Podcast Summary: Everything Everywhere Daily
Episode: The Plot to Steal the Body of Abraham Lincoln
Host: Gary Arndt
Date: March 5, 2026
Episode Overview
In this riveting episode, Gary Arndt dives into one of the most bizarre criminal plots in American history: the attempted theft of Abraham Lincoln’s body in 1876. He explains how this audacious plan by a gang of counterfeiters almost succeeded, the national reverence for Lincoln that fueled both the plot’s audacity and the public’s reaction, and the lasting security changes it triggered for the Lincoln tomb. The episode blends historical context, colorful details, and the almost comical bungling of criminals, offering an engaging account for curious listeners.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why Lincoln’s Body Was a Target
- Historic Reverence: Lincoln’s assassination was a profound national tragedy, making his body an object of immense symbolic value.
- Funeral Details: The funeral was the largest public mourning in U.S. history at the time, involving a 1,700 mile journey and drawing millions to mourn.
- “Lincoln’s body began one of the most elaborate funeral processes in American history.” (06:40)
- “Historians estimate ... 1 million people viewed Lincoln's body directly ... perhaps 7 million Americans ... watched the funeral train pass...” (11:25)
2. Origins of the Plot
- Counterfeiters’ Dilemma: The plot was hatched by a Chicago-based gang, desperate after the arrest of their master engraver, Benjamin Boyd.
- Ransom Motive: Gang leader James “Big Jim” Kennelly planned to steal Lincoln’s corpse to demand Boyd’s release and $200,000 in ransom (equivalent to millions today).
- Inside Help Goes Wrong:
- Kennelly recruited body snatcher Lewis Swegles, who was actually a Secret Service informant.
- "The conspirators, however, made a fatal mistake. Swegles was actually a government informant..." (17:45)
3. The Bizarre Night of the Crime
- Election Night Selection: The attempt was timed for November 7, 1876, expecting the chaos of election returns to distract Springfield.
- “The conspirators chose election night ... as the moment to strike. The entire country would be riveted...” (25:12)
- Breaking In: Mullin and Hughes broke the padlock and started dragging out Lincoln’s 500-pound lead-lined coffin.
- Comic Chaos of the Ambush:
- Secret Service and local police hid inside; confusion, darkness, and a misfired gun made for a botched interception.
- “What followed was a fumbling, almost farcical confrontation.” (28:00)
- In the commotion, the criminals just walked away into the night.
4. Aftermath and Justice
- Short-lived Freedom: Swegles helped track the would-be tomb robbers to Chicago; they were arrested within weeks.
- Legal Impediment: There was no law against stealing corpses in Illinois, so the charges and sentences were minor (“One year at Joliet Penitentiary for conspiracy and attempted larceny of the coffin, not the body.” (36:15))
- Lasting Security Precautions: The plot led to constant reburial and concealment of Lincoln’s body (moved at least 17 times), and eventually interment under 10 feet of concrete and a steel cage in 1901.
5. Notable Lincoln & Family Trivia
- Funeral Train: Lincoln’s funeral train also carried his young son Willie’s remains back to Illinois.
- Teddy Roosevelt Photo: A famous photo captured 6-year-old Theodore Roosevelt watching Lincoln’s funeral procession in NYC. (10:30)
- Robert Todd Lincoln’s Strange Fate:
- Lincoln’s only surviving son was present at, or directly connected to, the assassinations of three presidents: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and William McKinley.
- “He had a connection with not one, not two, but three presidential assassinations...” (22:45)
6. Legacy and Hidden History
- Suppression of the Story: The plot’s details were suppressed to avoid inspiring copycats. Only decades later did the full story become widely known.
- Modern Visitation: Visitors can now see Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield and tour his home and presidential library—highly recommended by Gary.
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On Lincoln’s Historic Funeral:
“In terms of the total percentage of the American population, the funeral procession of Abraham Lincoln might have been the most attended event in American history.” (12:15) -
On the Near Success of the Criminals:
“Mullin and Hughes simply walked out of the cemetery and disappeared into the night.” (29:30) -
On Law & Justice:
“There was a problem—Illinois had no law specifically prohibiting the theft of a corpse. Prosecutors were forced to charge the men with...attempted larceny of the coffin itself, not the body.” (36:15) -
On Securing the Tomb:
“In 1901 ... Lincoln’s coffin was placed in a steel cage and buried under 10 feet of concrete in a chamber beneath the monument floor.” (39:40) -
Gary’s Closing Recommendation:
“If you ever happen to be in Springfield, I highly recommend visiting Lincoln's tomb and his related sites.” (43:05)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 06:40 – Lincoln’s extravagant funeral and national mourning
- 10:30 – Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt at Lincoln’s funeral
- 17:45 – The counterfeiter’s plot and the Secret Service informant twist
- 22:45 – Robert Todd Lincoln’s connections to three presidential assassinations
- 25:12 – The plan set for election night
- 28:00 – The failed ambush and farcical confrontation at the tomb
- 29:30 – Conspirators’ escape
- 36:15 – Weak legal consequences due to lack of applicable laws
- 39:40 – Lincoln’s final permanent interment under concrete
- 43:05 – Springfield sightseeing recommendations
Final Thoughts
Gary Arndt transforms this nearly forgotten episode into a fascinating tale, touching on history, crime, national myth, and the oddities of law. His storytelling highlights both the reverence Americans felt for Lincoln and the quirky, very human elements of those who attempted to profit from that reverence. The plot to steal Lincoln’s body is a vivid reminder of how history is sometimes shaped by farce as much as by greatness.
“Even then, it retained the quality of an improbable legend—the tale of a gang of second-rate counterfeiters who came startlingly close to ransoming the president known as the Great Emancipator.” (44:18)