Dougherty jury to resume deliberations

A federal court jury is to resume deliberations Thursday in the racketeering conspiracy trial of Philadelphia Ironworkers Union boss Joseph Dougherty.

The 73-year-old business manager of Local 401 was back in federal court Wednesday awaiting a verdict after being taken to Pennsylvania Hospital on Tuesday evening complaining of breathing problems.

In the morning, Dougherty, who has had a stroke and a heart attack, appeared sedated and at times relied on the physical support of a union member as he walked. By afternoon, however, he was on his feet working the crowd of union members waiting in the hallway outside the courtroom.

The jury, which deliberated about 90 minutes Tuesday, spent a full day Wednesday in what seemed like a meticulous review of the evidence.

Twice, the jury returned to open court to listen again to 29 excerpts from FBI wiretaps of phone calls involving Dougherty and several business managers about picketing and protests at nonunion job sites.

When the jury returns, it will resume its reprise of the wiretaps in what U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson said could be a lengthy process.

Dougherty is charged with racketeering conspiracy involving 25 attacks on nonunion construction sites; two arson-related counts for damage to a site on Grays Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia on July 18, 2013; two arson-related counts in the Oct. 12, 2013, attempted attack on a site in Malvern; and a count of extortion in the alleged coercion of a steel company to hire union ironworkers to erect an apartment building at 31st and Spring Garden Streets in West Philadelphia.

Prosecutors say Dougherty would face a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors argue that the wiretap recordings make it clear that Dougherty hated nonunion contractors and believed in using "any means necessary" - arson, intimidation, extortion - to force them to hire union ironworkers or quit the job.

The defense has argued that tough talk aside, there is no evidence Dougherty ordered union violence against nonunion job sites.

Dougherty's lawyers also maintain that he has been wrongly incriminated by some of the 11 union members charged with him, who have pleaded guilty and agreed to testify for the prosecution for the possibility of lesser prison terms.

Source: Philly.com