Chicago to settle alleged torture case

CHICAGO, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The city of Chicago tentatively has agreed to pay nearly $20 million to four African-American men allegedly tortured by police, it was reported Saturday.

"I am euphoric. We have been pushing for a long time," city Alderman Ed Smith said of the agreement, which still must be considered by the City Council, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.

Leroy Orange, Stanley Howard, Madison Hobley and Aaron Patterson were convicted of murder after confessing while in the custody of former police Cmdr. Jon Burge. The four men were convicted in a 1987 arson that killed seven people.

The four, who since have been pardoned and released from Death Row, alleged Burge and his subordinates beat them and subjected them to electric shocks, the Tribune reported.

Burge long has denied any wrongdoing. He was fired in 1993 and now lives in Florida on his police pension, the Tribune reported.