Lincoln's grave robbers

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Title :

Lincoln's grave robbers / Steve Sheinkin.

Title:

Lincoln's grave robbers

Author:

Sheinkin, Steve.

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

214 pages : illustrations, map ; 22 cm.

ISBN:

9780545405720

9780545405713

9781338290134

Production / Publication Information:

New York : Scholastic Press, 2013, c2012.

Summary:

Describes how a counterfeiting ring plotted to ransom Lincoln's body to secure the release of their imprisoned ringleader, and how a fledging Secret Service and an undercover agent conducted a daring election-night sting operation.

Bibliography note:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-211) and index.

Language:

English

Genre:

Historical fiction.

Geographic Term:

United States -- Juvenile fiction.

Personal Subject:

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865-Tomb-Juvenile fiction.

Subject Term:

Counterfeits and counterfeiting -- United States -- Juvenile fiction.

Grave robbing -- Juvenile fiction.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	973.7 SHE / TEEN	31330008420881	Searching... Unknown
Summer Reading (Andover)	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	TEEN SUMMER READING 2021	31330008428280	Searching... Unknown
Summer Reading (Andover)	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	TEEN SUMMER READING 2021	31330008428298	Searching... Unknown
Summer Reading (Andover)	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	TEEN SUMMER READING 2021	31330008428306	Searching... Unknown
Summer Reading (Andover)	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	TEEN SUMMER READING 2021	31330008428256	Searching... Unknown
Summer Reading (Andover)	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	TEEN SUMMER READING 2021	31330008428264	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Amesbury Public Library	J973.7 SHE	32114002188903	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library Children's Room	J 973.7 SHE	31330007433901	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Billerica Public Library	YA 973.7/SHEI 2012	33934003733848	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Burlington Public Library	YA 973.7092 SHE	32116003054984	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Burlington Public Library	YA 973.7092 SHE (SUMMER READING)	32116003977937	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Burlington Public Library	YA 973.7092 SHE (SUMMER READING)	32116003977952	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Burlington Public Library	YA 973.7092 SHE (SUMMER READING)	32116003977929	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Chelmsford Public Library	J/973.7/SHEI	31480011036511	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Georgetown Peabody Library	J 973.709 SHEINKIN	32120000928604	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Hamilton-Wenham Public Library	J 973.7 SHE	30470001185825	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Haverhill Public Library	YA/973.7092/SHEINKIN S	31479005590285	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Ipswich Public Library	J973.7 SHEINKIN	32122002338972	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Littleton - Reuben Hoar Library	YA 973.7 SHE	39965001940963	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library	J 973.7 SHE	32124001539683	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Methuen - Nevins Memorial Library	YA 973.7 SHE	31548002671262	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Methuen - Nevins Memorial Library	J 973.7 SHE	31548003232148	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Middleton - Flint Public Library	J 973.7 SHE	32126001265839	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Newburyport Public Library	YA 973.7 SHE	32128003044451	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Rockport Public Library	YA 973.709 SHEINKIN	32129001875755	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Rowley Public Library	J 973.7 SHE	32130000728284	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Tewksbury Public Library	TRUE CRIME / THEFT / SHE	32132002896432	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Tewksbury Public Library	J 973.7 SHE	32132002739996	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Westford - J.V. Fletcher Library	YA 973.7 SHE	31990004762030	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

A true crime thriller -- the first book for teens to tell the nearly unknown tale of the brazen attempt to steal Abraham Lincoln's body!The action begins in October of 1875, as Secret Service agents raid the Fulton, Illinois, workshop of master counterfeiter Ben Boyd. Soon after Boyd is hauled off to prison, members of his counterfeiting ring gather in the back room of a smoky Chicago saloon to discuss how to spring their ringleader. Their plan: grab Lincoln's body from its Springfield tomb, stash it in the sand dunes near Lake Michigan, and demand, as a ransom, the release of Ben Boyd --and $200,000 in cash. From here, the action alternates between the conspirators, the Secret Service agents on their trail, and the undercover agent moving back and forth between the two groups. Along the way readers get glimpses into the inner workings of counterfeiting, grave robbing, detective work, and the early days of the Secret Service. The plot moves toward a wild climax as robbers and lawmen converge at Lincoln's tomb on election night: November 7, 1876.

Reviews (5)

Publisher's Weekly Review

This meticulous and tremendously suspenseful account of the attempted heist of Abraham Lincoln's body in 1876 reads like a smartly cast fictional crime thriller, with a skillful buildup of tension and sharp character portrayals. Sheinkin (Bomb) lays the groundwork for the plot by delving into the history of counterfeiting, a booming business during and after the Civil War ("By 1864, an astounding 50 percent of the paper money in circulation was fake"). James Kennally, leader of one of the largest counterfeiting rings in the Midwest, masterminded the plot to steal the late president's body from the Lincoln Monument, outside Springfield, Ill. His intent was to ransom the purloined corpse, hitting up the government for a tidy sum of money and the freedom of his jailed, top-notch engraver. Perhaps the most dynamic player is Lewis Swegles, a shrewd career criminal who juggled double roles as Secret Service informer and alleged conspirator. Sheinkin's study of Swegles's thought process and machinations intensifies the drama of the final showdown between the would-be robbers and government officials. A sizzling tale of real-life historical intrigue. Ages 10-14. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Horn Book Review

