Alcatraz Prison: The 8 Most Notorious Inmates Who Ruled the Rock

Alcatraz Prisoner Clarence Anglin's Wanted Poster. (Source: Picryl).

Introduction

Hidden within the treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay lies a fortress of nightmares, a formidable rock that has witnessed some of the most notorious criminals in American history. Welcome to Alcatraz Prison, an island penitentiary that housed the country's most incorrigible inmates. In this article, we will delve into the grim history of Alcatraz, unearthing the tales of the infamous souls who roamed its sombre halls.

Part 1: The Birth of Alcatraz

Amidst the howling winds and treacherous currents, Alcatraz Island emerges like a sentinel from the mist, an impenetrable fortress guarding its wicked secrets. Originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, it soon transformed into a military stronghold before becoming one of the most infamous prisons of our time.

The notion of constructing a maximum-security facility on Alcatraz Island began to take shape in the early 20th century, driven by the need to isolate society's most dangerous outcasts. It was envisioned as a place where no soul could escape, a final destination that held an air of perpetual despair.

The prison's construction commenced in 1910, giving rise to a towering concrete monolith. The architectural marvel combined Gothic grandeur with an aura of forbidding desolation. The lighthouse, standing tall like a watchful sentinel, served as a beacon of caution to those who dared approach.

Opening its grim gates on August 11, 1934, Alcatraz Prison became an institution designed to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. This was no ordinary correctional facility; this was a last resort for those who had defied society's laws and proved themselves untamable. Alcatraz was deemed the final stop on the road to perdition, where the most incorrigible felons were destined to spend their remaining days.

Aerial photo of Alcatraz Island, California, August 11, 1934. (Source: Picryl).

Life Behind Bars

Entering Alcatraz was like crossing the River Styx, where the realm of the living merged with the realm of the condemned. Inmates, known as "guests," were stripped of their humanity, and reduced to mere numbers in a roster of sin. Their existence within the prison walls was marked by monotony and isolation, their minds were left to rot in a place where hope was but a distant memory.

The daily routine of an Alcatraz inmate was a relentless battle against despair. Rising at dawn, they would be subjected to a rigorous regimen of labour and discipline, their every move watched by the ever-vigilant guards. Menial tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and maintenance became the backdrop to their existence, the monotonous hum of an imprisoned life.

However, it was not just the dreary routine that haunted the souls of Alcatraz. The penitentiary's remote location in the heart of the bay ensured that its prisoners were cut off from the world, trapped in a desolate realm where the sea served as both protector and jailer. The swirling currents and icy waters conspired to make an escape from the island an insurmountable feat, a Sisyphean endeavour that led only to certain death.

Alcatraz Prison, rising defiantly from the heart of the San Francisco Bay, became the epitome of human suffering and despair. Its construction marked the birth of a fortress that would hold the darkest souls America had to offer. In the shadow of Alcatraz, inmates faced a life devoid of freedom, trapped within the cold, unyielding embrace of its walls. The prison's isolation, both physical and psychological, made it an unparalleled symbol of punishment and retribution.

Looking down Hyde Street towards Alcatraz, c. 1979. (Source: Picryl).

Yet, as we embark on this journey through the annals of Alcatraz's infamous inmates, we must remember that behind the cold, hardened facades of these men, there were stories of desperation, defiance, and occasionally, redemption. The very individuals who once struck fear into the hearts of society became the subjects of fascination, their lives entangled in a web of crime, mystery, and ultimately, their fates sealed within the confines of Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Prison, with its imposing facade and desolate location, stood as a testament to man's struggle for control and redemption. The arrival of infamous inmates like Al Capone and Robert Stroud transformed the prison into a stage for larger-than-life tales of crime, punishment, and human resilience. As we peel back the layers of Alcatraz's history, we confront the harrowing realities faced by these individuals, whose lives were forever entwined with the towering walls of this fortress of despair.

Part 2: Unmasking the Infamous Inmates of Alcatraz

Mug shot of Al Capone in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he had been arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, 16 May 1929. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

1. Al "Scarface" Capone - The King of Crime on the Rock

In the pantheon of criminal history, few names inspire as much dread and fascination as Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone. The infamous gangster, whose reign of terror dominated the Prohibition era, found himself banished to the formidable walls of Alcatraz in 1934.

