The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-19
A MANS VALUE.
Al Estimated by Juries in Accident
Cases.

AZ Estimated by Juries In Accident
| Cases.
Every person who is brought into the
world sound in wind and limb starts the
| battle of life with prospective fortune
| Of S144, 900. This estimate is based upon
| thevaluatioLs placed on the various por-
tons of the human anatomy by juries in
different states which have given dam
ages for the loss of limb or other
physical injuries.
It is probable that not one person
In half million would agree to part
with his eyes for ten times $4,000, but
this amount being the legal valuation
it follows that every man starts life
with capital of $4,000 when he pos
sesses sound eyes.
To be born with eight sound fingers
and two sound thumbs means that $32, =
500 is to be added to the capital of man.
In the performance of his duty Brake
man Peavey, Of Kansas City, had the
misfortune to be deprived of the thumb
and one finger of his right hand. He
promptly sued the Kansas & Pacific
Railroad company for damages, on the
ground that their negligence caused
the accident that deprived him of his
digits. A jury decided that the value
of the missing members to the owner
was $500, and, although the company
appealed the case to the supreme court,
they failed to get this figure reduced.
AT this rate a mans fingers and thumbs
represent cash value of $32, 500, quite
small estimate when the importance
of the members is taken into considera-
ton
Strange to say, the value Of the whole
hand Is only estimated to be 81, 700, ors9,-
400 for the two, according to a jury that
decided the amount of damages against
the Central railroad, when James We
&c BrSy, Georgia man, who was in
Jured in smashup, sued the company
for the loss of that member. 1t would
have been to his interest had he lost
oil his fingers, instead Of hand, could
that have been arranged; but as he lost
the whole hand, tho jury decided that
he had been deprived of only S4,7oO
of his natural life capital. For two
hands, the normal number allowed to
human being, the legal valuation
would therefore be $1,000.
In the case of the loss of the whole
arm, the dollar value, according to the
ruling of the courts, is even less than
that awarded for the hands alone. Mrs.
Davidson, lady 81 years of age. was
deprived of her right arm in railroad
collision, for which the Texas Railroad
company had to foot the bill. A jury
decided that the loss meant about St. 600
worth of damage to the injured lady,
but the supreme court overruled the de-
cision and reduced the amount to s4,-
600. This places the value of two arms
at $1,000.
Ribs are costly. Farmer Quinn, of
Long Island, who sued for damages
when he had three ribs broken in a
Long Island railroad collision, recov-
cred damages to the extent of $4,000.
This being the quotation for three ribs,
1t follows that every man with the nor
mai allowance of ribs is possessed OF
$4,000 in that portion of his frame.
Thigh bones are also valued at fancy
figures. Charles Thompson had thigh
bone broken in collision ON the line
of the Louisville Railroad company, and
sympathetic jury came to the conclu-
sion, after learning that leg had to
be sacrificed. that the injury to the
thigh was worth to Thompson $4,000.
y man with two sound thighs can.
therefore, congratulate himself on be-
ing worth $4,000 in those two mem
hers.
Legs can be quoted at various prices.
according 20 the position of the break
that necessitates their removal. Thus
William Moore, who sued the Atchison
Railroad company for the loss OF a leg
below the knee, got Ss.eeo damages to
repay him. The -ailroad con, pau.y
thought that was pretty high quota
ton Tor human legs and they took the
case 10 the supreme court. There il
was decided that leg was worth S1o,-
coo. Two legs will. therefore, be worth
$4,000 TO their owner. The toes are
Valued at $1,000 apiece. or $4,000 for
ten toes The $1,000 figure was the de-
eislon arrived at by, jury in Norfolk.
s., IN the case OF David Burge against
the Norfolk & West Virginia railroad
Tor passing over his foot.
The hearing OF man IS valued 1T
5000. which John Hamilton got from
me Third avenue cable road for deaf
ness caused b. being thrown from his
wagon in collision between the wagon
and cable car. Two ears, $4,000.
Nerves are not valued at a high price.
simpson Waldron managed TO SECURE