KYW Flashback: Local Miner, His Family Murdered After Power Battle
MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) - There isn't a coal mine to be found in Delaware County. That's one reason it was chosen for the final trial in one of the most sordid chapters in Pennsylvania mining history.
It was already a history of violent union busting and Molly Maguire terrorism. But when a miner named Joseph "Jock" Yablonski challenged the leadership of United Mineworkers boss, W.A. Tony Boyle, in 1969, Yablonski, his wife and daughter were shot to death by hired thugs.
Boyle was last to face trial. The special prosecutor was legendary Philadelphia attorney Richard Sprague.
It was 41 years ago that KYW described Boyle being carted off to jail without a shred of remorse after his conviction for hiring the killers, using stolen union funds.
