Kell, Wilbur

Picher Oklahoma, June 7.--Wilbur Kell, 46 years old, foreman at the L. & G. Mine for nine years, was fatally injured about 7 pm last night when his right leg became entangled in a cable and shive wheel in the mill. Just what duties Mr. Kell was performing when the accident occurred were not learned. An ambulance rushed him to a local hospital where attending physicians used every effort to save his life, but because the amputation was so close to the body, their efforts were of no avail. Death resulted shortly before midnight.

Mr. Kell was well known in the hard rock lead and zinc district, having came here 10 years ago from Webb City Missouri Besides his wife, Mrs. Bertie Kell, 600 Alta street, Picher; two brothers; E. H. Kell of Treece Kansas, and W. A. Kell, residing in Oklahoma, and two sisters, Mrs. Zona Williams of Garfield Arkansas, and Mrs. Betty McIrvin of Webb City, survive. The body is at the Green mortuary at Picher awaiting the arrival of relatives.

Funeral services will be held at 1 pm Friday, at the Baptist church here with the Rev. R. N. McKnight of Baxter Springs Kansas officiating. Burial will be in Webb City Missouri cemetery at Webb City, under direction of the Green undertaking company. The Picher I.O.O.F. Lodge will be in charge of services at the grave.

Damages amounting to $3,500 were awarded to Mrs. Bertie E. Kell by Judge J. J. Smith in district court this morning in a lawsuit asking for compensation for the death of her husband, William E. Kell, in an accident at the L. & G. Mining Company's mill last June and the mining company agreed to waive jury rights and the case was submitted to Judge Smith for settlement. The mining company offered no evidence, accepting that brought out by the plaintiff.

Kell was killed while attempting to unchoke the mouth of a hopper containing rock. His clothing became caught in machinery and his body, badly mangled, was thrown more than 40 feet.