Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-01
NEW YORK, Nov. "a.
The Attempt to Steal President LinOoln's
Bod


1t will be remembered that on the 9Th of
November the report was telegraphed
throughout the country that on the previous
evening an attempt had been made to steal
the remains of President Lincoln from the
tomb at Springfield, Ill.,, and that the rob-
bers, being alarmed by the explosion of a
pistol, escaped The crime seemed too hor-
rible for belief, and the majority Of those
who read the dispatch were 10th to believe
the statements made. All doubt, however,
has now vanished, and the perpetrators of
the crime are in custody. Their names are
Terence Mullen, alias Durnan, Chicago
saloon-keeper, and Jack Hughes, notorious
counterfeter. They were arrested in Null
lens saloon on the night of the 18th, sent to
Springfield and lodged in Jail. An employe
of the United States Secret Service, named
Swigle, was trusted confederate Of the two
villains, and to him the country is indebted
for the Illustration of the plot.
Swigle was taken into the service at Chi
cago a couple of months since by U. S. De-
tective Tyrrell, and soon proved his useful
ness by causing the arrest Of Hughes for
passing counterfeit money. On being ar
raigned before the U. s. Commissioner,
Hughes was released on giving bail for his
Appearance. Swigle did not appear in the
transaction. He and Hughes were well ac-
quainted, even friendly, and their friendship
ripened into intimacy. Hughes introduced
Mullen to Swigle, and one day, they becom-
ing convinced that Swigle was what he
represented himself to be-a horse-thief,
burglar, etc.-asked him how he would like
to engage in scheme to steal the remains
of person in cemetery in Wisconsin, and
hold them for ransom, They represented
that the family of the deceased and their
friends were immensely wealthy, and would
pay thousands of dollars to have it returned.
Swigle agreed to take it into consideration
They wanted him to find out what the
/ a.. 4 l.. Al,a, fnsl a
were caught. Swigle went away for awhile
and on his return informed them that the
penalty in Wisconsin would be 80 very
severe that the reward they hoped for would
be too small to pay for the risk that must be
run They then told him they had only
been trying to find out if he would stand by
them in a dangerous piece of work. Being
satisfied, they unfolded to him their scheme
to rob the grave of Lincoln. They said they
wanted to steal the remains from the sar,
| cophagus, and bury them in some secure and
lonely place, to be revealed only upon pay
| ment Of a large sum of money. They be
lieved they could realize $780, 900 by it, and
also procure the release of Ben Boyd, the
most noted counterfeiter in the West, nov
in the Illinois Penitentiary. Swigle approved
! the scheme, but asked for timetO consult his
| lawyer and find out what the penalty would
| be for such an offense In Illinois,
He at once went to the Office of his law
yer, Mr.. Deane, and to him and Detective
! Tyrrell revealed the plot. They called il
Robert Lincoln, President Lincoln's son
and told him the story. After consultation
it was decided to allow the men to go ahead
| and arrest them in the act. Swigle returned
and told Mullen and Hughes that he be
lieved the plan feasible and his lawyer hac
assured him that the penalty was light
| Then ii was determined to carry out the
| plan at as early date as possible. A ICON
| tractor" was taken into their confidence ant
he made a trip to Springfield, examined the
| tomb and surroundings and reported. The
night of Nov Z was selected, as it wat
thought the public Interest would he SO alb
sorbed in the elecdon that they would bC
less liable to be ir terfered with.
On the 9th Mr.. Lincoln communicated Tho
plot to Elmer Washnurn, ex-Chief of the
| Secret Service, and requested him to takt
hold of the affair with Detective Tyrrell
| and Mr.. Washburn consented. That after
| noon Swigle reported to TyTrell that every
thing was in readiness. Swigle had in the
meantime introduced a friend of his, on,
| Brown, who was TO procure team and be II
readiness at the cemetery to take the party
with the coffin TO the place where they would
bury the easket. Half of foreign newspa
| per, cut diagonally, was TO be left in the
/ vault after the remains were stolen, and the
other half was to be left in Mullen's saloon
At the proper time the contractor" was t.
show it as evidence that he was in communi
cation with the parties who did the job
Brown and Swigle were to 60 to Canada i'm
mediately after the casket was buried, Mul
len was TO return TO Chicago, and HugheI
was to go to Canada to see Swigle and return
with some one authorized to treat for thu
recovery of the remains.
On the evening of the 9th Hughes, Muller
and Swigle left Chicago for Springfield
Brown passed through their car to assur
them that he was aboard and left the traiI
at the first station. Detective Tyrrell AMI
two companions were on the same train
Washburn followed in the morning. Whel
the party arrived at Springfield they got oi
and separated, Swigle saying that Brown wa
In the sleeping-car and he would call him
During the day Mullen purchased som
necessary tools and sent Swigel and Hughe