THE INCORRIGIBLES

When Alcatraz became a penitentiary, the Bureau of Prisons operated five other similar institutions in the United States: at Atlanta, Leavenworth, Leavenworth Annex, North Eastern (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania), and McNeil Island (near Tacoma, Washington). In addition, the Bureau administered the hospital for defective delinquents, Springfield, Missouri; three reformatories; reformatory camp; a correctional camp; for prison camps; and for federal jails. It would be primarily from the penitentiaries that the recidivists would be drawn for Alcatraz. As early as October 1933 Director Bates wrote the wardens of Leavenworth, McNeil Island, and Atlanta, directing them to prepare lists of men who might be classified as desperate or difficult it would be "suitable" for transferred Alcatraz.

Despite every possible effort by the Bureau of Prisons to give absolutely no information concerning individual prisoners to the press, the San Francisco Chronicle announced in January 1934 that among the first prisoners to come to Alcatraz would be Al (Scarface) Capone, and George (Machine Gun) Kelly and Harvey Bailey, the two infamous Oklahoma kidnappers. Neither then, nor in later instances, did Warden Johnston confirm or deny who is expected as a "permanent guest" on the Rock. In this instance the newspaper was right; all three men would be occupying cells there before the year was out.

The first prisoners were, of course, the 32 bedraggled men the Army had left behind. Warden Johnston officially took charge of them on July 1, 1934, although he was already looking after them since the Army left on June 19. Just where the first true federal prisoner came from has yet to be determined. But on August 3rd the San Francisco Chronicle headlined: "Prisoner Number #1 Draws Cell on Alcatraz Island, Check Writer, Former Army Guard, First Devil Isle Felon.” The article said that Robert Bradford Moxon had been installed the day before as prisoner number one (he was not; prisoner number one was a leftover Army man), and that he would find Alcatraz to be just like home since he had been stationed there as a guard during military prison days. Indeed, the first prisoner on the list after the Army holdovers was Moxon, five years for violation of postal laws.

The first group of prisoners to come from another federal penitentiary arrived from McNeil Island, Washington, on August 11, 1934. This small body of 14 men allow Johnston to practice the method of handling incoming prisoners that he had worked out in advance. The first rule of this procedure secrecy, to keep the press in the dark.

The train carrying the prisoners arrived at Oakland at 9:40 am. The special car was detached from the train and run on a sidetrack to a freight wharf some distance from the regular ferry ship. The launch General McDowell came alongside the wharf. The prisoners were handcuffed in pairs and the pairs were linked together with chain. They stepped from the car and walked the ten feet to the gangplank. On board they were herded into the cabin at the stern of the boat.

At Alcatraz, the handcuffed men walked into the dock between two rows of guards, and then marched in pairs, flanked by guards, to the rear gate, through the yard and into the cell house. Guards searched them, and then removed the handcuffs and chains. The men were given their prison numbers and assigned their cells. A guard then escorted each prisoner to the basement bathhouse.

The prisoner was stripped and, after the doctor had examined orifices for smuggled "dope," he showered. Finally, each man was locked in his cell and he "named and numbered ticket" was placed in a holder on the cell door. Johnston wired the director: "Fourteen crates furniture from McNeil received in good condition. Now installed." Everything had gone smoothly.

Within four days the San Francisco Chronicle discovered that 14 prisoners had arrived. Somehow it learns correctly the names of two of the men, but erroneously listed a third name it was not a member of the group. The warden at McNeil Island later sent Johnston a brief biography of each man showing why he been selected for transferred Alcatraz. All this report will not consider the federal prisoners incarcerated on Alcatraz individually, the wardens comments are some ricer to show the kind of men for whom the rock was reserved:

Elmer Cole: Sentenced to 10 years for counterfeiting and escape; escape from McNeil Island once. Recently, while in the hospital, he sawed the bars but was discovered. He is an agitator and very desperate.

Verrill Rapp: Sentenced to four years; wanted for assault on a police officer and breaking jail. He had a clean record McNeil, but would be a leader in any escape.

Frank Souza: Sentenced 10 years for counterfeiting, very surly and an agitator. He is desperate will do anything to gain freedom.

Perry Reynolds: Sentenced to 10 years for larceny; wanted for robbery at Fort Lewis. His record is good, but will take desperate chances.

Hal Fernandez: Sentenced to three years for larceny; wanted by Washington state prison as a parole violator. He was sentenced from Alaska, and escape from Marshal by leaping overboard en route from Alaska. He is a leader who will take desperate chances.

Joseph Burke: Sentenced to 25 years for violation of postal laws; he is an agitator and is desperate.

Harry Dean: sentenced to 25 years for violation of postal laws and assault. He is an agitator is very desperate.

William E. Boyd: Sentenced to five years for impersonating a federal officer; he is a bad agitator and is always in trouble. Recently shotgun shells and a piece of pipe design for a shotgun were found on him. He planned a mass escape by shooting the guard in the tower and taking a powerboat.

James Walsh: Sentenced to life for murder. He is a bad agitator and is always in trouble. He was in the plot with Boyd and will kill to escape.

Mark Smith: Sentenced to three years for post office robbery and larceny. He is wanted and is a desperate man; he crashed through the prison gate of the truck.

John Stadig: Sentenced to six years for counterfeiting and was with Smith in the escape attempt.

George W. Kerr: Sentenced to 27 years for postal robbery. He is desperate and was involved in a plot for mass escape.

Edward Wutke: Sentenced to 27 years for murder and was involved in a plot for mass escape.

Edgar R. Lewis: Sentenced to 11 years for post office robbery and counterfeiting. He is as slippery as an eel and escaped from the U.S. Marshal three times on his way to prison. He was in a plot for mass escape and is very dangerous.

Shortly after the arrival of the McNeil prisoners, Attorney General Homer S. Cummings inspected the prison in the company of Mayor Rossi and Chief of Police Quinn of San Francisco. On this occasion photographers and reporters were allowed to accompany the visitors. The Chronicle described the cells as being 8 x 4', equipped with a steel cot that folded against the wall, two seat like steel shelves, a narrow steel shelf with three hooks for clothes, a toilet, and a small basin.