Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-15
THE ASSASSINs.
A Minister'S Visit 10 the Condemned
Sixteen Hours in the Cells.

n MINISTER'S visit 10 the Condemned
Sixteen Hours in the Cells.
lFrOm The Washington Chronicle, July lO.l
The Rev. DR.. Gillette, past or otthe First
Baptist church, improved the solemnities of
the past week by an appropriate discourse,
especially to young men. He had never
been more impressed with the Importance
of this duty than during the sixteen hours
which he passed with the convicts in the
Penitentiary between Thursday afternoon
and that of Friday.
On Thursday DIR. G.. was called upon by
Assistant Secretary of War Eckert, who in
vited him to visit the cells of the doomed
convicts for the purpose of administering
to them such spiritual consultations as were
needed. Stepping into the Secretary's car
riage, he at once accompanied him thither.
On their arrival, Mr.. Eckert introduced
him to other officers, and then to the con-
victs. Their first call was upon Payne,
whose real name he soon ascertained to be
Lewis Thornton Powell his middle name
being after the Rev. DIR. Thornton, Pres
byterian clergyman of Charleston, South
Carolina. Powell welcomed him, and at
once proceeded to relate his early history.
His father was Baptist minister. The
convict had been from infancy brought up
under religious influence. At twelve wears
of age he was by his own father consecra-
ted to God in baptism, and became mem
Der OF the church. In direct opposition to
the wishes OF his family he entered the
rebellion. For time he endeavored to re-
tain his religious character, but became
connected with Gilmore. This was his
second great step downward. That was
followed by his getting into Mosby's gang,
which was far worse. His next companion
was Booth.
DR.. Gillette found Powell to be a young
man of cultivated mind, ingenious frank,
candid, and an earnest supplicant for Di-
vine favor. In conversation he referred to
his mother, and wept bitterly; to his sis
ters; to the pleasant seasons once enjoyed
by him in the church, the Sabbath school
and the social circles. Powell frankly stat
ed his conviction of the enormity of his
crime. The moment he fled from the house
OF Secretary Seward and leaped into the
saddle of his horse, his mind was quickened
into realizing sense of the horror OF the
damnable deed which he had perpetrated,
and he became miserable, wretched-life
itself became loathsome.
The Doctor here corrected two points in
the published statement. 1t was reported
that he wore "a jaunty hat" That hat was
placed upon his head by the advice and
hands of DR.. G., when Powell's hands were
pinioned behind him. DR.. G. suggested
the hat on account of the intense heat of
the sun. Secondly-It was said on the
morning OF the execution that he ate heart
lily, DC. On that morning he positively de-
clined taking any food, and he was equally
persistent in refusing stimulants of any
kind. Ills last prayer was, as suggested by
his friend, the Doctor, lord Jesus, receive
my spirit"
The preacher then visited Harold, and
his description correspOnded with those al
ready published. With great elouuence he
described the scene in which Harrold's sis
tiers were present. One of them read to
him from her prayer-book; and, after DIR.
u. had offered prayer, the same sister fol-
lowed in an invocation to the throne of Di-
vine grace on behalf of her brother, which
affected all present. M.
His next call was on Atzerott. He at
once commenced remarks which eliminated
Mrs. Surratt, but was gently reminded that
higher duties devolved upon him-a prep
aration to meet his God. In this he acqui-
esced. For twenty-nine years he acknowl-
edged he had been stepped in sin; the vic
tim OF base passions, and of the wiles of
artful, designing men. His wonder was,
II his soul could be saved. Rev. Mr.. But
ler, the Lutheran minister, soon arrived,
and attended him most faithfully, From
the latter clergyman we learn that he pro-
fessed to have found peace with Heaven.
The peculiarities of the Catholic Church
prevented him from offering any assistance
to Mrs. Surratt for she was well attended
by the Rev. Fathers Wiget and Walter
DR.. u. described the scene of the daugh-
ter's hasty return to the mothers cell-the
snxi BUS inquiries of that mother, "Is there
any hope!" She replied, ."hope is gomez
"Oh, Fathers Wiget and Walter, prepare
fell against the speaker in the doorway,
and said "hope is fled"
The Doctor stated that these remarks
were made strictly in religious point of
view, that being the place for none other. !