Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-10-07


afternoon that Hughes and Swegles
appeared. paid the usual fee and en-
tered false names in the visitors reg
lister. Hughes asked many questions,
which were fully and truthfully an
swerod. Mullen. as we found later.
had remained in the city to collect
such tools as he thought necessary
for forcing open the tomb and marble
ssroophagus. AZ five O'Clock Detec-
tive Hay was dispatched TO the Gene
terry 20 inform Custodian Power that
the other officers were coming. and
two hours later. after a conference in
the hotel where the work Of each man
had been assigned 70 him. we reached
the monument
The day had been dark. and az six
o'clock all daylight had faded from
the cemetery. Inside Memorial hall
the darkness was intense. BY those
OF my readers who have seen the
burial place OF Abraham Lincoln It
Will be remembered that Memorial
hall is at the south end OF the monu-
mont structure and the catacomb CON
tanning the body at the north end. 175
feet away. l had selected Memorial
hall as the best hiding place for our
men, Swegles having promised TO in
fom us in our hiding place when the
right moment was at hand for us 10
appear at the door Of the catacomb
and thereby entrap the ghouls at their
work. SweEles was TO work with
Hughes and Mullen until the sarco-
phagus was opened and the casket
ready to be loaded into the wagon.
Then he was to go for the conveyance,
which was supposed TO be hidden near
by. While on this mission he was to
make his way around the base Of the
bill, come to the door Of Memorial
hall and give the signal that the time
for action had come That there
night be no mistake in the darkness
n countersign. the word Wash" had
been agreed upon.
We had been concealed in Memorial
hall in almost breathless quiet for
about two hours. when suddenly the
fare Of a bulls-eye lantern was shot
through the bars Of the iron door
leading into the hall. and we know
that the conspiracy was rapidly being
put into actual execution. From their
hurried examination OF the hall by
the aid OF the lantern the ghouls evil
IDENTIFY satisfied themselves that no one
was inside. Al any rate. they depart
ed IN a moment and made around the
base OF the monument TO the north
end, where Jay the body they were
running such desperate risks 10 Sc.
cure. We knew that the next few
minutes would be frsuEht with events
that might mean death 20 any Of US
l nov had more reason than ever be
fore 20 believe in the truthfuluess OF
Swegles and that he would keep his
promise 10 signal US when the right
time arrived. so we waited for this
signal. and at last Il came.
II this story were a fancy Of my
brain instead OF n narrative OF facts
the current OF II would here ta..e p sud
den turn from the lines I am com
PEELED &c pen. For more than g. year
] had plotted to outwit the shrewd and
desperate crimincls with whom We
were dealing and. up TO this point,
had been succcssfGl As soon as
Swegles had given the signal We
moved cautiously out OF Memorial
hall qgd I ordered the others to fol
low me
At tho giving Of this order every
man drew Lis revolver. 20 be prepared
tor the night that We all believed in
evitable. In doing so Detective Hay.
~ ,4c ..4eD4,-a IoIlc. alli'eL, ally
discharged a percussion cap in the old
style Colts revolver he carried As
the defamation was not loud I paid
little attention to 60. and ran swiftly
around TO the door OF the catacOmb.
with the others behind me The staple
containing the lock OF the iron door
had been sawed ard filed OF, and the
door stood a few inches ajar.
! called on whomsoever was within
to surrender. There was no response.
! called again and then listened. Not
even the sound OF breathing was
audible. ! then struck a match. The
tools used by the ghouls lay scattered
over the moor and the sarcophagus
was battered 20 pieces in such a way
as 20 allow the casket 10 be moved
lengthwise toward the door. The van
Gals had fed
There is but one word that ade-
quately describes the sensation that