Year: 1876

to the cemetery to take q look at the tomb.
Swigel accounted for Browns absence by
saying that he had sent him into the country
to procure team. In the evening Swgle
went to Washburn and Tyrrell and informed
them that they would 20 out about halfpast
eight O'Clock. He then went back to Mullen
and Hughes and told them Brown had re-
turned with O team, which he would have
ready at the cemetery. Soon after the party
started.


Washburn, Tyrrell, and their assistants went
to the cemetery in carriage and the custo-
dian of the monument admitted them TO Me-
mortal Hall, inside the monument This
hall is in the south side of the building and
the catacomb is in the north side. The cata-
comb has a veetlbule, In which stands the
sarcophagus OF marble, in which Ia the body
of the President, inclosed In lead casket
surrounded by cedar case. Between Me-
mortal Hall and the catacOmb are the walls
of brick which support the main structure,
and the foundation of the shaft The dis
tance between the two doors is about 100
feet. One of the detectives was posted in
the rear of Memorial Hall to listen for any
noise in the tomb.


At nine o'clock Swigle came to the door of
the hall, pulled the slide of a "bulPs-eye"
and, looking into the room, said: " Thetis all
right" meaning that the party had arrived,
and passed on. Then Hughes passed by and
around to the north door. Swigle soon APP
peared and announced that they were saving
off the lock. The sentinel on duty at the
rear of Memorial Hall heard distinctly the
blows of the burglars in their efforts to open
the sarcophagus. Presently Swigle reap
pearcd and announced that they were all
ready to move the casket, and had sent him
to tell the driver to bring the team and assist
them Washburn and his party at once
slipped out quietly, each man with loaded
revolver in his hand Just as the party were
turning the corner Of the monument one of
the detective's pistols exploded All haste
was at once made, but when the officers
reached the tomb, although the distance gone
over was only 100 feet, the thieves had dis
appeared. The night was go dark that per-
son ten feet away could scarce be distin-
guished, and they easily escaped. While
hunting for the thieves two of the officers
exchanged shots, each mistaking the other
for one of the fugitives No trace of the
men could be discovered.


| An examination of the tomb showed that
| the men had pried off the two lids of the
sarcophagus with an AK, and had removed
the head-piece. The casket was then drawn
out about foot so that it could be easily
removed. Very little real damage was done


The detectives returned to Chicago and
kept vgilant watch for the miscreants and
on the Friday following Mullen returned.
Swigle called on him at once and found that
when they were alarmed by the discharge of
the pistol they ran off as fast as possible.
They walked all night and, the next morning
getting a ride in farmers wagon,
at evening reached the house Of
Hughes father at Lodi, sixty miles
from Springfield. Mullen returned to
Chicago and Hughes remained at Lodi. III
a few days Mullen became anxious about
Brown and Washburn decided to have Brown
present himself and question the staunch-
ness of Hughes, This was done. Mullen
was satisfied that Brown was all right, and,
as he seemed doubtful of Hughes, Swigle
suggested that he be sent for and kept al
Mulicn's saloon. Mullen and Brown went
to Lodi to get Hughes but missed him, at
he had started for Chicago Just before they
arrived


On the evening of the 18th Hughes called
at Mullen's saloon The officers were mott
fed and at once proceeded to the place
where the arrest was made. The men were
taken to the station and the following day
| sent to Snrin ofield for examination.