History of an Attempt to Steal the Body of Abraham Lincoln by John
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library E457.52 .P88 3 1924 032 762 910 olin Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032762910 . THE LINCOLN GUARD OF HONOR WoV^^xxXx^xwiwx, LiWVrMWHi,...- i^^^m T O R Y BRAHAM LlNCniM,, liJiStDENT Of THE USITKI) OTATES tji AMEllJCii m LINCOLN GUARD OF HONOR. ,WiTH Eight yf^/\R'^ I.imottj T,!-?'ofj\' Skkvices. EDITED HY JOHN CARROLL POWR"' Custodian ow tbe HISTORY OF AN ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE BODY OP Abraham Lincoln (LATE PBESLDEKT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMEKICA) INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE LINCOLN GUARD OF HONOR, With Eight Years Lincoln Memorial Services. EDITED BY JOHN CARROLL POWER, Custodian of the National Lincoln Monument and Secbetaky of The Lincoln Guaed of Honob. SPRINGFIELD, ILL.: The H, W. Rokkek Feinting and Fublishing House. 1890. Entered according to Act of Congress, April 19, 1887, By JOHN CAEBOLL POWEE. In the Office of the Libra; ian of Congress, at Washington. INTRODUCTORY. This volume is a record, in the plainest language possible^ of the plottings prior to, and of the attempt to steal, the body of Abraham Lincoln, in order to make merchandise of it. Man, in the order of creation, is justly regarded as the' master-piece. He is endowed with attributes that bring him nearer the throne of Deity than any other created being in the physical Morld. He also has within him a germ of evil, which, if not kept under subjection by the good and the true, drags him down to unfathomable depths of infamy. There could not be a more forcible manifestation of the truth of the latter than the undisputed fact, that there are always beings in human form who, for the sake of obtaining money, would first unlawfully gain possession of the dead body of one of lhe greatest benefactors of the huma.n family, and then make use of the advantage thus gained to extort wealth from those who are in sympathy with hi-i life and public ser- vices. That this is all true, the reader will be convinced by a perusal of the succeeding pages of this history. The Memorial Services conducted by The Lincoln Guard of Honor, were, primarily, to keep the members of our own organization in line, ready for action against any threatened demonstration to once more desecrate the resting place of the Martyr, terminating in the burial of his body beyond reach, in one night, of all ghouls and vandals combined. Then it was all-important that we should present a tangible reason to the public for the existence of such a society, which we could only do by holding these services. To have explained to too many friends, might, by the indiscretion of some,, have had the same effect as treason to our trust. These ser- vices will furnish a variety of expression that will be pleasing to all lovers of their country and of human freedom—especially to all patriotic Americans. J. C. P. Memoiual Hall, National Lincoln Monument, Springfield, Illinois, October, 1889. ILLUSTRATIONS. The Lincoln Guard of Honor Frontispiece. Map of Monument Grounds 48 Ground Plan of Monument 50 National Lincoln Monument—South View 52 National Lincoln Monument—North View 54 Interior of Catacomb, as Thieves left it 56 Interior of Catacon b, restored 58 Profile of Lincoln, and small out of Monument ; 110 The Lincoln Guard of Honor Badge Ill The Lincoln Guard of Honor Seal 168 German Turners' Tablet—Facing 223 Monument to Thomas Lincoln 239 Power Coat of Arms 269 Portrait of J. C. Power—Facing 271 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE DIVISION FIRST 7..... 9-17 Kespeot for Eesting Places of the Dead—Desecration of the Tomb of Rev. George Whitf^fleld—Bone from one of his arms sent to England—The Tomb of George Washington invaded— First Plot to Steal the Body of Lincoln laid by a Springfield Lawyer—Second Plot by a Counterfeiter in St. Louis—Counterfeiters and Thieves to put it into execution — Scheme well laid, but Whisky defeats it—The principal Conspirator changes his base. DIVISION SECOND 18-27 Plots and Counterplots Discovered by a former Government oflfloer— Cor- respondence with, and Statements by, parties who were cognizant of parts of the Plots—Widely separated with the flight of time — Ignorance and Whisky the general cause of defeat in such schemes. DIVISION THIRD 27-38 Thieves, Counterfeiters and Counterfeit Engravers — Jack Hughes—Lewis C. Swegles—P. D. Tyrell, of the United States Secret Service—The Hub— Terrence Mullens—First intimation to the oifloers of a Plot to Steal Lin- coln's body to secure the release of Ben Boyd—Ben Boyd and Nelson Driggs the most expert Counterfeit engi avers in the United States—Their