Buster, Ralphie, George, and I used to snicker over it. We lied if we could, but usually a grown-up was near and all we could say was, "I don't know."
I can recall a thin man who smoked asking who I was and if I saw Al Capone and George (Machine Gun) Kelly often. Gee, I was ten years old.
If something had happened on the island, aggressive journalists thickened and a few walked up the hill with us, asking away until convinced we weren't talking or knew nothing.
Foolishness was regularly published as the latest scoop, and the most current complete exposé of America's Devil's Island appeared about bimonthly.
Within months of becoming a federal penitentiary, Alcatraz began discharging prisoners. Each must have rushed to the EXAMINER or CHRONICLE to sell their inside story. Some seemed to try to tell it right but others . . . Wow! No matter, the papers published anything. On September 19, 1935, the CHRONICLE described their Alcatraz sources as "official, semi-official, and other reliable sources."
In his writing, Warden Johnston mentioned a letter from a former convict apologizing for the distortions published above his name. He swore the editors did the twisting. Probably they did. The story had to be piping hot, so what's a little exaggeration or even a touch of distortion.
Alcatraz could spike home the point that reporters seldom get things right—about anything.
Al Loomis, counterfeiter – number 187, was discharged on December 2nd, 1935, and his was one of the first "eye-witness" stories. It was lurid and stunningly inaccurate.
A rash of magazine exposés appeared about then. THE SATURDAY EVENING POST gave it a shot on November 2, 1935. STARLING DETECTIVE was next and included sketches of savage attack dogs. No animals were allowed on Alcatraz. Our dog had been shipped home to New England by freight train.
LITERARY DIGEST produced their masterpiece in May of 1936, and COLLIERS enlightened the world in June 1936.
1937 opened with a ludicrous PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER article by Alexander Kendrick—quoting an anonymous source.
On his way to San Quentin, Albert W. Skoog, post office robber doing five years – number 225, was interviewed and produced an incredibly inaccurate Alcatraz account.
Henry K. Larry, mail robber, six years – number 95, was discharged on July 18, 1936. His lengthy article came out in 1937.
Albert Best, doing one to three for false impersonation – number 107, was released on Jan 12, 1937 and became a one-time author of very small repute.
A.W. Davis, two years under the drug act – number 311, was discharged Jan 13, 1937. He had much to inaccurately report to the papers.
Pet (P.F.) Reed – number 181, counterfeiter, ten years, six months, and fifteen days, authored very extensive articles in 1938.
Books telling it like it is, or was, came later. Warden Johnston produced ALCATRAZ ISLAND PRISON in 1949. It is a thorough explanation of the prison, as seen by the top man. However, a weakness lies in that "the general knows mostly what he is told" and that "the troops tend to tell it one way, while handling it another." Witnesses rarely agree, and guards saw most things more "closely" than did their warden.
Two "adequate" histories that appeared are ALCATRAZ 1868—1963 by John Godwin and ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ by J. Campbell Bruce.
However, E. F. Chandler's copies of the Godwin and Bruce books are profusely edited by his notes saying, "wrong" or "stupid."
The island's current custodians recommend a report by the Park Service, THE ROCK, A HISTORY OF ALCATRAZ ISLAND, 1847—1972, by Erwin N. Thompson.
There is no complete book about Alcatraz. Many are grossly inaccurate and fleshed out with fanciful tales. Others are boring or too incomplete. The GREAT Alcatraz book is still to be written.
That volume may never appear. Those who really knew are gone. Most of what is left is second or third hand.
It is probably not important anyway, but those involved would prefer having the prison's history more correctly recorded.
Cold, Ugly, and Remote
Chapter 10
Even a casual examination of the following convicts' records and sentences raises questions.
Most readers may be surprised by the severity of the sentences. Number 60 received fifty years for robbery and assault. In practical terms that approaches a life sentence.
Number 1 got twenty-five for sodomy. That act is rarely a crime anymore.
Life for rape, kidnapping, and murder we would still consider about right, although such sentences are few these days. Yet, George Fisher – number 397, did only seven years for the same crime of kidnapping. Seems inequitable, doesn't it?
An important difference in sentencing during the 1920's and 1930's was a judge's willingness to consider a criminal's previous record—both proven and suspected. A bad reputation could result in a heavy sentence for a small crime.
On the other hand, an acknowledged mobster like Al Capone got the usual ten years for income tax evasion. Of course, Capone had the best of lawyers and the weightiest of influence. Money, and whom you knew, counted then. It always will in this imperfect world.
