John Kestner, Jr

ACCIDENT NO. 28-May 20, 1911- John J. Kestner, Red Jacket Shaft, C. & H. John J. Kestner, an Austrian employed with the timber-gang was killed by a fall of rock at the 67th level South of No. 4.

Coroner Fisher conducted an inquest over his body. The following witnesses testified:

Mike Rivillio: "Worked in same gang with deceased, was present when accident happened. We were barring down ground. I tried a piece of ground this morning and it would not come down. Another man then tried it and it would not come. We then started to bar down another piece and Kestner held the staff and was standing under the piece we had tried to bar down. The boss told him not to stand under that, but to get closer to the foot, but Kestner said, he thought it was all right and just then the rock came away on him. It was only six or seven minutes before that I tried to bar down this same piece and it would not come."

Dom Nozzero corroborated above testimony.

Verdict: "We find, that the said, John J. Kestner came to his death by an accidental fall of rock while at work on the 57th level, South of No. 4, at the Red Jacket Shaft on the 20th day of May, 1911"