Stealing Abraham Lincoln’s Body
A. Lincoln attends Ford’s theater on April 14th : OUR AMERICAN
COUSIN
B. Shot by John Wilkes Booth, who jumps from balcony, “Sic Semper
Tyranus” Death to Tyrants
C. Doctor in audience removes clot to wound
D. Lincoln is moved across the street to the Peterson’s house. Can not fit
on bed and is laid diagonally. Lingers 9 hours. Everyone is
surrounding him.
E. Dies April 15th (7:2 am) and is brought to second floor of White
House for autopsy. His brain is weighed to see if it is larger than
most. Fragment of bullet falls out.
F. Embalmed
1. 1840- embalming started
2. Many embalmers at Civil War sites. Can pre pay.
3. Willie Lincoln dies of typhoid fever and is embalmed by Henry
Katrell ( he also embalms Lincoln)
a. Blood removed from ceratoid artery and solution inserted which made
Lincoln shine like marble.
G. April 18th- 1st public viewing in East Room of White House. An
elaborate coffin (black broadcloth with silver decoration)
H. 25,000 people filed pass.
I. On the way to Capitol, cannons, bells, and all bands played different
dirges. The all black 22nd regiment led parade.
J. Politicians wanted Lincoln to be buried in Capitol. Mary Lincoln
insisted it was to be Oakfield Cemetery in Springfield Illinois.
K. The new Presidential train car, which Lincoln was to inspect on April
15th, was refitted to take his coffin through 12 cities before arriving in
IL. (Harrisburg. NYC, Philadelphia, Trenton, Jersey City, Albany,
Cleveland, Cincinnati etc.) Approximately 7 million people saw
him. Mary stayed in Washington DC with son, Tad.
L. Stanton insisted that no photograph would be taken of Lincoln.
However, on April 24, Jeremiah Gurney, a photographer in NY took
photo. The plates were destroyed. But, in 1952, in a library at
Springfield, a young boy found a photo of Lincoln in the coffin.
M. Also, in NYC’s procession through the street to City Hall, a
photograph was taken. In the photo was the house of the Roosevelt’s
and one can see Teddy Roosevelt and his brother Elliot, peering
through the window.
N. Trip took 1700 miles and 20 days. Expected to arrive in Illinois on
May 6th, but the daily touch ups could not delay the deterioration.
Burial was moved up to the 4th. Arrived in Springfield on 3rd. Last
viewing was at State Capital. Procession was 2 miles. Lincoln was
put in vault in hill
O. December 1865- temporary family tomb
P. September 1874- tomb finished and Lincoln did not fit. So he was
moved to a smaller lead coffin.
Q. A plot was hatched in 1876, by Chicago counterfeiters to ransom
Lincoln’s body. They wanted an engraver, Ben Boyd, released from
jail and demanded 200,000 dollars.
1. Each of the 10,000 US Banks issued currency ($3.00, $4.00, $13.00
denominations). It was a delight to the Counterfeiters. However, in
1863, Lincoln created the 1st National Currency. The Secret Service
was created to protect the National currency. Patrick Tyro was put in
charge of unit.
2. Big Jim Cronnel, head of a counterfeiter unit, came up with the plan
after his best engraver was jailed.
3. Four men were to take body to Indiana sand dunes until ransom was
paid, The trip would take 10 days
4. Steal body on Election Day November 7th 1876: Hayes vs. Tilden
87% male population voted
5. After canvassing tomb and speaking to John Powers, cemetery
custodian, at 9 pm they cut through padlock to get to white
sarcophagus.
a. Many body snatchings occurred. It was not illegal maybe a
misdemeanor if belongings were taken, Sold to medical schools
6. Lifted lid and cut sarcophagus. Grabbed mahogany/cherry coffin,
lined in lead (500 pounds).
7. Lewis Schwagiel, who was the 4th person, was also a paid informer of
the Secret Service leaves to get cart. He alerts the secret service
(Patrick Tyro, John Powers, and John Hayes etc. who were waiting in
front of mausoleum. John Hayes’s gun discharges and counterfeiters
run,
R. Meanwhile, custodian John Power hid the damaged coffin in the
catacombs, Covered with old boards (could not bury due to high water
table) Remained there for 2 years. Tourists would be coming.
S. Hughes and Mullen arrested in Chicago and in their trial in
spring 1877, they were convicted of conspiracy of theft and
damages $75.00 damages to coffin, Received 1 year sentence.
As a result of the public outrage, grave robbing received
tougher penalties.
T. 1878- LINCOLN GUARD OF HONOR was created to protect
Lincoln They moved Lincoln to another part of the basement
and buried him. They told Robert Lincoln. Remained in
basement for 11 years,
U. Mary only visited once
V. July 1882- Mary dies at age 63. She is buried next to Abe.
W. The tomb is built on blue clay and now has to be rebuilt.
X. 1887- vault was created and the family was moved, Coffin was
opened to make sure it was him
Y. Between 1865-1901 moved 10 times.
Z. 1900- Cement vault built on lawn to temporarily house family.
Hired night watchman.
AA.
September 26, 1901- monument rebuilt and entire family
moved: Eddie, Willie, Tad, Mary, Abraham and one grandchild,
Jack, a teen, who died of blood poisoning. Buried in concrete.
Excavation crew opened coffin. Place on saw horses. :Pungent
smell, face of Lincoln bronze colored( due to gunshot wound,
bruised tissue., wore white kid gloves showing signs of
deterioration, remnants of flag ( red threads), dark hair, mole
BB.
400,000 people visit annually to see his rose marble
sarcophagus (10 ft below in cement) 1809-1865