Sept. 6, 1973: Former union boss charged with murder

Monday 6 September 2010

On Sept. 6, 1973, W.A. "Tony" Boyle, former leader of the United Mine Workers of America, was charged with planning and ordering the death of union rival Joseph Yablonski.

In a 1969 union election, Boyle, the acting union president, defeated popular reform candidate Yablonski in a landslide to retain his powerful standing in the union.

Amidst widespread speculation the election was rigged, Yablonski complained to the Labor Department, accusing Boyle of election fraud. Less than two weeks after the election, Yablonski, his wife and his daughter were shot to death in their home.

After years of investigation, Boyle was tried and convicted of using embezzled union funds to hire three men to murder Yablonski. Boyle died in 1985 at the age of 83 while serving three consecutive life sentences.