The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-20
SUES FOR BIC SUM
E, J. Crist Asks $4,000 From
Electric Light Company
FOR PERSONAL INJURIES
Received While Attempting to
Hang a Live Wire.

E. ]. Crist, formerly a ltneman for
the Wichita Electric Light cofpany, yes
terday sued the company for sl9,5JJ dam
ages for personal injuries alleged 10 have
been received while hanging wire on
Douglas avenue in 1895 Adams & Adams
are his attorneys. Crist was shocked
severely and knocked from the pole by a
strong current of electricity, and has
not been able. it is said, to use his left
arm since. He says that in the fail Of
1892 the defendant employed the plaintiff
as a uneman to see after its lines, in
erecting, establishing and maintaining its
electric light lines in the city, and that
the plaintiff remained in the employ OF
the company, off and on, from year to
year, until the Sth day Of June, 1888, at
which time, ne alleges, while he was in
the employ of the defendant, acting IN his
line OF duty as such ernploye, and under
the instructions and directions of the de-
PENDANT and its duly authorized agents,
he was greatly damaged and injured
through the carelessness and negligence
and want of care on the part Of the de-
PENDANT toward him, as such employe.
The negligence Of the defendant, he al
Ieges,. consisted in the company's having,
keeping and maintaining a certain pole
on Main street, in the city Of Wichita
for the purpose of fastening its wires to,
maintaining and establishing its electric
light lines, and within the system Of cleo
trio light lines being used and operated
by the company at the time. He alleges
that the pole was old, decayed and mu-
tilated, soft and rotten in parts and
places, and cracked open in certain
places. In fact, the pole was so defect
i've and IN such condition that in time of
rains it absorbed and consumed a large
amount Of dampness, rain and water, and
retained the same to such an extent and
in such quantities that it became a ready
conductor Of electricity, to such an ex-
tent that 1t became dangerous to the de-
PENDANT whose duty 1t was to climb the
pole, in erecting maintaining and keep
ing the electric light wires properly
strung
Mr. Crist states that within a few
hours after a shower of rain that fell on
the Sth day Of June, 1898, he was informed
by the company that a wire was down,
and that he was ordered and directed by
the defendants agent to climb the pole
to cut a wire that at the time was lying
upon the ground yet charged with cleo
tricity. Crist alleges that, before climb
ing the pole he ordered and directed the
defendant through its foreman and man
ager, under whose instructions and di-
rections he was then working, to shut off
the electricity in the circuit in which the
wire was located, but that the defendant
carelessly and negligently failed and ne
elected 70 cut off the electricity in said
circuit, as requested and directed by him.
Believing and surprising that his request
had been complied with, he proceeded to
climb the pole and to cut the wire. as d.
rected by the defendant. Owing to the
defective condition of the pole. and
owing to the negligence and carelessness
of the defendant, in failing to cut off the
current of electricity, Crist. in atttmpt-
ing 10 cut the wire with pliers as was
customary for hnemen to DO, claims that
he was greatly burned and permanently
injured by the electric current and cleo
tricity. His muscles. nerves and liga-
ments Of his left hand. arm and shoulder
were burned. by reason Of which he suf-
fered great pain and mental anguish, and
has become almost totally and perman-
emily injured in the use of his left hand.
arm and shoulder. in such a manner that
he is unable to follow his occupation as
a lneman, or perform manual labor.
with the same