my legs, the right one first and then the left one. The worse injury is on my left leg. The right leg doesn't bother me much, the left leg does. Sometimes it gets stiff and makes my whole leg hurt. Bad pains run through it all the time and it itches terribly. Just once in a while sharp pains run through my right leg. Sincerely yours, BEATRICE LOIS RUCKER. P. S.-When the accident happened I was knocked unconscious for about a moment. That is all I remember. I, Archie J. Rucker, of 1824 East One Hundred and Fifth Street, Los Angeles, Calif., on oath depose and say, that on July 11, 1938, my daughter, Beatrice Rucker, age 15, was struck by a rope from a United States Army airplane while the plane was in the air. This accident occurred at Brighton Beach, Terminal Island, Calif., about 3 p. m. She was under the care of Dr. R. Bledsoe, whose address is 10353 Wilmington Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. The following people saw the accident: Mrs. Marian Cummings, 11117 Alabama Street; Mrs. Allye Edith Graves, 1509 East One Hundred and Eighth Street; Sue-Ella Rucker, 1824 East One Hundred and Fifth Street. Witness my hand this [SEAL] day of February 1939. ARCHIE J. RUCKER. STELLA KIMbrough, Notary Public in and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California. My commission expires June 18, 1942. Hon. LEE GEYER, RALPH W. E. BLEDSOE, M. D., Los Angeles, February 7, 1939. Washington, D. C. Congressman, Seventeenth District, MY DEAR MR. GEYER: The following is a report of injuries and treatment rendered by me in the case of Beatrice Lois Rucker who was injured by the tow rope of a Navy plane on July 11, 1938, while bathing on Brighton Beach. The patient is a colored female, age 15. Findings (1) A spiral wound on the left leg in which all skin had been denuded and part of the muscle tissue. This wound was about one-half inch in depth and 7 inches long, about 1/4 inches wide. (2) A spiral wound of the right leg in which muscle and skin had been destroyed. Wound was about one-half inch deep and about 9 inches long. A second wound of the same character was also found on the calf of the right leg. Permanent disability consists of a large keloid about 7 inches long on the left leg. It required about 6 weeks of constant treatment to heal these wounds. My fee for this service is $50. Hoping that this is the information that you require, I am, Sincerely, Signed this 15th day of May 1939. RALPH W. E. BLEDSOE, M. D. RALPH W. E. BLEDSOE, M. D. Attest: Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary public in and for Los Angeles County, this 15th day of May 1939. [SEAL] STELLA KIMBROUGH, Notary Public, Los Angeles County, State of California. My commission expires June 18, 1942. Hon. LEE E. GEYER, Washington, D. C. RALPH W. E. BLEDSOE, M. D., DEAR SIR: Replying to your letter regarding the injuries sustained by Beatrice Lois Rucker, 1824 East One Hundred and Fifth Street, Los Angeles, Calif., will say: This patient was painfully burned on both legs by a rope which was dangling from a Navy plane. These burns were severe in places being about one-half inch in depth. The healing of these wounds resulted in the formation of large elevated scars called keloids. These keloids are tumorous masses over the seat of the wounds and consist of fibrous tissue. They constitute a permanent disability in that they primarily disfigure the limbs of the young lady and are clearly deforming and visible through the stockings. Secondarily there is always the probability that this tissue may at some later date become malignant, as a result of irritation or subsequent injury. Ordinarily, this condition causes much pain and itching and does not cause the patient to limp. She suffered intense pain at the time of injury and during the healing process. Sincerely, Attest: RALPH W. E. BLEDSOE, M. D. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of June 1939. [SEAL] W. J. CHURCH, Notary Public in and for Los Angeles County. О JUNE 19 (legislative day, MAY 28), 1940.-Ordered to be printed Mr. SCHWARTZ, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 5388] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5388) for the relief of Thomas Lewellyn and Drusilla Lewellyn, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The facts are fully set forth in House Report No. 2284, Seventy-sixth Congress, third session, which is appended hereto and made a part of this report. (H. Rept. No. 2284, 76th Cong., 3d sess.] