Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
NameTheodore (’Charles ("Dicky")’) Powys 
[44, May 2002], [3, His birth, Q4 of 1906, Chaldon dist, vol 5a, p. 262], [4, 1911 ref: RG14PN12331 RG78PN700 RD262 SD4 ED9 SN19]
[44, May 2002], [3, His birth, Q4 of 1906, Chaldon dist, vol 5a, p. 262], [4, 1911 ref: RG14PN12331 RG78PN700 RD262 SD4 ED9 SN19]Birthca Nov 1906, Chaldon, Dorset
Death25 Oct 1931, Rumuruti, Kenya, Africa
Generald.unm.
FatherTheodore Francis Powys (1875-1953)
MotherViolet Rosalie (or Rosahe?) Dodds (1887-1956)
Notes for Theodore (’Charles ("Dicky")’) Powys
Far too many Charles Powys-similation births on FreeBMD to begin to identify his.
But in the 1911 census there was a son named Theodore who was born in Q4 of 1906. I think his name must have been later changed to ‘Charles (”Dicky”)’.
On Fri 30th Sept 1931, this report was in the Western Gazette on page 11:
“ KILLED BY LIONS
“ DORSET AUTHOR’S SON’S FATE
“ A KENYA TRAGEDY
“ News had been received that Mr Theodore Powys, son of Mr Theodore Francis Powys of East Chaldon, Dorset, has been killed by lions in Kenya. After three days’ search his body, partially devoured by lions, was discovered.
“ Mr Powys went to Kenya to study Farming and was a pupil at Lady Eleanor Cole’s farm at Rumumruti. On Sundat last we went out in search of some sheep, and his horse returned alone.
“ Mounted settlers, an aeroplane and natives searched nearly 100 square miles of territory but it was not until Wednesday that the remains of Mr Powys’ body was found.
“ It is assumed that his horse was frightened by lions, shied and threw its rider, and that Mr Powys was attacked and killed by the lions.
“Mr T F Powys is the well-known Dorset author.”
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And in 1934 the story had moved on, as reported on Monday 8th October 1934 in the Western Morning News on p. 7:
“ SPEAR BLOODING
“ ALLEGED RITUAL MURDER IN KENYA
“ NAIROBI, SUNDAY
“ Startling revelations are likely to follow the arrestg of a Samburn native yesterday on a charge of murdering a young Englishman, Theodore Powys in October 1931. Warrants have been issued against four others.
“ The authorities are convinced that Powys was not killed by a lion, as was then supposed, but was the victim of a spear-blooding ritual murderf by natives. --Reuter.”
_______________
In fact there was an earlier report of doubt on Friday 16th Feb 1934 in the Western Gazette on p.2:
“ A WITCH DOCTOR DEPORTED
“ DORSET MAN’s DEATH
“ “HAMPERING INVESTIGATION”
“ For hampering investigations into the death in East Africa three years ago of Mt T C Powys, son of Mr Theodore F Powys the autheor of East Chaldon, Dorchester, a witch dictor has (according to a ‘Times’ message from Nairobi) been deported.
“ ‘The Governor announced in the Legislagture today (said the message) that the Samburu witch doctor Ole Odomo had been deported to Kwale in the coastal area, as the Supreme Court was satisfied that his influence was hampering the investigation in to the recent spear-blooding crimes.
“ ‘It may be recalled that the death of a European, Mr Theodore Powys, was ascribed to Samburu warriors and the case is now being re-investigated. The suggestion is that Odomo offered the warriors protection against the retribution of the Government by issuing charms. In December last investigations were conducted into a dozen murders in the Laikipia district by Samburu warriors, who also killed a man at Kikuyu for the purpose of blooking their spears. There [sic] investigations led to the suspicions that Mr T C Powys had been killed by the Samburu.
“ ‘Mr Powys was found dead in october 1931, and it was at first thought he had been killed by a lion.’”
________________
But in the 1911 census there was a son named Theodore who was born in Q4 of 1906. I think his name must have been later changed to ‘Charles (”Dicky”)’.
On Fri 30th Sept 1931, this report was in the Western Gazette on page 11:
“ KILLED BY LIONS
“ DORSET AUTHOR’S SON’S FATE
“ A KENYA TRAGEDY
“ News had been received that Mr Theodore Powys, son of Mr Theodore Francis Powys of East Chaldon, Dorset, has been killed by lions in Kenya. After three days’ search his body, partially devoured by lions, was discovered.
“ Mr Powys went to Kenya to study Farming and was a pupil at Lady Eleanor Cole’s farm at Rumumruti. On Sundat last we went out in search of some sheep, and his horse returned alone.
“ Mounted settlers, an aeroplane and natives searched nearly 100 square miles of territory but it was not until Wednesday that the remains of Mr Powys’ body was found.
“ It is assumed that his horse was frightened by lions, shied and threw its rider, and that Mr Powys was attacked and killed by the lions.
“Mr T F Powys is the well-known Dorset author.”
_______________
And in 1934 the story had moved on, as reported on Monday 8th October 1934 in the Western Morning News on p. 7:
“ SPEAR BLOODING
“ ALLEGED RITUAL MURDER IN KENYA
“ NAIROBI, SUNDAY
“ Startling revelations are likely to follow the arrestg of a Samburn native yesterday on a charge of murdering a young Englishman, Theodore Powys in October 1931. Warrants have been issued against four others.
“ The authorities are convinced that Powys was not killed by a lion, as was then supposed, but was the victim of a spear-blooding ritual murderf by natives. --Reuter.”
_______________
In fact there was an earlier report of doubt on Friday 16th Feb 1934 in the Western Gazette on p.2:
“ A WITCH DOCTOR DEPORTED
“ DORSET MAN’s DEATH
“ “HAMPERING INVESTIGATION”
“ For hampering investigations into the death in East Africa three years ago of Mt T C Powys, son of Mr Theodore F Powys the autheor of East Chaldon, Dorchester, a witch dictor has (according to a ‘Times’ message from Nairobi) been deported.
“ ‘The Governor announced in the Legislagture today (said the message) that the Samburu witch doctor Ole Odomo had been deported to Kwale in the coastal area, as the Supreme Court was satisfied that his influence was hampering the investigation in to the recent spear-blooding crimes.
“ ‘It may be recalled that the death of a European, Mr Theodore Powys, was ascribed to Samburu warriors and the case is now being re-investigated. The suggestion is that Odomo offered the warriors protection against the retribution of the Government by issuing charms. In December last investigations were conducted into a dozen murders in the Laikipia district by Samburu warriors, who also killed a man at Kikuyu for the purpose of blooking their spears. There [sic] investigations led to the suspicions that Mr T C Powys had been killed by the Samburu.
“ ‘Mr Powys was found dead in october 1931, and it was at first thought he had been killed by a lion.’”
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