Watts, Livingston "Tom"

Picher Oklahoma, Mar 20 Livingston "Tom" Watts of Miami, 35 years old, was killed shortly before 4 yesterday afternoon at the Kansas Exploration Ritz Mine, in the west part of Cardin Oklahoma, when he fell 30 feet down the shaft from the upper to the lower level of the mine while assisting in lowering a pump. Death was reported to have been almost instantaneous. Mr. Watts is survived by two daughters, Illa Lee Watts and Maurine Watts. He and his daughters made their home at the Grand apartments in Miami. The body which is at the parlors of the Todd undertaking company, of Picher, probably will be sent to Texas for burial.

Judgment for $50,000 is asked as a result of the death of Livingston Watts, Miami hard rock lead and zinc miner, who was killed March 19, in a suit against the Kansas Exploration, Inc., filed today in Ottawa county Oklahoma district court at Miami by S. C. Darnell, administrator. Watts died from injuries received in a fall while working in the Ritz Mine, at which time he was going from one level to another through a winze, according to the petition. The mining company, it is charged, had not provided a ladder, and it was necessary for the miner to climb a pipe following the connecting shaft in order to go from one main shaft to another. The petition states that in climbing along the pipe, Watts' hold slipped and he fell 12 feet to the ground, dying several minutes later. The petition further states that the mine had not been in operation for several months and had not been properly inspected prior to the reopening. The defendants are charged with unlawful conduct, carelessness and negligence. Watts, was the father of three children.