Thomas F. Harney

[BettyO]

Quote:Betty: See the above comments to Jenny and Laurie, to which I add: I have almost no use for Vaughn Shelton. (Practically the only thing he said that made any sense was that the idea that Herold waited for Powell at the Seward mansion is "unbelievable".) No, my comments about Powell and the real Lewis Payne came from another source, namely a fine work titled "Alias 'Payne'", by a fine women whose name is Betty J. Ownsbey. On page 161 of her fine work, she quotes Lewis Edmonds Payne, son of Albin S. Payne (i.e. the "real Lewis Payne"), as saying "Powell had the reputation of having killed a great many men, and when any desperate matter was to be undertaken he was selected." On the same page, there is a reference to him as "the terrible Lewis Powell", which is at least consistent with the reputation. Further, as to being dull, I grant that he was a cut above Herold and Atzerodt, but there is much evidence that he was still a long way from bright. Payne again: "Booth infused the venom of his own ambition into the credulous heart of this gawky and impressionable country boy and found him an easy conquest." (p. 166)

Boy, have I got EGG on my face! Please accept my apologies, John, for jumping to the wrong conclusion- "The Real Lewis Payne" - being young Lewis Edmonds Payne. Young Payne was 11 years old when he knew Powell and the account is highly romanticized, but does carry a bit of truth. The bit about having "killed a great many men" still doesn't ring true, though.

Again, please accept my deepest apologies for a stupid blunder!