The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-18
ANOTHER SUIT FILED
Against the Wichita Electric
Light Company
LEE IRIN WANTS $4,000
For Injuries Received From a
Live Wire.

The wichita Electric Light and Power
company, on account Of two serious acci-
dents that have happened from alleged
negligence with reference to the safety OF
its wireFhas had two large damage suits
filed against It within the past three
months. The hrst is that OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Russell, parents Of Walter Russell,
who was so severely injured that he died
a slow and horrible death last winter.
The parents have sued the company for
5000 for the death Of their son. The sec
ond suit was filed yesterday by Lee Irwin,
the little colored boy who was 50 severely
injured a few weeks ago by stepping upon
a i've electric light wire In the alley at
the rear Of Mr.. Bryan's residence, 6S1
North Fourth avenue. He is said to be
lingering in pain from the effects OF the
accident and claims that he will be a
cripple the rest OF his life. He has placed
his case against the Wichita Gas. Electric
Light and Power company in the hands
OF Attorney Bruce Keenan,, and yesterday
Mr.. keenan, filed petition In the district
court asking damages against the COM
pany for SO, 300. The suit is brought in
the name OF the boys father. Harrison
Irwin, as his next friend The petition re-
cites the laws governing the proper exer-
else Of care in the placing and maintain
ing OF electric light wires, poles. ETC., and
alleges that the company was grossly neg
ligent in allowing the dires to remain on
the ground and charged with heavy volt
age Of electricity, making them dangerous
and deadly. even after the company had
been notified that such wire was broken
and lying on the ground. The petition
alleges that the wire on which young 1r-
win was shocked was first broken about
the 22d day of May, but that 1t was
poorly PATCHED and broke again on the
18th Of June and allowed to remain broken
and charged with a deadly current OF
electricity until the boy was hurt. which
was on the 18th day Of June.
The PLAINTIFFS petition alleges that eft
is the duty OF the electric light company.
owing to the great danger to life and limb
on account OF the business It is conduct
ing, to exercise all possible care in put
ting up and operating its plant and wires,
and to Immediately attend to and repair
ell broken and defective wires and appli-
ances, and when wires are broken to have
the latest and most accurate in
struments for testing and noting the facts
that such wires are broken or grounded;
and II is defendants duty in case a wire
is broken, to cut of from such wire the
current Of electricity, that the life and
limbs OF persons of the city, and partic-
ularly in the streets and alleys of the city,
be not endangered thereby" The petition
further states that In order to make the
wires safe, the company should securely
attach them to strong, stiR poles not to
exceed 10 feet apart and sufficiently set
in the ground. The plaintiff says that the.
poles where he was injured were more
than go feet apart. The plaintiff says
that on the 18th day of June he was
walking in the alley between Emporia
and Fourth avenues and Elm and Pine
streets when he accidentally stepped on
the live wire and by coming In bodily
contact with the said wire he received
into his body its current of electricity,
causing him terrible and painful bodily
wounds. Plaintiff says he was thrown to
the ground and IN trying to eUtricate
himself was terribly burned in many
places. His nerves and muscles were
wrecked by the shock, and he has suf-
fered and still suffers periodical parox-
ysms, racking his whsle body. His pain
and suffering, he says. are excruciating,
and from which he has been unable 70
find relief. He claims that all his pain
and suffering are directly attributable to
the negligence OF the defendant, and that
by reason OF his said injuries, and the
negligence Of the defendant, he has suf-
fered great damages in the sum Of $1,000
He has. in his vain effort to cure him
self from his grievous wounds, employed
physicians and purchased medicines and
expended money for nurse hire, at a cost
OF $500; wherefore. he asks Judgment
against the Wichita Gas, Electric Light
and Power company in the sum Of
81, 800.
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