Lewis Powell: The conspirator who was "different."

[BettyO]

Quote:In the thread "What was the Role of David Herold", post #320, BettyO mentions

"In truth, Powell was afraid to go abroad in the city in daylight due to his previous arrest in Baltimore in March of 1865 by which he could be re-arrested (if recognized) and sent to prison again. He did know his way about sufficiently to find his way to the Surratt House (at least 2 times, once after the kidnapping attempt and then including upon his arrest)."

So why head to Baltimore after the assassination?
Wouldn't he be more likely to be arrested there?
Would the Branson family take him in (especially the head of the household) and hide him when news of the assassination became known?

He was headed North - either to Baltimore or perhaps NY or Canada. Probably Baltimore to arrive either late at night or early in the morning - perhaps layover at the Branson House or Miller's Hotel until he could catch a train further north to NY or Canada. As his Oath stated he was to go "North of Philadelphia" (and possibly stay there for the duration of the war), I simply feel that he would have perhaps laid over there for a night or perhaps went on straight to NY or Canada. At a later date when things cooled down he could seemingly go home to Florida. Who knows.... Joseph Branson was in on things or so it would seem. Oddly enough, he apparently had somehow skipped town because he certainly didn't make the "dragnet" in the Branson household when the entire house and occupants were arrested later that month and held on house arrest. His name does NOT appear in the list of occupants!