Tony Boyle Trial: 1974 - Boyle's Secretary Spoils Defense

Boyle's defense was gutted by the final prosecution witnesses. Boyle's secretary testified that the union reward for Yablonski's killers was her idea. She had proposed a $100,000 sum, but Boyle cut the amount in half. The secretary also explained that there was no side door by which the union president could have avoided the corridor after the June 23 conference.

Attorney Rothman testified that the prison meeting with his client, William Prater, was Boyle's idea. Rothman recalled Boyle and Prater talking for about 20 minutes, alone. Finally, prosecutor Sprague called Charles Groenthal, an FBI fingerprint expert. Sprague handed the agent the minutes discussing the R&I committee and asked if Groenthal had identified a print found on one of its pages.

"Yes, sir, I did," answered the FBI expert. "It was the thumbprint of Mr. Boyle."

Like the conspirators who had carried out his wishes, Tony Boyle was found guilty on three counts of murder. His sentence was the final blow to the corrupt union hierarchy he had sought to preserve by having Jock Yablonski murdered. Boyle died in 1985 while serving three consecutive life terms in a Pennsylvania prison.