Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-07-20
INTERESTING FAUTS OF THE LATE
ASSASgINS

tist Church, improved the solemities of then
past week by an appropriate discourse, es-
pecially to young men. -. H
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 Thurs
day afternoon and that of Friday.
On Thursday Dr. G. was called upon by
Assistant Secretary of War Eckert, VINO
invited him to visit the cells of the doomed
convicts for the purpose of administering
to them such spiritual consolation as was
needed. Stepping into the Secretarys car
riage, he at once accompanied him thlther
On their arrival, Mr. Eckert introduced him
to other officers, and then to the convicts.
Their first call was upon Payne, whose
real name he soon ascertaned to be Lewis
Thornton Powell his middle name being af-
ter the Rev. DR.. Thornton, Presbyterian
clergyman of Charleston, South Carolina.
Powell welcomed him, and at once pro-
ceeded to relate his early history. His
father was a Baptist minister. The con-
vict had been from infancy brought up un-
der religious influence At twelve years
of age he was by his own father CON
secrated to God in baptism, and became a
member of the church. In direct opposi-
ton to the wishes of his family he entered
the rebellion. For time he endeavOred
to retain his religious character, but be-
came 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 com
panion was Booth.
DIR. Gillette found Powell to be young
men of cultivated mind, ingenious, frank,
candid, and an earnest supplicant for Di-
vine favor. ..-.....
In conversation, he referred to his moth
er and wept bitterly-to his sisters-to the
pleasant seasons once enjoyed by him III
the church, the Sabbath school and the
social circles
Powell frankly stated his conviction of
the enormity of his crime. The moment he
fed 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 perpertrated, and he became miser-
able, wretched-life itself became loath-
some.
The Doctor here corrected two points III
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. suggest
ed the hat On account of the intense heat
of the sun.
Secondly. 1t was said on the morning of
his execution he ate heartily, &c. On that
morning he positively declined taking any
food; and was equally persistent in refusing
stimulants of any kind.
His last prayer was, as suggested by his
friend, the Doctor, Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit"
DR.. Gillette here addressed his audience
with deep feeling, referring to his own sons,
to the sous Of his congregation, to the
young men of thit city who habitually Wis
it drinking-houses, restaurants, &c.
The preacher then visited Herold, and
his description corresponded with those al
ready published With great eloquence he
described the scene in which Herold's Sis
ters were present. One of them read to him
from her prayer-boOk; and after DIR. u. had
offered prayer, the same sister followed III
an invocation 90 the Throne of Divine Grace
on behalf of her brother, which affected All
present.
His next call was on Atzerodt. He at
once commenced remarks which crimina
ted Mrs Surratt, but was gently reminded
that higher duties now developed upon him
"a preparation to meet his God In this he
acquiesced For twenty-nine years, he ac
knowledged, he had been stepped in sin;
the victim of base passions, and of the
wiles of artful, designing men. His won
der was, if his soul could be saved! Rev
Mr. Butler, the Lutheran preacher, soon ar
rived and attended him most faithfully
From the latter clergyman we learn that
he professed 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
d.: g., described the scene of the daugh
ter's hasty return to her mothers cell-the
anxious inquiries of that mother, as there
any hopew She replied, "hope is gone!"
"0h, Father Wigget and Walter prepare
my mother for death!" In her agony, she
fell against the speaker in the doorway,
and said hope is fed"
The Doctor stated that these remarks
were made strictly in a religious point of
view, Ludt pelHS Iue Piaoo ioi Hoiic oGhel.
In a recent volume of "reminiscences, we
find very neat anecdote of Madame Roths-
child the mother of the well known capital
ist The old lady's wit, which was remark
able and her intellectual faculties, which
were of no common order, remained to the
end. In her last illness, when surrounded
by her family, her physician being present,
she said in a sIppliant tone to the latter,
Dear doctor, try to do something for me"
Madame, what can do? | can't make
you young again" No, doctor, don't
want to be young again; but | want to
continue to grow older"
The quantity of digestion that German
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