Atzerodt Confession

[John Fazio]

Perhaps he was referring to one man as Wood & the other as Woods? Powell (as Wood) would not have been trying to open a theater in Richmond. It has to be two different people.

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Another puzzlement.

RR Jones the book keeper of the Kirkwood stated:

"I don’t know whether Atzerodt asked anything about Mr. Johnson or his room, but some person, a tall, rough looking man, one that looked like a carpenter, did ask if Mr. Johnson roomed here and was in? He was very tall, had on a black slouch hat and I think a light colored coat. He was a light complexioned man, without beard. He asked in a rough way. I answered him rather shortly, because I judged from his appearance that he had no business with Mr. Johnson. I told him he was not in."

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't that describe Powell? Why would he be there asking for Johnson?

Jerry:

Atzerodt's exact words, after the introduction, were "...and proposed to go to Richmond to open a theater if we could get passes". It is unclear who is going to Richmond: Booth, Atzerodt or "James Wood", or more than one of them.

As for Jones's statement, Johnson was a target, of that I am sure. Booth told Atzerodt that he and Herold had zeroed in on him. It doesn't surprise me that at some point in the days immediately preceding the assassination, Booth would ask Powell to do something for him that involved Johnson at the Kirkwood.

John