In 1865, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, his final resting place was established in a tomb in Springfield, Illinois.
For over a decade, Lincoln lay peacefully at Oak Ridge Cemetery until a chilling incident unfolded in 1876.
On the night of November 7, 1876, a group of thieves made a brazen attempt to pilfer Lincoln’s body, as disclosed by the U.S. Secret Service.
The audacious act was cut short when a sudden gunshot startled the intruders within the tomb, prompting them to flee and evade capture.
Shortly after the thwarted theft, the Chicago Daily News released an update shedding light on the apprehension of Jack Hughes and Torrence Mullen.
These individuals, known for their notorious backgrounds, were nabbed for their involvement in the failed robbery aimed at Abraham Lincoln’s tomb.
As per reports, Hughes, already facing charges related to counterfeiting alongside the infamous Boyd, was out on bail at the time of the incident.
Mullen, on the other hand, was identified as a seasoned Chicago-based criminal involved in theft and counterfeiting activities.
It was revealed that the scheme to abscond with Lincoln’s remains was orchestrated to secure the release of Boyd, a counterfeiter held captive, in exchange for a hefty ransom.
Historians have since pieced together a more detailed account of the events leading up to the botched theft.
Earlier in the year, Benjamin Boyd, a counterfeiter linked to crime figure James “Big Jim” Kennally, was apprehended by law enforcement in Chicago.
Feeling the loss of one of his key accomplices, Kennally coerced Hughes and Mullen into orchestrating the audacious plan of snatching Lincoln’s body to leverage Boyd’s freedom and a substantial sum of money.
Lacking expertise in grave robbing, Hughes and Mullen sought assistance from Lewis Swegles, who happened to be an informant for the Secret Service.
Acting swiftly on the tip provided by Swegles, authorities, including Robert T. Lincoln, son of the late president, collaborated with local law enforcement to devise a strategy to foil the heist.
On the fateful night of the burglary attempt, law enforcement officials encircled the tomb, patiently awaiting the arrival of Swegles and the criminals.
Approximately two hours later, the counterfeiters appeared, attempting to disinter Lincoln’s body.
A single gunshot reverberated through the night as a detective fired a warning shot, causing the thieves to flee and momentarily confusing the officers present.
After a relentless pursuit spanning ten days, the culprits were eventually captured in Chicago.
Concerned about future threats to Lincoln’s remains, John Carroll Power, the tomb’s custodian, took proactive measures by reburial in an inconspicuous location within the tomb’s basement, safeguarding it from potential grave robbers.
In 1901, with Robert T. Lincoln’s authorization, Lincoln’s body was exhumed and reinterred in a secure steel cage encased in a vault ten feet deep and shielded with concrete.
Today, Lincoln’s remains find sanctuary in this fortified resting place, ensuring their eternal protection.
