Countdown to July 7

[Linda Anderson]

This is from Poore's transcription of Powell's guard, John E. Roberts' testimony on June 3.

"Q. Have you ever spoken to him on the subject of his own death?
A. The day that Major Seward was examined here, when the clothes were put on him,—the coat and the hat,—I had to put the irons back on him; and he told me then that they were tracing him pretty close, and that he wanted to die."

The day that Major Seward testified was May 19, which was also the day that George Robinson and William H. Bell testified. Their testimony must have depressed Powell plus, like Laurie says, the government would have been trying to get information from him. I think that Powell, knowing that he was going to die no matter what he did, would certainly not give up any information about the conspiracy.

Laurie does raise an interesting point. Does Powell mean that the leaders of the conspiracy had infiltrated the prison and were "tracing him pretty close" to make sure he didn't squeal? I don't think Powell cared at that point if he died; in fact, he said he wanted to. It sounds to me that he was tired of being watched and questioned and just wanted to get the execution over with as soon as possible.