Arrest at the same hour, though 200 miles apart—Sketch of Boyd, with his aliases—His work as a Counterfeiter—Account of his Capture—Driggs' Solid Wealth—Trial, Conviction and Sentence of Boyd—Talents necessary to be an expert Counterfeit ongiaver. DIVISION FOURTH 38-67 Plo'ting in Chicago to Steal the Body of Lincoln-DiFcovered in Hunting for Counterfeiters—Thieves, like flsh, can only be caught with the right bail—Watchmen placed at the Lincoln Monument— Brief sketch of the U. S. Secret Service—Assumes immense proportions in consequence of the Slaveholders' Rebellion—Large sums of money appropriated by Con- gress—Chiefs of the Secret Service—Counterfeit and Stolen Money recov- ered—Plates for Treasury notes. National Banknotes, fractional currency — VI TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE and steel dies for coin, recovered— Time spent by P. D. Tyrrell in locat- ing fioyd and Driggs preparatory to capturing them — Great value of the United States Secret Service—Thieves expected to makeS200.000 by steal- ing the body of Lincoln — Eeasons for making the Attempt on the night .at:er Presidential election day — Tyrrell moralizing on the Perils of the Expedition to Springfield—Visits the Monument and lays his Plans—One of the Conspirators visits the Monument—Officers concealed in Memorial JHal I—Disposal of the Forces—Waiting for the Thieves— Their Arrival- Officers shoot at each other by mistake— Narrow Escape from Death by both parties—Thieves Foile I, but make their Escape — Captured in Chi- cago and brought to Springfield for Trial— Letter from Hon. Leonard Swett—No law in Illinois at that time making it a penitentiary offense to steal a dead body—Such a law enacted. DIVISION FIFTH 67-74 Transcript from the Eeoords of the Court, of the Trial and Conviction of the Thieves. DIVISION SIXTH 75-105 Precautions against further Attempts at Bobbery—Temporary Vault—Trans- ferring and Identifying the Bemains — The Eemains of Tliomas (Tad) Lincoln the first in the Monument — The body of President Lincoln and two other childi en next—The Catacomb and Sarcophagus—Fears that the bo;y would be yet taken away — Its Bemoval for Safety — Eff-irts of the Custodian to secretly bury it— The place too wet— Stealing the body of A. T. Stewart renews anxiety for the safety of Lincoln's remains—The Custodian instructed to oa'.l to his aid trustworthy men, and Secretly bury the' body — A warning of Danger to the Custodian— The Secret Burial is accomplished—Eecords kept by G. S. Dana—The Impoitauce of a Secret Organization— Death of Mrs. Lincoln — Her body secretly Be- moved to the side of her husband—Letter from Eobert T. Lincoln-Work- men running over the bodies of President and Mrs. Lincoln-An Unlig- nified Position—Movement by Hon. Lincoln Dubois to have the bodies so bulled that the .secrecy could be removed— Members of the Guard of Honor turn the bodies over to the Monument Association-Identified Buried—Inside a Solid Mass of Stone—Custodian's Description to Visitors. DIVISION SEVENTH 106-123 Organization of The Lincoln Guard of Honor—First Election of Officers— Eirst Memorial Service—Progi amme—Badge—Two Versions of Lincoln's Tarewell Address—His Second Inaugural Address — Address by Eev. W. B. Alfleck— Governor Cullom — Lincoln's Favorite Poem—Letter from Lieut.- Governor Shuman—The Guard of Honor and Grand Army of the Eepublie unite in the Services of Decoration Day—Nine wi eaths of Ever- greens and nine BouQuets on the Saroopagus—Not to observe the Anni- versary of Lincoln's birth. TABLE OF CONTENTS. VII PAGE DIVISION EIGHTH 1^1-142 Sooond Annual Meeting and Election of Officers — Second Memorial Ser- vices—Oration by Eev. Julian M. Sturtevant, D. D —Singing of "America" —Two Versions of Lincoln's Gettysburg Speech—Ad Iress by Gen. H. H. Thomas— Address by C. L. Conkling — By Key. W. B. AfB ek — Singing, Prayer and Benediction-DeoorationDay at the Monument—Ladies cover the Sarcophagus with flowers— The Lincoln Guard of Honor at thfe pho- tograph gallery. DIVISION NINTH I13-16G Certllicate of Honorary Membership— Seal — Third Annual Meeting the Election of Officers — First Contribution for Cer iflcrte — Cii-cular to the People—Guard of Honor approved by the Monument Association—Third Memorial Service- Prayei—Singing—Address by Gov. Cullom—Address and Reading by J. C.Powei—Lincoln's Temperance Address—Address by Hon. James A. Connoly — Reading by Mrs. E S. Johnson — Death and Funeral of Mrs. Lincoln—Secret removal of her body. DIVISION TENTH lCT-183 Fourth Annual Meeting and Election of Officers—Sales of Certificates—Copy of Certificate—Seal—Note for $200 paid—Tieasurer McNeill resigns—Fourth Memorial Service—Prayer—Battle Hymn of the Eepublie—Greetings with San Francisco—Address by Gen.