The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-29
CAIRO ILLINOIS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 90 1876
The 8a!letin.
LixcoLH's TOMB.


Hon. Leonard SWEET, who wss one q
the tirst person's consulted on tie dlscOv.
cry vi The piot to svb tie tomb vi Ara
hxni Lincoln vi his remains, couimuui-
Gates " the Chicago press lhe tojlvw ing
histVfy vi the altar:
yHivAav. Nov. 22.-As intimations
have UeeiI'inade la Tie daily papers that
the arrest Vi The parties char cd with DIES
ecratipx the tomb VI Abraham Liucoin
was fraudulent, aud Induced by Eimer
Wxshburii, IN ] as the fScts Ut his conuec.
tion with the case are known " me, aud
based upon INV request. / cOfisluer ii.my
duty, iu justice ~ him. and without he
knowledge or solicitation, to state what
know Ia reference to the facts Involved.
One day during the Sullivan trial u
lawyer came to Inc manitrsting great
eariIestness, and said client Of his had
revealed to him the fact that plan was
Oh fuOt TO steal the body Of Abraham
Lincoln. do not consider 1t proper to
state anything more In reference TO this
plan or its objects than to say il had no
connection with politics, but was simply
crime, and To accomplish criminal and
mrrcenary ends.
RoLert Lincoln, and, upon consultation
=
Springfield, who had been prominently
counected with the Lincoln Monument
Asso IatiOn, stating simply what had
heard. and expressed no opinion upon
the facts, but suggested that perhaps
the slightest intiinatiOn OF danger ought
~ induce proper safeguards. Il the body
was Ia y position where IL could possibly
be exposed to such a scheme. Tho next
day brought 10 my knowledge the fact
that any public guard or open precau.
ton would simply postone the attempt.
and therefore, upon the belief that the
officers themselves would catch the ,ar.
ties in the act, 1t wac thought best to let
them do ".
/ therefore wrote to Mr.. Stuart again.
telling him that the plan had been ma.
,ured TO catch the perpetrators In the
act. but while this was promised and IN
Jeference TO II our precautions should be
secret, still they should be so effectual
AS 10 leave no danger of the SUCCESS Of
the thieves. Some ten days then elapsed,
the details Of which purposeiy' omit,
but the result was the parties got ready
and selected election night because pub
lie attention would then be absorbed.
Up to this time all had done in the
matter was at the rquest OF Robert Lin
coin, 10 induce the pre- cautions at Spring.
Held, above stated. He also asked me, Ne
he did not wish to act in the matter. to do
anylhiny ] might consider prudene and
proper. He me 10 the the day Of the
nigh the parties were going, and said he
be done, and the result, and suggested
4, Elmer Washhnrn was in town, and
placed full reliance both in his discretion
AMI integrity. that we should consult
.s.. sr"r al. - Eve ,;...-.'i..-
That afternoon Mr.. Washburn was con-
suited b. Rober.. but WAS no, able TO
be present. and that night. aftrr this con-
sulta,ion Mr.. Wsshburn informed ne
that the parties had gone to Springfi, Ii
on the evening train. This WAS the first
information had that the parties were
going 1T q d. finite time or that they had
gone. II had known certainly tina. they
we're gong. l should have procured
washburn to follow them at once, but
then II was too late.
I begged Washburn 10 60 down the
next morning, but he expressed reluc-
lance. AZ he had no authority aud it mig
seem like interfering. l Told him WAS
authorized by Robert to act. aud urged
nun in every way could 20 TO Springfield
Oh the morning train. He tinally prom
is.-d that, after voting at the Twenty.
se ,ond stree: station, he would take the
Chicago and Alt0n train II lie could, and
il h. tailed he would report to me. and
said would get a special engine tor him.
After leaving him became fearful that
n thinking the matter over his disihcli-
nation 10 interfere might finally prevail,
and went to the Twenty.second STREET
station q few minutes after the polls
opened and waited until 0, for the pur-
DOS. oi placing in his hands 4 written RI
quest on brhalf OF Robert and myself for
nun to take charge Of the matter Ia con-
nectiOn with Mr. ryrrell.
Missing him there. Ms he. In fact, voted
n, ar tile Palmer House. went 10 Rob-
TITS house. and, after besominz satisfied
hat he had gone on the 8 o'clock train,
We teleYraphed him at Bloomington. en-
rouir. to take cha ge Of the matter. and
We would back him In whatever he might
do. The object OF this was that he might
feel authorized to act as far "a we could
authorize him.
That night Washburn telegraphed me
that the parties had escal ed, but al
though temporarily bafh 81. he and Mr..
Tyrrell worked with skill and caution.
aud finally caught the men.
Nobody In connection with this matter
affix any conditions to their work, or In
any way secure any compensation. The
only money that has been paid out Ia \
matter OF two dOllars per day to some
parties connected with the case. who are
poor. and could not give their time with
out compensation.
The conduct OF the officers has been
such IA would NEE, with the approval ct
III. provided they knew the facts In
vOlved. The arrest having been made.
I employed Hon. Charles II. tteed to 60
to Springfield TO take charge Of the pros
ecuiion. I did this because I thought
my feelings In the matter might mis-
guide me, and knew him to be one OF
the best prosecutors In the country.
When all the tacts arc known, the
gentlemen l have named will he entitled
"a. and will doubtless receive the thanks
nj all who loved MIR Lincoln, and who
wish that his ashes may rest In 81 ACE.
Yours truly, LEONARD SWEET.