The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
BOOTHS CONSPIRACY.


Nassau street. New York"
BOOTHS CONSPIRACY.
Lewis t. Powell, Alias Payne, the Desperate
of The Party.
From the Washington Evening star.
1t seems that interest keeps alive in the first
presidential tragedy. Not many months ago de-
seript:on the killing of Mr.. Lincoln was given in
the Cincinnati Enquirer by an intimate acquant-
ance of Booth, who happened TO be sitting i'll the
pit of the theater near the stage that he the
pallor of his countenance when he confronted
Virginia slogan" Not long ago THE ATLANTA
Constitution published an account of the assassina-
tion of the president, and in the next issue de-
scnbed the execution of the consprators. Even the
powerful horse that Booth rode was not forgotten,
his death at his owners In Connecticut, being an
nouneed i'll the newspapers. Lately there was pub
lished in your columns thrilling description by
faithful old woman nurse of the attempt on Mr.
Stewards life by the conspirator you called Payne.
1t is true that Booths part rivaed fiction in its
ingenuity, and was desperately daring. Pablo at
tention has been concentrated on the bold organizer
ofthe plot. But Powells task was more desperate
than Booths, for while there was chance for the
latter to escape through the labyrinth Of obstruc-
was none for Powell, who assembled stairway
alone and attacked his victim and his attendants,
came, into streets brilliantly lit and guarded by
policemen everywhere within call. He. too,
escaped for the time being, but it was against
chances
Having happened to live in different parts of
Florida, near where Powells parents resided 50 as
accidentally to become acquainted with their his
tory, propose now to tell something about their
son and the impulse which drove him. He was the
reverse of mere hireling assassin. profound de-
dishonor of his section of the country, took posses
sion of him as he grew up in the army. lie came of
good family OF Hifsinla origin which passed
father, who died in 1881, was man of superior
intelligence and energy being an eloquent preacher
farmer and school teacher at times. lie was
tall gentleman of pleasant manners. For some years
before the war he lived i'll the western portion of
Hamilton county, Florida and during and for years
after it, he had a farm u few miles south OF Live
Oak, in Suwanee county. The turpentine village
there was built portion of his farm. He thence
moved to Orange county.
The Rev. George Powell, the father, was very
careful in selecting captain for his son Lewis,
der. He Went into his former county and laced
them under one of the best in the confederate
army, now Judge II. J, Stewart, of Hamilton conn-
ty, who would exert sGr of parental control over
them with the military. Lewis was at this time a
memler of his fathers church. Army life caused
him to fall from his piety but he did not become
prey to drink, that arch enemy to many soldiers But
he did become rather fond ofcards He grew tail well
proportioned and fine looking, and his fearless
bearing i'll time of battle was particularly admired
He warmed up as the fight ragged and was ever eager
to press forward. State Senator A. J. P, of
Belyille, Hamilton county, tellsthat he was not q
surly, but happy, boy, null of fun and froc.'
His captain can relate some striking incidents
showing his muniiness, his flocksome disposition,
and his cool audacity He once had him sentenced
to mark time between bayonets several days for
gross neglect of his rife. The next day in crossing
the camp he suddenly came upon the execution of
the punishment; the culprit was stepping away
hard and the perspration was running down his
face in streams, but instead of sulking" he smiled
so goodnatured at his captain that this officer had
the sentence RENTED. lie had become warmly at
tached TO his captain.
Another tells that once Win enjoying short
soldiers "eave of absence in one of the Virginia
towns he took down pair of pantaloons in front of
a store and folded them and walked in and sold
them to the owner. AT another time he sent a Jew
shopkeeper i'll hot chase down the street after an
innocent person, when he and his comrade helped
themselves, / suppose. to what they wanted. These
'Ina1 pranks'' mark his reckless audacity They
remind one of Charles O'Malley. He was good at
"foragtng,' and whatever he got was freely shared
with his mess or company. He was endowed with
high health anG athletic strength MI. Dan Neal
pin the editor of Live Oak, once him get angry
with his adversary in q game of quols, and beat
him with one of the irons. An ilitelate neighbcr
once said TO me, of the family: They are all hot
With all this excessive enjoyment of army life,
the conviction grew in the young soldiers mind
that Mr.. Lincoln was the cause of all the woetul
war havoc. and he became fired with intense hatred
against him, that he was often heard TO wish that
he could set into Washington, saying That he would
try 10 Slay him utterly regardless Of consequences
Little did his captain and comrades think that the
feeling was 50 strong it would finally lead him into
the very jaws of DEATH
He was wounded slightly and captured at the
great tatlc Of Gettysburg, where he was confined in
hospital prison He must have been shar 3.witted
and glib OF tongue, for he soon persuaded ms CAP
tors TO receive him INTO cavalry band. 1t was
easy for daring and shrewd fellow to cscHrc on
hCr -eback, which he did, and made his way to J.
timore. where ne met Booth This IS the version ot
the captain.
There is another, tinged with romance; that
young lIdy's SYM Ghy was so aroused fOrhim thai
she managed to convey to him federal uniform
and money, which enabled HIM to leave the d n.
According to this version two Of his ellowsoldier;
who were there wounded saw lin leave in such
uniform One watching, saw him 'ltcd by the
sentinel. when lie parleyed a little, banded hm
something supposed to be bribe. and Fasscd out.
This is the last that any cOmrade ever saw OF HIM.
This account goes on to say, that failing to get
with his command which was now well back in
Virginia, lie joined Mosby awhile, and from ii made
his way to baltimore.
While all the other cOnspirators were deeply Of.
fected-sOmc indeed terror strickcu-at the cXccu
ton Powell was undauntcd. There was no one
to give him parting word. His father had started,
but had not arrived; he had got the news too late
and the lines Of travel were much broHen lie alter
ward went to Washington at his leisure and ionni
preacher who had had little 10 say to his son The
old gentleman preached his oAs funeral himself
on his return, and urged emphntltally tliHl he had
been hung in a good cause. His mother was almost
frantic with grief
Powell told some one that lie had no deadly hg
tired against Mr. Seward, but only stabbed him in
obedience to his chief lie said pthily, u struck
for my country"
Here, Mr.. Editor have detailed oil that have
gathered as went along concerning this promin mt
figure in one OF the most important events Of his
tory aud hope il will till gap, il but small one,
in history. g. G. l..
Lakeland, Fla.