Updated: 06 Sep 2009

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POWELL, C. D.
Sapulpa Herald, Creek Co., OK
05-14-1936

Charles D. Powell, age 31, of Sapulpa, who has been working as foreman of the brick plant at the state penitentiary at McAlester the past year, was killed Wednesday afternoon as 23 convicts overpowered guards and escaped from the brick yard.

When the riot started in the plant Wednesday noon, Powell was one of the men the prisoners grabbed to use as a shield to force guards to throw down their guns. Later Powell was brutally beaten and shot and thrown from a car as the convicts rushed away from the penitentiary in two cars, one of them Powell’s.

Some of the convicts were shot and seriously wounded while a quickly organized posse captured a few more. Some eight or ten made good their escape and reports Thursday morning were that one carload of them had stopped for breakfast at a farm house near Pittsburg, then took the farmer with them towards Antlers. Word of Powell’s death was telephoned to Sapulpa during the afternoon to notify his wife and two sons, William and David who reside here at 400 South Park. A daughter, Mrs. Harrietta Selby lives at Kilgore, Texas.

Powell was born in Coldwater, Kansas, Feb 21, 1885. He was graduated from the Kansas university law school, but after moving to Sapulpa in 1909, gave up his law practice. He operated a brick plant here several years but this plant has been shut down the past few years. A little over a year ago he was appointed foreman of the brick plant at McAlester, but his family remained in Sapulpa.

Funeral arrangements have been announced by Lewis and Landrith, who went to McAlester for the body of Mr. Powell Wednesday evening. 

Services are to be held 2:30 Friday afternoon from the First Christian Church, with Rev. Roy Harp, former local pastor, in charge. Burial will be made in South Heights Cemetery.