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.
