Lewis Powell's skull and Joseph Gawler

[PaigeBooth]

After the death of Lewis Powell, it is my understanding that Powell's family requested his remains, but where denied. In 1869, when the conspirators bodies were finally released to their families, no one claimed Powell's body (is it true that at this time Powell's family was not aware that his body was now available to be claimed?)

Since Powell's body was not claimed (and was moved a few times) I understand that undertaker Joseph Gawler kept track of the whereabouts of Powell's remains. From what I have been reading, it appears Gawler took Powell's skull, but my question is, at what time did Gawler take the skull? Was it during the time Powell was moved from Holmead Cemetery to Rock Creek Cemetery? Or did Gawler take the skull at an earlier time?

I am also wondering, why did Gawler take Powell's skull? What reason did he have for taking the skull instead of allowing it to remain with Powell's body? Did Gawler simply want the skull? Or did the Army Medical Museum pay him for the skull?