reported to ebay) I have decided to "play it safe" and re-list this hat as some sort of reproduction / prop piece. As the original use aparently is unknown, especially to me, I will let the buyers decide. I have received notes that this is a stunning, museum qualtiy piece, a Hollywood movie prop, a fireman's hat, an Army hat, a rare example, as well as multiple offers to buy it outright, as I mentioned, so apparently your guess is as good as mine. The information presented in the earlier listing was simply me repeating the opinion of a collector friend of mine whom I buy and sell items for and who examined the hat briefly in passing. My apologies to all the bidders and watchers who were affected by this re-listing. Thanks.

Wow, I just can't believe he is scamming this badly! He is clearly a collector and knows what he has. I wish he would come here and explain himself...

Well, I'm afraid to say it fellow community members, but this scam by germannpinkk / DevilDan1900 / Matt Boire / Matthew Boire doesn't get any better...

The following article is from the Museum Security Network Mailing list. You can find the article here and I will reproduce it here as well in case for one reason or another the link does not work
http://msn-list.te.verweg.com/2007-September/008017.html

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


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the follow up following his plea on felony charges:
http://msn-list.te.verweg.com/2007-October/008445.html

Published October 26, 2007 02:02 pm -

Matthew Boire pleads guilty to reduced charges in thefts from Clinton County
Historical Association.

Boire admits to stealing museum pieces


By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
Staff Writer


PLATTSBURGH - After admitting to taking items from the Clinton County
Historical Association, Matthew Boire said his actions have lifetime
consequences and excised him from the museum.

"I realize now that, regardless of my intentions, what a grave and
destructive mistake I have made," the former Historical Association board
member said Friday morning after pleading guilty to reduced charges.

When Plattsburgh City Judge Penelope Clute asked if he understood how deeply
his actions affected the association and its members, Boire said, "I'm very
apologetic for what I've done and for any embarrassment publicly that I have
caused the organization."


Standing beside his attorney, Stephen Johnston, Boire said he took full
responsibility for his actions. He pleaded guilty to petit larceny and
fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property in satisfaction of the
three felony and two misdemeanor charges he was originally facing.

The 25-year-old Plattsburgh native was first arrested in early August after
former board member Phil Gordon spotted the museum's 1863 bejewel-handled
sword and scabbard posted for sale on eBay.

After Gordon contacted the museum, Historical Association President Roger
Harwood filed a complaint with Plattsburgh City Police, and Boire was
arrested on a felony charge of third-degree criminal possession of stolen
property.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Boire's Oak Street residence and
located two ceremonial swords and scabbards, including the one posted
online; an antique rifle; and a Civil War-era American flag

In a statement to police, Boire said he took the items from the museum
intending to sell them and donate the proceeds to the association.

During his brief court appearance, Boire admitted that he did not have
permission to sell the items, including the 1800s officer's saber, which he
had already sold on eBay.

"I didn't give it (the money) to them," Boire quietly told the judge, who
acknowledged that Boire had already paid nearly $1,000 in restitution to the
Pennsylvania man who purchased the sword.

In late August, Boire was arrested for the online sale and for making a
false statement to authorities by saying the recovered items were the only
collections he took from the Ohio Avenue museum, though the subsequent
search uncovered the other items.

As the investigation was continuing, museum officials inventoried their
collections and realized a Harpers' Ferry pistol and Masonic sword also
appeared to be missing, and though neither resulted in criminal charges,
Boire recently returned the 1808 pistol.

It was unclear whether the Masonic sword is still missing.

"The items that he admitted to removing from us, stealing from us, have been
returned," Harwood said Friday.

"The Clinton County Historical Association has worked to the very best of
our ability to determine what items are missing, and the City Police
Department, I believe, has worked to their best ability, with other
agencies, to recover the stolen items."
Harwood said the organization has remained united through the last few
months, though the thefts caused members an enormous amount of tracking
work.

"We just need to move on from this," he said.

Boire is scheduled to return to court for sentencing Dec. 21. Under the
terms of the negotiated plea, he is expected to get three years probation,
community service and a $1,000 fine.


E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg at pressrepublican.com

http://www.pressrepublican.com/

------------------------------

These articles can also be found here at the Press Republican:
http://www.pressrepublican.com/0503_museum..._241214523.html
http://www.pressrepublican.com/breakingnew..._014113830.html

Click to view attachment

Other places also reproducted the articles so just search on Google under "Matthew Boire."

The canteen is not on E-bay now ?He is pulling all his items someone should call the police and see what else is missing from the museum

Here are some other items from him and where he works ......


(FORUM EDITOR'S NOTE: I appreciate your intent, but we have learned that there are two people in that area with this exact same name and one of them is a highly regarded civic and business leader so we have to be sure we don't confuse them.)

This is just proof that we have to watch who we let into our collections. It is really sad but the way it is, plain out.

Yes he is hustling to cover his tracks but it's too late.

threats from some members of a group he's reported to eBay? How is reporting an entire community to eBay going to do anything? eBay makes a ton of money from its share of our purchases alone

ADMIN -

What can I say. I just read the Announcement Board message and DD1900's banishment from our forum. I commend you on your excellent bit of detective work...and decision to rid us of this unbelievable form of lowlife.

It just goes to show that some of the members fears and paranoia, mine included, about the fakers lurking here and learning how to deceive completely were well founded.

Excellent work!!

s/f, Gary

Actually what busted him is that he did a half-baked job of faking it - guess we did not teach him well.

I just found this recent post of his on the forum:


I'm not that afraid of theft. I live in the middle of nowhere, in a middle of nowhere part of my state. My collection is housed in the inner recesses of my house, is only shown to my close personal friends, and on top of all that, I keep my M1917 Winchester 97 12 gauge trench gun two feet from my bed cool.gif By all means, someone break in, . . . I double dog dare ya.

All I can say is, WOW! Like I said, he is desperate. He was probably trying to pay legal fees with his last bid of fraud. I never wanted to be the guy to burst his bubble about his "Dan Daly" cap, he was so proud of that fake thing. Anyone remember his claims about that cap?

Is ADMIN going to start doing yahoo searches on everyone's name? Bob, if you find anything on me, I swear there must be someone else by the same name who collects militaria and who is a Marine! It wasn't me.

Mike