Marcus Powell, 1937 July 12

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they also searched the garage. In addition to discovering blood-
stains, they also found the rings and jewlry that Powell claimed
the two women had been wearing when they left the house on the night
of their disappearance, The bodies floated to the Surface and were
discovered on March 6 and Powell's tire tracks matched some found

at the creek, He was arrested and charged with the two murders, In

house at his invitation was done so without a warrant, but the Court
ruled that as he had given permission and even asked them to search
2 warrant was not necessary and they affirmed the lower Court,
Powell was electrocuted at Raiford Prison on July 12, 1937,

POLICE DRAGNET, February, 196),
HEADQUARTERS DETECTIVE, Jamary 1975,
175 SOUTHERN REPORTER 213

they also searched the garage. In addition to discovering blood-
stains, they also found the rings and jewalry that Powell claimed
the two women had been wearing when they left the house on the nipht
of their disappearance, The, bodies floated to the surface and were
discovered on March 6 and Powell's tire tracks matched some found
at the creeke He was arrested and charged with the two murders, In
Spite of the overwhelming circumstantial evidence against him, he
denied his guilt but he was nonetheless convicted and séntenced to
die. His sentence was appealed to the State Supreme Court on the
grounds that the evidence obtained when the officers searched his
house at his invitation was done so without a warrant, but the Court
ruled that as he had given permission and even asked them to search
@ warrant was not necessary and they affirmed the lower Court.
Powell was electrocuted at Raiford Prison on July 12, 1937,

POLICE DRAGNET, February, 196).
HEADQUARTERS DETECTIVE, Jamary 1975,
175 SOUTHERN REPORTER 213

ruled that as he had given permis:
@ warrant was not necessary and
Powell was electrocuted at Raiford

POLICE DRAGNET, February, 196k,
HEADQUARTERS D&TSCTIVE, Jamary 1975,
175 SOUTHERN REPORTER 213

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POWELL, Marcus C,

Powell, a 50-year-old white man was the son of a prominent Alabama
family. When he was 2l-years-old he stabbed a man who he said had
been annoying his sister in Troy, Ala, Theman died and Powell was
Sentenced to 10 years in prison but his influential family managed
to get him paroled after one year, He then moved to Jacksonville,
Fia., where he married Katharine Speer, the daughter of a wealthy
widow, Mrs, LouiseSpeer, A few years later, in the course 66 an
argument, he killed William T, Cowles, a Jacksonville attorney, and
was sentenced to life imprisonment, After Spending a large part of
her fortuna, Mrs. Speer was able to get him released after he had
served only three years of his sentence and he returned to Jackson=
ville. A friend informed Powell that his wife planned to divorce
him and arrange things where he could never receive any of her pro-
perty. Though the friend's information was not based on fact, Powel
believed him and on the night of March 2, 1936, he bludgeoned both
Katharine and Mrs, Speer to death with a hammer. He drove the cor-
pses to a creek in Nassau County, cut open the Bbdomens which he
weighted with rocks and threw them ine Them next day, he reported
both women missing and when officers went to his house, he invited
them in and invited them to search the premises, At his invitation

POWELL, Marcus C.

Powell, a 50-year-old white man was the son of a prominent Alabama
family. When he was 2l-years-old he stabbed a man who he said had
been annoying his sister in Troy, Ala, The-man died and Powell was
sentenced to 10 years in prison but his influential family managed
to get him paroled after one year. He then moved to Jacksonville,
Pla, » Where he married Katharine Speer, the daughter of a wealthy
widow, Mrs. LouiseSpeer. A few years later, in the course 66 an
argumant, he killed William 1, Cowles, a Jacksonville attorney, and
was sentenced to life imprisonment. After Spending a large part of
her fortuma, Mrs. Speer was able to get him released after he had
Served only three years of his sentence and he returned to Jackson-
ville. A friend informed Powell that his wife planned to divorce
him and arrange things where he could never receive any of her pro-
perty. Though the friend's information was not based on fact, Powel]
believed him and on the night of March 2 1936, he bludgeoned both
Katharine and Mrs, Speer to death with a hammer, He drove the cor-
pses to a creek in Nassau County, cut open the Bbdomens which he
weighted with rocks and threw them in. Them next day, he reported
both momen missing and when officers went to his house, he invited
them in and invited them to search the premises, At his invitation

POWELL, Marcus C,

Powell, @ 50-year-old white man was the son of a prominent Alabama
family. When he was 2l-ycars-old he stabbed a man who he said had
been annoying his sister in Troy, Ala,

sentenced to 10 years in 2
fo get him paroled after one year, He then moved to Jacksonville,
ia. where he married Katharine Speer, the daughter of a wealthy
widow, Mrs. LoulseSpeer, A few years later, in the course 68 an
argumant, he killed William T, Cowles, a Jacksonvill

was sentenced to life imprisonment,

her fortune, Mrs,

he bludgeoned both
er. He drove the cor-

n Nassau County, cut open the Bbdomens which he
in, “Thex nex

Weighted with rocks and threw tham day, he reported
both momen missing and when officers went to his house, he invited
them in and invited them to search the premises, At his invitation

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ce naiad,


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Resource Type:
Document
Description:
Marcus Powell executed on 1937-07-12 in Florida (FL)
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Date Uploaded:
July 12, 2019

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