James Young Willingham
M, b. circa 1866, d. 13 September 1902
James Young Willingham|b. c 1866\nd. 13 Sep 1902|p103.htm|Pulaski Mortimer Willingham|b. 1 Oct 1831\nd. 6 Mar 1911|p99.htm|Susan Delinah Milner|b. c 1841|p100.htm|Alexander H. Willingham|b. c 1810\nd. 28 Jul 1882|p112.htm|Emily Morse|b. c 1814|p232.htm|||||||
James Young Willingham was born circa 1866 in Kentucky.1 He was the son of Pulaski Mortimer Willingham and Susan Delinah Milner. James Young Willingham died on 13 September 1902 in the Western Kentucky Asylum, Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky,
Hopkins Kentuckian 3 February 1903
Hon. P. M. Willingham, former Representative from Webster county, has filed a big damage suit against the Western Kentucky Asylum and Supt. W. W. Ray, as administrator of his deceased son, James Y. Willingham.
It is alleged that Jas. Y. Willingham, while a patient in said asylum, and "deprived of his liberty, destitute of mind and incapable of protecting himself by reason of mental and physical infirmities, from injury at the hands of his insane companions, or against the negligence or wrongful acts of those in charge of his person, the said James Y. Willingham was negligently, wrongfully, and with force taken by the agents, servants and employees of said corporation, and of said superintendent, and under the pretext of bathing him, he was placed in a bathtub and boiling water turned upon his nudeperson; that while thus helpless and restrained by force, of his liberty, said hot boiling water was negligently and wrongfully permitted to flow upon and over his body until the flesh upon his feet and legs was scalded and cooked to such an extent that it decayed and sluffed off to the bones in his feet and legs, exposing his bones in many places; that after such injuries were thus inflicted upon said Willingham, he was neglected by the agents and servants of said corporation and said superintendent, and was not given proper attention, and that his said wounds were negligently dressed, if dressed at all, by which said Willingham's sufferings were greatly increased." He alleges that by reason of this Willingham's wounds resulted in his death after he had languished and suffered from August 27 to Sept. 13. He sues for $25,000 damages
Breathitt & Stites and Downer & Russell are the plaintiffs attorneys
Clint Elliott, who was an attendant on the ward where the tragedy occurred, states that he was out of the ward at the time getting supplies for his ward and that an Italian fiddler named Chas. Benjamin, who had been placed on the payroll, was supposed to be assistant attendant and was present when two patients put Willingham in the tub.
He says he reported the matter to one of the physicians who told him to rub sweet oil on the burns, but it was several hours before the oil was obtained. When the matter became public, Elliott says he was asked to resign and Benjamin was kept at the asylum until about Jan. 15th.
It is said the scalding was admitted, but the defense will claim that it was not sufficient to cause death. The official records, it is said, give "paresis" as the cause of death.
The facts will be amply proven, the plaintiff says, by witnesses here and in Webster county, who saw the condition of Willingham's wounds after his death.2
Hon. P. M. Willingham, former Representative from Webster county, has filed a big damage suit against the Western Kentucky Asylum and Supt. W. W. Ray, as administrator of his deceased son, James Y. Willingham.
It is alleged that Jas. Y. Willingham, while a patient in said asylum, and "deprived of his liberty, destitute of mind and incapable of protecting himself by reason of mental and physical infirmities, from injury at the hands of his insane companions, or against the negligence or wrongful acts of those in charge of his person, the said James Y. Willingham was negligently, wrongfully, and with force taken by the agents, servants and employees of said corporation, and of said superintendent, and under the pretext of bathing him, he was placed in a bathtub and boiling water turned upon his nudeperson; that while thus helpless and restrained by force, of his liberty, said hot boiling water was negligently and wrongfully permitted to flow upon and over his body until the flesh upon his feet and legs was scalded and cooked to such an extent that it decayed and sluffed off to the bones in his feet and legs, exposing his bones in many places; that after such injuries were thus inflicted upon said Willingham, he was neglected by the agents and servants of said corporation and said superintendent, and was not given proper attention, and that his said wounds were negligently dressed, if dressed at all, by which said Willingham's sufferings were greatly increased." He alleges that by reason of this Willingham's wounds resulted in his death after he had languished and suffered from August 27 to Sept. 13. He sues for $25,000 damages
Breathitt & Stites and Downer & Russell are the plaintiffs attorneys
Clint Elliott, who was an attendant on the ward where the tragedy occurred, states that he was out of the ward at the time getting supplies for his ward and that an Italian fiddler named Chas. Benjamin, who had been placed on the payroll, was supposed to be assistant attendant and was present when two patients put Willingham in the tub.
He says he reported the matter to one of the physicians who told him to rub sweet oil on the burns, but it was several hours before the oil was obtained. When the matter became public, Elliott says he was asked to resign and Benjamin was kept at the asylum until about Jan. 15th.
It is said the scalding was admitted, but the defense will claim that it was not sufficient to cause death. The official records, it is said, give "paresis" as the cause of death.
The facts will be amply proven, the plaintiff says, by witnesses here and in Webster county, who saw the condition of Willingham's wounds after his death.2
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