Ex-Daley patronage chief convicted

Mayor Daley's onetime patronage chief was found guilty on two counts of mail fraud and acquitted of two others by a federal jury this afternoon of fixing the city's hiring system. Robert Sorich received the split verdict in a tense courtroom in Chicago. Sorich is a former high-ranking official in the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

His assistant Timothy McCarthy was found guilty in two counts against him, Patrick Slattery was convicted on the one count against him and John Sullivan was convicted of one flase statement count and acquitted of another.

The jury returned its verdict on its fourth day of deliberations.

The four former city workers were accused of rigging a hiring scheme to reward clout-backed job candidates with jobs and promotions. Witnesses testified that Sorich and his assistant Tim McCarthy handed "blessed" lists of job candidates to personnel directors who then assured them jobs through sham interview and fixed tests. The job candidates were often chosen because of their political work. The public corruption trial lasted six weeks.