The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-22
ASKS A BIG sum.
Miss Genevfeve Russell Sues for
Heavy Damages.
Wants Fifteen Thousand Dollars
Damages for Injuries.
HORSE FELL OVER WIRE
Contractor Failed to Put Out
Danger Signal.
She Says That Her Hurts Are
Permanent.
RORSEFELL OVER WIRE

| Genevieve (RusseI) North, the ac-
! tress and wife of c. c. North. today
filed suit in the district court against
the city of Topeka and the Kaw Paw
ing company in which she asks $15,35C
damages for injuries in a fall on Col
lege avenue the night of August 25.
The action was brought through Ed
Mex eever. attorney for Mrs. North,
and after the city refused to make
| settlement on her claim.
Among Mrs. NOrth's more serious
injuries was a badly wrenched and
sprained hand and wrist. This injury
/ had delayed the actress in filing her
contract as leading lady for the North
| Brothers company in their Wichita
| house. 1t is charged that this injury
| is a permanent blemiSh of the won1-
ans appearance on the stage and these
defects come high in a damage suit.
The plaintiff was returning from a
horseback ride in the country the night
of August Is and was accompanied by
her sister, At this time the city was
paving on College avenue, the work be-
ing done by the Kaw Paving company.
A wire had been stretched across the
street to prevent trespassing- But no
lights were provided and Mrs. North
said she did not know the wire was
there She also says the street light
at the corner near the accident was
not burning that night and that no
precaution had been taken by the city
or the contractors to warn travellers on
the street.
Mrs. North was riding some distance
ahead of her sister, when the
horse encountered the smooth, slack
wire on which a mortar bucket had
been hung Her horse became entan-
gled in the wire and fell. Mrs. North
was caught in the fall and severely
bruised. Since the accident she has
been under the care of physician
The accident occurred but few days
before the opening OF the tneatrlcal
season in Wichita, where Mrs. North
was to star this season as leading lady
for the North Brothers stock com
pany In her petition she says she had
provided her seasons wardrobe at
cost of $1,000 and had made elaborate
ard expensive arrangements Tor her
debut in the Peerless Princess
It is charged that her injuries are
permanent and that she may be COM
PEELED to cancel her contract Tor the
season. Her contract called Tor $40
week and expenses and she DeHeVeS
that her injuries are worth $l5,OU0. Ad-
ded to this is $3.50 for medical attention
since the accident According TO the
compound fracture of the left wrist, the
carpal bones were wrenched, crushed
and torn from the bones of the arm,
the bones were disarranged ana dls-
placed. causing them to protrude from
fhe front and back leaving her hand
ard wrist deformed and nisshapen, that
the fingers of her left hand are para
Iyzed and it is impossible to use her
hand either as a musician or in her
work as an actress It is also charged
tba+ +5e cords and glands of her neck
1rara yvrenched and her body and hips
were seriously bruised, leaving her in
condition Of nervous prostration.
Mrs North starred in the North
Brothers Stock company IN Iopeka
since the company located in this city
three years ago. This winter she was
TO have carried the lead for the COM
many in it's Wichita engagement.