Links

Movie on Lincoln’s Assassination is out
Robert Redford directs Conspirators about what happened to those who plotted to assassinate President Lincoln, focusing on the only woman in the group, Mary Surratt. Read a movie review from the Los Angeles Times.

Stealing Lincoln’s Body by Thomas J. Craughwell
Stealing Lincoln’s Body is a non-fiction book on the historical grave-robbing attempt that serves as the catalyst for my mystery, Lincoln’s Hand.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield, Illinois
http://www.alplm.org/

Lincoln’s Tomb, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
http://www.state.il.us/hpa/hs/lincoln_tomb.htm

–Digging to Solve Mysteries–

Digging up graves to answer mysteries is not as uncommon as you might think.

Of course, it’s not welcome by some. As New York Times satirist Russell Baker wrote in a 1991 column:

“Is nobody safe from a prying science driven by righteous curiosity? One of the few consolations of the grave used to be that you could take your secrets there with the certainty that they would be safe from busybodies.”

But digging up graves has been a way to answer questions; solve mysteries. Here’s a list of exhumations undertaken in some cases, to solve a mystery or two.

And, some other interesting links on digging up mysteries:

Was Meriwether Lewis Murdered?

Descendants of Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame have been requesting exhumation and scientific study of his remains in order to solve the mystery about his death. Was he murdered?

Read about this at the Descendants of Meriwether Lewis Launch ‘Solve the Mystery’ Web Site. And view more information at The Meriwether Lewis site

Digging Up Jesse James

Was James really killed by Robert Ford, or was his death staged as a hoax so he could live undisturbed. They dug up his remains to find out. Read the DNA report.

Mystery of the Viking Queen on the Oseberg Ship

In 1904, a 70-foot longboat, with its curling oak prow still intact, was unearthed in Norway, with the remains of two women aboard, one of the archaeological sensations of the 20th century. The women had been dead for 1100 years. Who were the women? Over 100 years later the reburied women were dug up again for a DNA test to solve the mystery of the Viking Queen.

The story when the bones were dug up.

And the results of the examination on the women in the Oseberg ship.

Did the Serial Killer Die in a Fire?

Serial killer Belle Gunness may have died in a fire in 1908 – or perhaps not. Digging up Belle’s body for DNA may not solve the mystery so other bodies may be dug up as well. Here’s the story.

Charlie Chaplin’s Grave Robbing

Grave robber’s sometimes made off with the body. Read about Stealing Charlie Chaplin’s coffin.