Mine Boss Killed By Sniper's Shot LAKE CITY, Tenn. (&) A sniper's bullet killed a coal mine owner Monday as he worked his machinery on a federal flood control project here in defiance of threats of sabotage or death. Five persons were questioned at length in the slaying of Jess Fesler, 53. of Sunbright, Tenn., shot in the back as he stood beside his bulldozer on the project near the Lake City High School. Anderson County Sheriff Glad Woodward questioned two of the men in Clinton, south of Lake City, and Campbell County Sheriff Rose Kitts held three men for questioning in Jacksboro. Lake City is located on the Anderson - Campbell county line about 30 miles northwest of Knoxville. It is in the .coal-field area extending through southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee. The area has seen numerous cases of violence since the United Mine Workers began a drive to bring all mines under union contract. Three persons have been killed in Ketucky. Sheriff Woodward said, however. "We are positive this shooting is in no way concerned with union troubles." Source: Oswego Pallendium Times, Oswego, New York, 6/9/1959 Sniper Kills FormerCoal Mine Owner LAKE CITY,Tenn. (AP)A sniper's bullet killed a former coal miner owner Monday as he worked his machinery on a federal flood control project here in defiance of threats of sabotage or death. Five persons were questioned at length in the slaying of Jess Fesler, 53, of Sunbright,Tenn., shot in the back as he stood beside his bulldozer on the project near the Lake City High School. Anderson County Sheriff Glad Woodward questioned two of the men in Clinton, South of Lake City. and Campbell County Sheriff Rose Kitts held three men for questioning in Jacksboro. Lake Cityi s located on the Anderson Campbell county line about 30 miles northwest of Knoxville. It is in the coalfield area extending through southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee. The area has seen numerous cases of violence since the United Mine Workers began a drive to bring all mines under union contract. Three persons have been killed in Kentucky. Sheriff Woodward said, however, "We are positive this shooting is in no way concerned with union troubles." Sued For 534,111 The UMW welfare fund sued Fesler in 1957 for $34,111 it claimed he owed for back contributions to the fund. He filed a crossbill contending he had signed the union contract under duress. However,Woodward said he is probing mainly in other directions for possible motives. Among other things, the sheriff said. Fesler: 1. Was the complaining witness in an armed robbery case against Franklin D. Smith, which was to have been heard by the Campbell County grand jury next week. 2. Had been seen frequently with women other than his wife. Source: Lancaster Eagle Gazette, Lancaster, Ohio, 6/9/1959