Alexier v. Matzke

The plaintiff is a deaf mute. He brought suit against defendant, who is his brother-in-law, for work and labor. Plaintiff lost his speech and hearing when about three years old as a result of sickness. He can write his name, and read a little in German. He has never been instructed by the usual methods used by deaf mutes to communicate with others. He communicates with some of his family by the use of motions and a *37limited number of signs, and watching the movements of the lips.

These parties are all German and speak the German language. In August, 1884, plaintiff, then 19 years of age, under…