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5388), for the relief of Thomas Lewellyn and Drusilla Lewellyn having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: Line 6, strike out the sign and figures "$5,000" and insert in lieu thereof $3,500". Line 7, strike out the word "Government" and insert in lieu thereof "United States". Line 8, after the word "struck" insert a comma, and add "on December 20, 1935,". Line 10, after the word "Corps" insert "in Indianapolis, Indiana". Beginning with the word "Provided" in line 10, strike out the remaining language of the bill and insert in lieu thereof the following: ": Provided, That no part of the amount appropriated in this Act in excess of 10 per centum thereof shall be paid or delivered to or received by any agent or attorney on account of services rendered in connection with this claim, and the same shall be unlawful, any contract to the contrary notwithstanding. Any person violating the provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $1,000." The purpose of the proposed legislation is to pay to Thomas Lewellyn and Drusilla Lewellyn the sum of $3,500 in full settlement of all claims against the United States for injuries received by them on account of being struck by a Government-owned truck which was being operated by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Indianapolis, Ind., on December 20, 1935. STATEMENT OF FACTS After dark on the evening of December 20, 1935, a Plymouth coach owned by Icelene Combs and operated by Lloyd Combs, with Thomas Lewellyn, Drusilla Lewellyn, and Alice Crane as passengers, was proceeding in a northeasterly direction on State Highway No. 67, Indianapolis, Ind., at a speed of 30 to 35 miles per hour. State Highway No. 67 is a preferential or through highway. At the same time a Civilian Conservation Corps truck was proceeding east on Thirty-eighth Street. It is stated by the War Department that the driver came to a stop in obedience to a stop sign, and then made a left turn into State Highway No. 67 and in so doing collided with the left side and front of the Plymouth coach above-mentioned, the impact knocking the private car in an easterly direction across the intersection a distance of 30 to 40 feet. As a result of this accident all the occupants of the car were injured, Mr. and Mrs. Lewellyn receiving the most serious injuries. Mr. Thomas Lewellyn, aged 75 at the time of the accident, suffered the following: Bruises and contusions of the face, head, back, body, legs, feet, and arms; suffered concussion of the brain; back and spine injured; right leg sprained and fractured and ligaments torn; sustained a double rupture; serious injuries to the left arm; severe injury to the head; severe nervous injuries. Mr. Lewellyn was confined at the Fort Harrison Hospital and in the Robert Long Hospital for a total of 35 days, and so incurred considerable expense for hospital, doctors, and nurses. Mrs. Drusilla Lewellyn, aged 67 at the time of the accident, suffered the following injuries: Comminuted fracture of distal end of the left femur with fracture line extending through the joint space, bruises and contusions to her abdomen and stomach, concussion of the brain, spine and back injuries, bruises and contusions to her body, arms, face, legs, and feet, injuries to her nerves and nervous system. Mrs. Lewellyn was confined at the Fort Harrison Hospital and in the Robert Long Hospital for a total of 89 days, and also incurred considerable expense in this connection. Mrs. Lewellyn is now unable to walk except with the use of crutches, with limitations and restrictions in movement. According to medical information furnished, this woman is totally and permanently crippled for life, and even the limited amount of movement she is able to perform is accompanied by most severe pain. Prior to Mr. Lewellyn's injury he was permanently employed and earned a living for himself and his wife. Due to his injuries he is now unable to do this and must depend upon the charity of friends and relatives for support and assistance. The accident was investigated by a board of officers which found that it was due in part to the negligence of the driver of the Government vehicle. It is stated by the War Department that the proximate cause of the accident was negligence of the driver of the Government vehicle in failing to determine that the preferential highway was sufficiently clear of approaching traffic for him to pursue his course with safety. Property-damage claims which were submitted to the War Department in connection with this accident have been paid and the Department has no objection to the enactment of this legislation which is to compensate Mr. and Mrs. Lewellyn for their severe pain and suffering, as well as future disability and loss of means of livelihood. Your committee feels that this case is most meritorious and recommends that the sum of $3,500 be awarded to these claimants. Appended hereto is the report of the War Department, together with other pertinent evidence. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 23, 1937. Hon. AMBROSE J. KENNEDY, Chairman, Committee on Claims, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. KENNEDY: Careful consideration has been given to the bill H. R. 7989, Seventy-fifth Congress, for the relief of Thomas Lewellyn and Drusilla Lewellyn, which you transmitted to the War Department under date of August 12, 1937, with request for information and the views of the Department relative thereto. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to pay to Thomas Lewellyn and Drusilla Lewellyn the sum of $5,000 in full settlement of all claims against the Government for injuries received by them on account of being struck by a Gov |