THE FIRST 400 ALCATRAZ CONVICTS
Prisoner's Name, Crime, Prison Term
1. Bolt, Frank L., sodomy, 25
2. Copp,Charles B., robbery & assault, 17
3. Gregory, Leon H., robbery & assault, 10
4. Harrison, Joseph C., sodomy, 5
5. Henry, Forest B., robbery & assault, 17
6. Hicks, Clyde F., sodomy, 6
7. Hills, Ralph L., robbery & assault, 25
8. Hoke, Albert D., robbery, 5
9. Hood, Allan W., sodomy, 5
10. Hulme, Frederick L., sodomy & false enlmt, 15
11. Janda, Edward J., robbery, 15
12. Johnson, Charles G., sodomy, 5
13. Johnson, Luby L., robbery & assault, 25
14. Landers, William D., robbery, 5
15. Limas, Manuel, forgery, 5
16. Marud, John, robbery & escape, 10
17. Miller, John L., robbery & assault, 22
18. Mumma, William J. F., manslaughter, 10
19. Nelson, Jack, disposal of govt pro, 3.5
20. Paris, Angelo G., sodomy, 10
21. Payne, William G., sodomy, 5
22. Peterson, John H., assault, 5
23. Prokopf, Leo, sodomy & escape, 5
24. Riley, Joseph F., robbery, 15
25. Sodoma, Frank, robbery, 15
26. Soliwode, Joseph, rape, life
27. Vinson, Harold R., robbery, 10
28. Walters, Ervie R., sodomy, 15
29. Weber, George W., rape & assault, 5
30. Wilde, George R., robbery, 10
31. Wolfe, Gilbert D., robbery & assault, 17
32. Woody, Harold O., robbery & assault, 17
33. White (Rest unknown; served only one day.)
34. Moxon, Robert B., postal laws, 5
35. Cole, Elmer H., counterfeiting & esc, 10
36. Raap,Verrill H., P.O.robbery, 4
37. Souza, Frank, counterfeiting, 10
38. Reynolds, Perry, larceny, 10
39. Frenandez, Hal, larceny, 3
40. Burke, Joseph F., postal laws, 25
41. Dean, Harry E., postal laws & assault, 25
43. Walsh, James J., murder-1st degree, life
44. Smith, Mack, P.O. robbery, 3
45. Kerr, George W., postal law & robbery, 27
46. Stadig, John, counterfeiting & esc, 15
47. Wutke, Edward, murder, 27
48. Lewis, Edgar R., P.O. robbery & counterfeiting, 11
49. Kelly, Walter, P.O. robbery,10
50. Kennedy, Willie, burglary, larceny, rape, (?)
51. Brown, Thurman, robbery & assault, 35
52. Weston, Herbert S., murder, life
53. Fontaine, Harold, assault to kill, 20
54. Goleboski, John, sodomy, 17.5
55. Moten, Frank, robbery & sodomy, 25
56. Bro
wn, Benjamin, 1st degree murder, life
57. Simmons, William J., robbery & assault, 27
58. Kranz, George, robbery & assault, 25
59. Fronden, Pearl, robbery, assault, consp., 30
60. Colson, James, robbery & assault, 50
61. Eaton, Ruey, conspiracy, 19
62. Bearden, Walter N., car theft, 15
63. Coleman, Robert, robbery, 25
64. Walters, Francis L., robbery, 25
65. John, Marsh, robbery, 25
66. Messamore, John R., assault to rape, 21.5
67. Montgomery, Harold L., robbery & assault, 25
68. Watts, J. W., robbery & assault, 25
69. Marquesm, Armand, arson, 15
70. Fulbright, Floyd N., car theft, 15
71. Schmidt, Ludwig, robbery, 32
72. Krug, Charles R., sodomy, 15
73. Gogich, Lazar, counterfeiting, 10
74. McIntosh, Leo N., car theft, 5
75. McNealey, James, conspiracy & robbery, 10
76. Zuckerman, Louis, sodomy & assault, 20
77. Moreland, Thomas L., 2nd degree murder, 30
78. Cleaver,Charles, robbery, 25
79. Wareagle, Thomas W., kidnapping & car theft, 25
80. Bender, John F., burglary, 15
81. Denny,Theodore, assault, 25
82. Hooker, Stanley R., 2nd degree murder, 14
83. Walton, James H., robbery & grand larceny, 25
84. Thomas, John V., car theft, 15
85. Capone, Alphonse, income tax evasion, 10
86. Carter, William J., robbery & grand larceny, 25
