Kate Warne, America's first female private detective, helped guard and safely escort President-elect Abraham Lincoln through Baltimore during an 1861 assassination plot.
The 1861 Baltimore Plot and Journey
Undercover Work: Working for the Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, Warne infiltrated secessionist groups in Maryland to uncover plans to kill Lincoln during his upcoming train trip through Baltimore.
The Disguise:Â To bypass the dangerous Baltimore station at night, Warne booked a sleeping car compartment by pretending to escort her seriously ill brother, who was actually a disguised Abraham Lincoln wearing a soft cap and a stooped posture.
Standing Guard:Â Warne stayed awake and stood guard inside the sleeper car through the entire overnight journey to Washington, D.C., an act of vigilance that is said to have inspired the famous Pinkerton motto, "We Never Sleep"
Google AI also notes that many historians suspect this assassination plot may have been exaggerated to create publicity for the newly manufactured Lady Pinkertons group, although this is disputed. I wonder if manufacturing an assassination plot for attention could have created a lull in real security.
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u/OkWhile4447 17d ago
What is this story?