Lewis Powell: The conspirator who was "different."

[BettyO]

Quote:"What astounded onlookers about Paine was his dignity, his coolness and his apparent indifference to what was going on in the courtroom. He was guilty of the attack on Seward, he said, and he wished they would "hang him quick" and get it over with. Proudly erect and beautifully muscled, he passed much of his time in the courtroom staring dreamily out of the window. He never wept but he laughed once-when he was requested to try on the hat he had dropped in Seward's bedroom. Of all the defendants, he was the only one who throughout the trial appeared perfectly at ease."

Time Llfe book The Assassination: Death of the President from the Civil War series

Quite an interesting speculation, Bill. Mostly taken from Kunhardt's Twenty Days.

Yes, he told his guard "I hope they hang me quick." And yes he was proud and stoic in the courtroom, laughing and smiling when he was dressed in the coat and hat. But he was laughing at William Bell's remark, "Oh, I should think he knows me well enough." The entire court laughed at Bell's statement, and Powell joined in.

But this was Lew Powell's courtroom demeanor. In his cell he wept and prayed according to his guards and Dr. Gillette. He was proud, courageous and gallant, but he was not about to sob in the courtroom. The only time he showed emotion was blushing at the ladies' remarks directed towards him when he entered the dock and when his constipation was mentioned. He teared up a bit only once when Doster mentioned his mother in his argument. He did shed tears on the gallows, but who could blame him there. He was extremely young and repentant.

No, Powell was NOT like the others in that he seemed to have a great deal of pride and maturity for one so young. He was a soldier, who comported himself with dignity and soldier-like qualities in the courtroom and under a great deal of stress, whereas the others were civilians (except in the case of both Sam Arnold and Mike O'Laughlen.) He was the youngest prisoner in the dock, but he was also the only complete soldier.