Posted on 12/03/2015 12:31:52 PM PST by Timpanagos1
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Donald L. Blankenship, a titan of the nation’s coal industry whose approach to business was scrutinized and scorned after 29 workers were killed at the Upper Big Branch mine in 2010, was convicted Thursday of a federal charge of conspiring to violate mine safety standards, part of a case that emerged after the accident, the deadliest in mining in the United States
(Excerpt) Read more at mobile.nytimes.com ...
He was convicted of only one of three charges— the least serious, if I’m not mistaken— but it’s still a felony.
I’d say there is ample room for an appeal.
The jury came back twice as unable to make a unanimous decision.
Actually, the article says he was convicted only of a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 1 year.
This was not even close to the worst in the US... One accident (in my county) in 1907 had 239 killed.
War on coal.
The jury told the judge their debate had hung on all counts, the judge browbeat them and sent them back, so they agreed on the one small count to be able to go home.
I wish all juries in criminal cases were told about jury nullification so they could learn the courts and prosecution are not all powerful.
If the author had said "the deadliest in mining in the United States in the last 39.3 years," he would have been correct.
The last mining disaster with more casualties was at the Finley mine in Hyden KY. It happened on 30 December 1970, and claimed 38 lives, according to this source.
The one I remember from my growing-up period was Oven Fork, which happened in March of 1976, and took 26 lives.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraterville_Mine_disaster
The Fraterville Mine disaster was a coal mine explosion that occurred on May 19, 1902 near the community of Fraterville, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. There were 216 miners who died as a result of the explosion, either from its initial blast or from the after-effects, making it the worst mining disaster in the state's history. The cause of the explosion, although never fully determined, was likely due to the build-up of methane gas which had leaked from an adjacent unventilated mine
Political Witch-hunt.
You're right; my mistake.
Gotcha beat. Hell of a way to make a record.
Dawson Mine disaster, 263 dead Dawson NM.
1913.
1923, another disaster, 123 dead.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/coal-mine-explodes-in-new-mexico
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-dawson2.html
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