87. Van Gorden,Hayes, robbery & grand larceny, 31
88. Matchok, Joseph, counterfeiting, 15
89. Buckner, W. B., forgery, 10
90. O'Brien, Edward, robbery & assault, 50
91. Patterson, Lester robbery, 10
92. Bicks, Frank J., 2nd degree murder, 29
93. Costmer, Isaac, robbery, 30
94. Gemp, William, car theft, 1 yr + 1 day
95. Larry, Henry K., robbery, 6
96. Lepinski,Frank, robber, 10
97. Mangiere, Charles, car theft, 5
98. Reiss, Charles, counterfeiting, 10
99. Ritchey, William M., larceny, 5
100. Wilmoth, Virgil, counterfeiting, 15
101. Murdock, Theodore, Mann Act, 6
102. Walden, Spencer, robbery, 13 to 15
103. Dickerson, Howard, murder, life
104. Donohue, John, robbery & abduction, 5 to 16
105. Kendrick, John, assault, 10
106. Sweeney, Elmer, robbery & assault, 5 to 9
107. Best, Albert, false pretense, 1 to 3
108. Resiner, John, robbery, 3
109. McDonald, Arthur T., robbery, 3 to 12
110. Gardner, Roy, robbery, 50
111. Grindle, Hubert, sodomy & manslaughter, 45
112. Brownie, Frank B., drug act, 4 yrs and a day
113. Morris, Daniel J., robbery, 25
114. Alcorn, Gordon, kidnapping, life
115. McDonald, Bert, murder, life
116. Dixon, Riley, assault, 25
117. Kelly,George R., kidnapping, life
118. Varsalona, Joseph, extortion, 42
119. Westbrook, Charles B., robbery, 25
120. Alexander, Joseph, robbery & assault, 25
121. Talarico, Mike, postal laws, 42
122. Badgett, Lewis, robbery & assault, 25
123. Lagomarsino, Ray, mail theft, 20
124. Perry, James, mail robbery, 25
125. Chapman, Frank, drug act, 40
126. May, William D., robbery & conspiracy, 27
127. Stevens, Ollie D., robbery/conspiracy/drugs, 28
128. Pettijohn, M. T., robbery, 27
129. Sergeant, James, robbery & assault, 25
130. Keating, Francis L., robbery, 25
131. Brown, Stanley, robbery, 20
132. Berta, Charles, robbery & assault, 30
133. Boyd, John, robbery & assault, 25
134. Ryan, Phil Francis, robbery, 25
135. Sherwood, E. R., robbery & assault, 25
136. Barnett, Howard E., robbery & conspiracy, 26
137. Bates, Albert L., kidnapping, life
138. Holden, Thomas, robbery, 25
139. Bailey, Harvey J., kidnapping, life
140. Underwood, Tom, robbery, 25
141. Nolan, George, murder, life
142. Grauer, Harry, murder, life
143. Rogers, George, assault, 67
144. Miller, Edward B., murder, life
145. Warren, Byron, murder, life
146. Sobelesky, John, attempted rape, 20
147. Ballew,Andrew, murder, life
148. Beane, Clement W., postal laws, 12
149. Thomas, Lafayette D., sodomy & manslaughter, 45
150. DelBono, Frank, postal laws,extortion, 42
151. Belcastro, Rocco, interstate theft, 10
152. Chiesa, Frank, assault & conspiracy, 25
153. Johnson, Harry, murder, life
154. Roland, Edward, murder, life
155. Tesciona, Frank, robbery, 31
156. Gouker, Frank, robbery & forgery, 13
157. Gill, Willie, robbery, 12
158. Grove, James, att. rape/att. murder, 40
159. Dotson, Louis, rape, life
160. Jones, Robert, murder, life
161. Wallace, Abraham, house-breaking, larceny, 25
162. Taylor,Acie, assault to murder, 25
163. Fitzmaurice, W. D., counterfeiting, 11 yrs + 1 month
164. Martini, Louis, counterfeiting, 12
165. Stroud,Mack, assault, 25
166. Harden, Alfred, extortion, 10
167. Anderson, Frank, narcotics, 10
168. Laurence, Louie, narcotics, 10
169. Serfess, Walter B., narcotics, 12
170. Sullivan, Daniel, narcotics, 8
171. Owen, William A., narcotics, 10
172. Poulas, James, narcotics, 6
173. Bowen, Hugh A., murder, life
174. Davis, Robert, murder, 15
175. Walf, Ralph, murder, 20
