Lewis Powell“I’m mad! I’m mad!”

Background• Grew up in Stewart County, Georgia

o Youngest of 8 childreno Homeschooled by fathero Enjoyed working with animals

• Siblings called him “Doc”

• Joined Confederate army at age 17o Fought in Gettysburg and was wounded

• Escaped hospital and fledo Joined the Confederate Secret Service (CSS)

• Unit: Mosby’s Rangerso Deserted and took an oath of alliance to the Union

• Went under the alias “Lewis Paine/Payne”

• Met John Surratto Introduced Powell to John Wilkes Booth

• Learned of Lincoln kidnapping plan o NOT YET A PLAN OF MURDER

History of Crime• CRIME:

o Accused of assault (the act of bodily harm with intent of causing this harm) and being a spy for the Confederacy

• DATE:o March 12, 1865

• VICTIMS o African-American maid working at Branson Boarding House

• PUNISHMENT:o NONE!

• He pretended to be a foreigner who did not speak English• Lack of evidence-released• This is when he signed the oath of allegiance

Most Recent Crime• Attempted Murder and Conspiracy (a secret plan

by a group to do something unlawful) o April 5, 1865o Attacked William Seward, Secretary of State; Emerick Hansell, Seward’s

messenger; and Seward’s son, Frederick• Powell was supposed to kill William Seward as part of the Lincoln

Conspiracy plot, but failedo Because he was involved with Lincoln’s assassination, Powell was

sentenced to death • He was hung on July 5, 1865 in the Washington Arsenal

Evidence Against Criminal

• A pickaxe used to attack Seward was found at the Surratt houseo A comb and a toothbrush of Powell’s was also found here

• When found by authorities, Powell had blood covering his shirt

• In his boots were the letter JWB, standing for John Wilkes Booth

• A revolver used to attack Frederick was also found at the scene

Theory • Lewis Powell’s utilized the differential-association theory. When Powell

arrived in Baltimore in January of 1865, he had no plans of attacking anyone. However, this is when he met John Surratt, who was already part of John Wilkes Booth’s group that was planning to kidnap (not yet assassinate) the president and others. It is not clear how exactly Powell met Surratt, most assume it was on a ferry boat to Baltimore. Surratt soon introduced Powell to Booth, who treated him to a nice lunch and told him about the plan. Powell, who was mesmerized by Booth, agree to join in on the plan.

• As time went on, other group members treated the young Powell to many luxuries he had never seen before, including fancy meals, expensive clothing, and places to stay. In return, Powell promised to do whatever the group asked. When the group was told that the kidnapping plan had turned into an assassination, many members of the group were angry, but not Powell: he was brainwashed by Booth and followed through on the plan, even though his part failed in the long term.

Cultural References • Movies

o The Conspirator (2011)o The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998)

• TV Movie

*SPECIAL NOTEThese movies are not specifically about Powell,but about all of the conspirators. • Books

o Alias “Paine”: Lewis Thornton Powell, Mystery Man of the Lincoln Conspiracy