Beginning with a dramatic flashback, Sheinkin introduces readers to Pete McCartney, a captured counterfeiter who in 1864 escaped the authorities by jumping from a train. Sheinkin then launches into a history of counterfeiters; their influence on the national currency before, during, and after the Civil War; and the process of making fake money, or coney. And he shows how, desperate to spring one of their own from prison, a gang of counterfeiters hatch a convoluted plan to rob Lincoln's grave and use the president's remains as leverage for their compatriot's early release. Unlike his other books (The Notorious Benedict Arnold, rev. 1/11; Bomb, rev. 11/12), this one addresses a small anecdote in American history that had little lasting import. The caper resembles a true crime episode from the Keystone Cops, with many of the players lacking the mental dexterity to pull off such a feat. A cast of the numerous characters; glossary; and unseen index, documentation, and archival photographs complete the book. betty carter (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

With a title uniting two highly popular topics Abraham Lincoln and ghoulish crime this is sure to pique the interest of many readers, and Sheinkin's gripping narrative will hold them to the thrilling climax. In 1876, a group of Chicago counterfeiters hatched a half-baked plan to remove President Lincoln's corpse from its resting place near Springfield, Illinois, and hold it for ransom. Although there was minimum security at the grave site and little to prevent the thieves from carrying out their dastardly scheme, the fledgling Secret Service was onto them (more for their counterfeit operations than their grave-robbing conspiracy), and their plans were foiled in the nick of time. While describing this small episode, Sheinkin weaves in information about the formation of the Secret Service, the history of counterfeit operations, presidential campaigns and elections, and much more. Excellent pacing within an appealing format. Photo elements were not available for review.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2010 Booklist

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-9-Lively dialogue and a fascinating narrative make this an entertaining read. A true-crime thriller set in 1876, the story involves Secret Service agents on the trail of counterfeiters who hoped to spring their leader from jail by holding the body of President Abraham Lincoln for ransom. The men involved included "Big Jim" Kennally, the mastermind behind the plot; Terrence Mullen; and Benjamin Boyd. Among the lawmen are James Brooks, chief of the Secret Service, and agents Patrick Tyrrell and Elmer Washburn. The account of the body-snatching plot is interwoven with the presidential election of 1876 between candidates Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden. There is also information about Mary Todd Lincoln and her son, Robert, who was a prominent Chicago attorney at the time. Readers also learn about the workings of the association in Springfield that operated the Lincoln Tomb. The book includes a glossary of phrases used in the dialogue. Readers will be entertained by the animated writing style, which creates a real page-turner, and learn history at the same time. An essential addition for all collections.-Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

On election eve in 1876, the Chicago Tribune was dominated by election coverage, except for a curious story on page 5 about body snatchers attempting to rob the grave of Abraham Lincoln. The headline read, "Dastardly Attempt to Despoil the Lincoln Monument: Thieves Trying to Steal the Bones of the Martyr President." The body snatchers had narrowly escapedwithout the bodybut certain evidence had been found: two sets of footprints, a bull's-eye lantern and grass pressed flat where men had been lying nearby. Sheinkin takes a little-known sidebar of American history and lures readers in with the sheer weirdness of his tale and a new lexicon of coneys, ropers, shovers, bone orchards and ghouls. The robbery was no random act, but one related to the world of 19th-century counterfeiting, so readers are introduced to the history of counterfeiting. This history and other topics provide context but slow the narrativethe grisly autopsy on the body of the fallen president, the design of the Lincoln Monument in Springfield, Ill., and the early days of the United States Secret Service. There's even a "Body Snatcher Bonus Section." The finished edition will include photographs, source notes and an index, not seen here. A good, ghoulish read despite slow spots. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 10-14)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Excerpts

At ten o'clock that night, Whitley was sitting at the desk in his hotel room, writing up a report. There was a gentle knock on the door. "Come in," said the chief. The door opened. A voice sang out, "Good evening, Colonel!" Whitley turned to his guest. "McCartney!" he shouted, drawing his revolver. "How are you here?" "Put up your shootin'-iron, Colonel," McCartney said. "I merely called to pay my respects. I am going back, of course." And McCartney really did walk back to prison. Smiling all the way. Herman Whitley never did figure out how McCartney got out of jail that night. However he did it, the stunt illustrated a serious challenge facing the U.S. government in the 1870s. The Secret Service was absolutely determined to catch counterfeiters and keep them behind bars. But coney men were just as eager to get free-and they were good at it, too. Excerpted from Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Cast of Characters	p. vi
Prologue: Midnight Escape	p. 1
Chapter 1 The Operative	p. 8
Chapter 2 The Pull	p. 18
Chapter 3 Coney Men vs. the Secret Service	p. 25
Chapter 4 Big Jim	p. 33
Chapter 5 First Try	p. 45
Chapter 6 Boodle Game	p. 66
Chapter 7 Prince of Ropers	p. 75
Chapter 8 The Trap	p. 86
Chapter 9 Last Details	p. 98
Chapter 10 Overnight Train	p. 106
Chapter 11 Election Day	p. 112
Chapter 12 Night at the Monument	p. 122
Chapter 13 Devilish Work	p. 133
Chapter 14 Search Begins	p. 146
Chapter 15 Back to the Hub	p. 156
Chapter 16 Gathering Evidence	p. 166
Chapter 17 Compromise Verdict	p. 176
Epilogue: Final Resting Place?	p. 182
Body Snatcher Bonus Section	p. 199
Glossary of Phrases	p. 208
Source Notes	p. 209
Index	p. 212
Acknowledgments	p. 214

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Reviews (5)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Horn Book Review

Booklist Review

School Library Journal Review

Kirkus Review

Excerpts

Excerpts

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