176. Fisher, Gerald, robbery/att. to kill, 30
177. Sieman, Jack, narcotics, 10
178. Bauman, Joe, robbery & assault, 25
179. Ballin, George, robbery & escape, 11
180. Blackwood, Ira, robbery,violence, 25
181. Reed, Pet, counterfeiting,escape, 10
182. Young, Cal, counterfeiting,escape, 10
183. Wiggins, Walker, sodomy/assault/escape, 21
184. Hanna, William, murder, life
185. Collyer, William E., murder, life
186. Levin, William, narcotics, 17
187. Loomis, Alfred, counterfeiting, 7
188. McKee, Frank, robbery, 17
189. Ryan, James, robbery, 20
190. Kelly, Harry C., robbery, 25
191. Tatum, Ralph, assault, 10
192. Thompson, Orville, rape, life
193. Warden, Walter, robbery, 25
194. Green, Charles, armed robbery, 25
195. Youngberg, Arthur H., kidnapping & conspcy, 16
196. Smith, Clint, interstate theft, 9
197. Satterfield, Joseph B., counterfeiting, 10
198. Sullivan, Harry, robbery, 25
199. Cherington, Arthur S., robbery, 15
200. Sparks, Welton, robbery, 15
201. Fallon, Daniel J., robbery, 25
202. Moore, Ross W., counterfeiting, 10
203. Norton, James, robbery, 30
204. Telfian, Charles, robbery, 25
205. Collins, Floyd, assault & forgery, 20
206. Minnema, Howard, counterfeiting, 15
207. Macklin, Elmer, counterfeiting, 10
208. Audette, Theodore J., car theft, escape, 6.5 yrs
209. Carroll, John P., forgery, 15
210. Bowers, Joe, robbery, 25
211. Allen, Jack, coun
terfeiting, 10
212. Kirkpatrick, Stewart, counterfeiting, 15
213. Urbatis, Joseph, robbery & assault, 50
214. Mahoney, Frank, murder, life
215. Baker, Jack, postal law & escape, 10+5
216. O'Brien, Michel, postal law & escape, 25
217. Armes, Monroe, resisting Fed. Officer, 10
218. Raymond, Robert, car theft, 15
219. Conroy, Earl F., postal laws, 7.5
220. Hardin, Jack, robbery & car theft, 30
221. Spain, Loren, postal law & assault, 25
222. Snow, Cecil, robbery/B&E/car theft, 15
223. Kyne, Harry P., postal law/B & E/theft, 15
224. Lucas, James B., car theft, 30
225. Skoog, Albert, robbery, 5
226. Doll, Edward, DyerAct, 10
227. Kulick, John, 2nd degree murder, 20
228. Hall, Harlan, aiding & abetting/escape, 13
229. Watkins, Jesse B., murder, life
230. Whittaker, Norman T., car theft, 3
231. Cochran, Cecil, assault, 10
232. Dunn, John, robbery, 3 to 15
233. Berlin, Sam C., robbery, 3 to 15
234. Carroll, John H., robbery, 2 to 6
235. Vessila, James, robbery, 3 to 5
236. Terry, Milton E., murder, life
237. Davis, George W., larceny, 10 to 16
238. Chase, John Paul, killing a Fed Officer, life
239. Bartlett, William E., counterfeiting, 6
240. Deshelly, Louis E., counterfeiting, 6
241. Delmar, Frank, robbery & kidnapping, 99
242. Clark, James, robbery & kidnapping, 99
243. Smiddy,Ennis, robbery & kidnapping, 70
244. Young, Henry, robbery, 20
245. Wiley, E. E., forgery & counterfeiting, 22
246. Kalinoski, J. F., robbery, 25
247. Berman, Jacob, fraud, 7
248. Waley, Harmon M., kidnapping, 45
249. Thompson, George, drug act, 7
250. Giles, JohnK., assault, 25
251. Gayden, Walter, robbery & assault, 15
252. McGlone, John, robbery & assault, 25
253. Fisher, Joseph, robbery & assault, 25
254. Rettich, Carl, robbery & assault, 25
255. Harrigan, Charles, robbery & kidnapping, 77+25
256. Dugan, Thomas, robbery & kidnapping, 77+25
257. Hensley, Jack, assault/B&E, 25
258. Cole, Theo, kidnapping, 50
259. Phillips, Burton, kidnapping, life
260. Roe, Ralph, bank robbery, 99
261. Goode, John, assault & car theft, 25