Michael Nester attacked by boy employee with molten glass

VISCOUS ASSAULT

Boy in a Glass Manufactory

Disfigures the Manager for

Life.

Michael Nester, manager of the Western Glass Manufacturing Company, is confined to his home at 249 South Fifteenth street with a badly burned face and neck. The burns were caused by a blow-pipe in the hands of John Kerkendall, aged 14 years. Nester saw Kerkendall smoking a pipe, which hindered him in his work, and ordered him to put it away, which he did. Kerkendall's work was to clean the blowpipes with which bottles are made. A little later Nester saw Kerkendall smoking the pipe again and discharged him.

Nester turned to walk away when Kerkendall picked up the blowpipe which he had partly cleaned and struck Nester on the shoulder. The end of the pipe red hot. Before Nester had time to recover Kerkendall struck him on the head, which staggered him, and as he turned half around the boy jabbed the hot iron into his right cheek. Then he struck him on the head again.

By this time the workmen who had witnessed the assault ran to the rescue of the manager, and seeing he was about to be stopped from further injuring Nester, Kerkendall threw the pipe at him as a last shot. The hot end struck Nester on the shoulder. Each time a blow was struck the iron burned the flesh badly. Dr. Bartholomew, who dressed the injuries says Nester will probably be disfigured for life. Kerkendall ran from the works as soon as the assault was over and has not been seen since. There were four members of the Kerkendall family employed at the works but they have all been discharged on account the assault.