Historian Pleads Guilty To Stealing Lincoln Letter

Yet another thief is in the news today for stealing letters written by former presidents of the United States. The former head of the Theodore Roosevelt Association in Oyster Bay, New York, pleaded guilty to stealing letters written by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln from the association.

Edward Renehan admitted in Federal Court to taking an 1840 letter written by Lincoln, and two letters written in 1778 and 1791 by Washington, then selling them to a New York gallery for $97,000.

Fortunately, federal officials have recovered the letters and will return them to the association. Renehan will face between 24 and 30 months in federal prison. He claims that bipolar disorder made him do it. Hmmm. How about simple greed?

See my posting of January 28, 2008 for the story of another thief who stole valuable documents written by Lincoln and other leaders from American history.