The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-05-07
YOU'RE WORTH si4A.e 900.
Eyes, Ears, Legs, Toes and Nerves All
Have q Cash Nalue.

the battle OF life with prospective
fortune of Sl44, 800. This estimate is
based upon the valuations placed on
the various portions of the human anat-
orny by iurics in different States when
have given damages for the loss OF
limb or other physical injuries.
A jury in trial term of the New YORK
Supreme Court awarded TO Antonio
Gargiu,o the sum Of $1,000 for the loss
of an eye.
1t is probable that not one person in
100000 would agree to part with MS
ewes for ten times $4,000, but this
amount being the legal valuation, it
follows that every man starts life with
a canital of 81 600 when he possesses
sound eyes.
To be born with eight sound hngers
and two sound thumbs means that So-,-
500 is to be added to the capital OF the
man. In the performance Of his duty
Brakeman 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 ana IA
cific Railroad Company for damages on
the ground that their negligence caused
the accident that deprived him OF MS
digtts. a jury decided thai the value
of the missing members to the owner
was $1,000. and. although the company
appealed the case TO the Supreme
Court, they failed to get this figure re-
duoed. AT this rate mans fingers ana
thumbs represent cash value OF S3S2,-
800, quite a small estimate when the
Importance of the members is taken
into consideration.
Strange to say, the value of the whole
hand is only estimated TO be $4,000. or
$1,000 the two, according to a jury that
decided theamount of damages against
the Central Railroad. when James Verde
Bray, a Georgia man. who was injur-
ed in snashup. sued the company for
the loss of that member. 1t would have
been to his interest had he lost all his
fingers, instead of a hand, could that
have been arranged: but as he lost the
whole hand the jury decided that he
had been deprived of only S4,I00 of his
natural life capital. Fer two hands. the
normal number allowed to human be-
ing, the legal valuation would there
fore 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 a railroad
collision, for which the Texas Railroad
Company had to foot the bill. A jury
decided that the loss meant about 5000
worth Of damage to the injured lady,
but the Supreme Court overruled the
decision and reduced the amount to
$4,000. This places the value of two
arms at $4,000.
Ribs are costly. Father Quinn, of
Long Island, who sued for damages
when he had three ribs broken in a
Long Island railroad collision. recover
ed damages to the extent of $1,000.
This being the quotation for three ribs,
it follows that every man with the nor
nal allowance of ribs is possessed of
10000 in that portion of his frame.
Thigh bones are also valued at fancy
figures. Charles Thompson had thigh
bone broken in a 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. A man
with two sound thighs can, therefore
congratulate himself on being worth
$4,000 in those two members.
Legs can be quoted at various prices
according to the position of the break
that necessitates their removal Thus
William Moore, who sued the Atchison
Railroad Company for the loss of leg
below the knee, got $4,000 damages to
repay him. The railroad company
thought that was a pretty high quota
ton for human legs and they took the
case to the Supreme Court There it
was decided that leg was worth S1O,-
600. 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-
cision arrived at by jury in Norfolk
Pa, in the case of David Burge against
the Norfolk and West Virginia Rail
road passing over his foot
The hearing of a man is valued at
$4,000, which John Hamilton got from
the Third avenue cable road for deaf
ness caused by being thrown from his
wagon in a collision between the wag-
on and cable car. Two ears. $4,000.
Nerves are not valued a a high price
Simpson Waldron managed to secure
only $1,000 from the st. Paul Railroad
Company when he sued for damages on
account of his shattered nervous sys-
TEN after a wreck, in which he was
badly shaken up. Most people would
be glad to part with their nerves for
less than this. but according to the Jury
valuation this is the figure at which
they should be quoted. The lungs are
priced at $1,000 James Hand sued the
Union Pacific Railroad Company for
damages after an accident that caused
the weakening of his lungs. and a jury
concluded that lungs We're worth to a