Editing Lewis Powell (section)

==Involvement in conspiracy==
Powell was one of Booth's henchmen in the failed attempts to kidnap Lincoln in exchange for Confederate prisoners, along with Booth's childhood friends, Michael O Laughlin and Samuel Arnold.  

But when the Civil War ended, Booth decided that the kidnapping plan is changed to murder. On April 11, when Lincoln gave his speech about African Americans voting, Booth, Herold, and Powell were there. They were angry about the idea and Booth turned to Powell by saying, "That is the last speech he will ever give!" 

It is unknown what Powell did on April 14, but in the afternoon of April 14, 1865, he was informed by John Wilkes Booth about his plan to shoot Abraham Lincoln, who planned to attend Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater instead of Grover's Theater. 

At 8:45 P.M., Booth and his henchmen were at the last meeting about their plans to revive the Confederacy by killing President Abraham Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward that Booth planned at the evening of April 13. Powell was already assigned by Booth to kill Seward at his mansion, where he was recovering from a carriage accident and was required to wear a metal canvas splint in response to the carriage accident the previous week. Powell would be accompanied by [[David Herold]], who was supposed to aid Powell after his deed.

At the same time that Booth made his way to the unguarded box at Ford's Theater, Powell knocked at the front door of Seward's house, causing the black maitre d' named William Bell to answer the door. It was 10 minutes after 10 o’clock that night on April 14, 1865. 

After arguing with Bell about the medicine, Powell walked up the stairs, where he had another argument with Seward's son, Frederick, until Fanny opens the door to see what's going on, causing Powell to realize that he had founded his victim. Powell raised his gun at Frederick, but it jammed, causing him to knock Frederick unconscious to the ground. This caused Bell to run to General Christopher Augur's office for help.

When Powell rushed through the door, Fanny ran and screamed, "Murder!". Getting on top of the bed, he stabs Seward in the face and neck. Luckily, Seward's face was covered by the metal canvas splint that deflected the blow of Powell's penetrating blow to the jugular vain. 

The screams in the house caused Herold to escape, leaving Powell behind.
[[File:Lewis-Powell-arrested-april17.jpg|left|thumb|140x140px|Powell arriving at the household and before getting arrested]]
While John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Ford's Theater, Powell began wrestling with the army nurse, George Robinson, and one of Seward's sons, Augustus. After injuring them, Lewis ran down the stairs and stabs a clerk from the State Department. 

As Booth escaped through the back exit at Ford’s Theatre, Powell ran out of the mansion, yelling "I'm Mad! I'm Mad!", and got on his waiting horse, realizing that Herald left him behind. With no way to escape, Powell wandered through the city and hid in a cemetery before arriving at the tavern of [[Mary Surratt]] on April 17, where he was arrested for the conspiracy, along with Mary Surratt.