They Tried to Steal Abraham Lincoln's Body.
Eleven years after his assassination, a group of criminals plotted one of the most audacious crimes in American history.
What Could Possibly Motivate Someone to Steal a President's Body?
The answer begins not in a cemetery, but in the criminal underworld of 1870s Chicago.
A skilled counterfeiter was behind bars.
His associates wanted him released.
And an extraordinary scheme began taking shape.
What if they could take possession of Abraham Lincoln's remains and use them as leverage to demand a pardon and a fortune?
The plan was outrageous.
But the men behind it were serious enough to travel to Springfield and attempt it.
What they didn't realize was that someone they trusted had already revealed their intentions.
A Crime. A Conspiracy. An Undercover Informant.
Stealing Lincoln follows the events that brought criminals, federal investigators, and the guardians of Lincoln's tomb into an extraordinary confrontation.
The Counterfeiting Connection
How the imprisonment of a skilled engraver helped inspire the conspiracy.
The Impossible Bargain
Why the criminals believed Lincoln's remains could be exchanged for money and a presidential pardon.
The Man on the Inside
How Lewis Swegles gained the conspirators' confidence while secretly assisting investigator
The Election Night Plot
Why November 7, 1876, seemed like the ideal night to attempt the theft.
The Trap at Oak Ridge Cemetery
How investigators prepared to confront the conspirators at Lincoln's tomb.
The Aftermath
What happened after the extraordinary attempt and how Lincoln's remains were protected.
This is more than the account of an attempted grave robbery.
It's the story of a criminal conspiracy that brought together counterfeiters, detectives, government officials, and the legacy of America's sixteenth president.
History Has a Way of Being Stranger Than Fiction.
Most Americans know the story of Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
Far fewer know what happened to his remains eleven years later.
In Stealing Lincoln, Dan Franklin brings readers into the criminal underworld of 1870s Chicago, the investigation that uncovered an extraordinary conspiracy, and the events that unfolded at Lincoln's tomb.
Every great historical mystery begins with a question.
In this case, the question is almost impossible to believe:
Who would dare steal Abraham Lincoln's body—and what did they hope to gain?
Discover the people, decisions, and remarkable circumstances behind one of the most audacious attempted crimes in American history.
Discover the Plot to Steal a President's Body
STEALING LINCOLN
The True Story of the Plot to Steal a President's Body
By Dan Franklin
A conspiracy born in Chicago's criminal underworld. An undercover informant. A daring attempt at Abraham Lincoln's tomb.
Discover the extraordinary events behind one of America's most unusual historical crimes.
Part of the Shadows of History series.
Available in Kindle and paperback editions.
Not Ready to Buy? Start With a Free Story.
The Night Train to Springfield
Before the attempted theft, there was a journey into the darkness.
November 6, 1876.
Two men boarded a train bound for Springfield, Illinois.
Their destination was Abraham Lincoln's tomb.
Their intentions were almost impossible to believe.
The Night Train to Springfield introduces the extraordinary conspiracy behind the attempted theft of Lincoln's remains.
Experience the suspense surrounding the journey to Springfield without discovering how the attempt unfolded.
Get your free companion story and discover what brought these men to Lincoln's tomb.
Free digital download. A companion to Stealing Lincoln by Dan Franklin.
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