Stankewitz, Aaron

Contending that they have contracted silicosis by reason of underground employment, three miners filed suits in circuit court yesterday against two mining companies for damages totaling $90,000. Each sued for $30,000, claiming permanent disability. Edmond Layne and John Cunningham filed suits against the Federal Mining and Smelting Company and Aaron Stankewitz filed suit against Kansas Exploration, Inc.

Aaron 'Sonny' Stankewitz, a patient at a sanatarium in Fort Smith Arkansas, is reported as improving. Mr. Stankewitz lived in Picher before going there about two years ago. He is the brother of Mrs. Mack Beam of Picher.

Aaron Sonny' Stankewitz, 51 year old miner and former resident of Picher, died in a sanitarium at Fort Smith Arkansas, at 4 p.m. Wednesday. He had been a patient at the medical center for the last four years. A member of the Baptist church in Midland Arkansas, Stankewitz is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Celia Nell Pettus of Santa Monica California, and Mrs. Barbara Poloski of Fort Smith; a son, Aaron Stankewitz, also of Fort Smith; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Stankewitz of Picher, and two sisters, Mrs. Vela Raisbeck of Fort Smith and Mrs. M. C. Beam of Picher. Arrangements for funeral services are incomplete. Burial will be in the cemetery at Midland.