One of the strangest, most fascinating and almost unknown events in American history occurred in 1876, 11 years after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
A counterfeiter ring in Chicago conspired to steal the president’s remains from his grave outside Springfield, Illinois, and confiscate them in exchange for a $200,000 ransom.
A paid informant told the newly created Secret Service. The plan is thwarted when both the police and criminals show up at the cemetery on the appointed night.
This feature-length special examines a peculiar blend of historical trends and cultural movements that fueled crime: the birth of forgery, the rise of embalming, the impact of secret societies on American life, and more.
But most of all, history shows how important the beloved president remained to a public unprepared for his tragic death in 1865. Stunning and informative, this is one of those stories that has to be seen to be believed.