Capone's arrival at Alcatraz marked a turning point for the prison. His persona and his reputation as the ruthless kingpin of organized crime in Chicago cast an indelible shadow over the island. Capone's imprisonment was a statement, a testament to the determination of the law to bring down even the most untouchable figures of the criminal underworld.

Life for Capone on Alcatraz was a stark departure from his glamorous days of power and excess. Stripped of his tailored suits and lavish lifestyle, he was reduced to a number—Inmate #85. The once-untouchable Scarface found himself subjected to the strict regime of the prison, labouring alongside other inmates under the watchful eyes of the guards.

But even within the prison's austere walls, Capone's influence remained palpable. His connections and charisma earned him special treatment, with rumours of guards succumbing to his charm and bribery. Yet, Alcatraz's harsh environment took its toll on Capone's deteriorating health. His mind and body weakened, and the once-feared crime lord was reduced to a mere shell of his former self.

In 1939, after serving nearly six years on Alcatraz, Capone was transferred to a medical facility before being released on parole. The once-dreaded gangster faded into obscurity, but the legend of his time on the Rock, where he was both a symbol of power and a broken man, would forever be etched in the history of Alcatraz.

Robert Stroud (Birdman of Alcatraz). Mug shot 29 October 1951. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

2. Robert "The Birdman" Stroud

In the dark corners of Alcatraz's past, one name emerges as an enigma—a man whose journey from avian enthusiast to hardened criminal sent shockwaves through the prison's halls. Robert Franklin Stroud, better known as the Birdman of Alcatraz, transformed from a passionate ornithologist to a convicted murderer whose presence behind bars would captivate the world.

Stroud's fascination with birds began long before his descent into criminality. While serving a sentence for manslaughter at Leavenworth Penitentiary, Stroud nurtured an extraordinary knowledge of avian species, becoming an expert in their care and diseases. However, his passions collided with his temper when he committed a second murder within the prison walls.

Transferred to Alcatraz in 1942, Stroud's life took a dramatic turn. His cherished birds were deemed a threat to the prison's security, and he was forbidden from continuing his avian studies. Stripped of his feathered companions, he languished in the isolation of his cell, a mere shadow of the man who once found solace in the world of feathers.

Despite the restrictions imposed upon him, Stroud's notoriety as the Birdman only grew. Through his written works and correspondence, he became a symbol of transformation and redemption, captivating the public's imagination. His intricate knowledge of bird diseases led to the publication of his book, "Diseases of Canaries," which gained recognition and acclaim outside the prison walls.

However, Stroud's life on Alcatraz was far from glamorous. Confined to his cell for the majority of his time, he immersed himself in his studies and writings, finding solace in the world of words and the memories of his avian friends. Yet, the harsh reality of his surroundings was always present, as the relentless isolation and the cold, unforgiving walls weighed heavily upon him.

Stroud's time on the Rock stretched for over 17 years, making him one of the prison's longest-serving inmates. His eventual transfer to a federal prison in Springfield, Missouri in 1959 marked the end of an era, as Alcatraz closed its doors as a functioning penitentiary in 1963.

George "Machine Gun" Kelly, handcuffed and shackled, is led, under heavy guard, from Shelby County Jail enroute to the Memphis airport and Oklahoma City where he will be tried for the kidnapping of Charles F. Urschel. October 1933. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

3. George "Machine Gun" Kelly

"Machine Gun" Kelly was a name that struck fear into the hearts of law enforcement and ordinary citizens alike. Notorious for his violent bank robberies and cold-blooded ruthlessness, he eventually found himself confined within the impenetrable walls of Alcatraz in 1934.

Kelly's criminal career was marked by a relentless thirst for power and a penchant for violence. With his tommy gun in hand, he terrorized banks, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. But even his iron grip on crime couldn't save him from the long arm of the law.

Alcatraz proved to be a formidable prison for "Machine Gun" Kelly. Stripped of his weapons and isolated from his criminal associates, he was thrust into a world where his notorious reputation meant nothing. Inside the prison, he was just another inmate, known by his inmate number, #117.

Kelly's time on the Rock was spent in relative obscurity, far removed from the chaos he once thrived in. The relentless discipline and the monotony of prison life chipped away at his ego, leaving behind a man whose legendary status had been reduced to a mere whisper.

Released from Alcatraz in 1951, Kelly's name faded into the background, lost amidst the countless stories of hardened criminals. Yet, his time on the Rock served as a testament to the fallibility of even the most notorious criminals, a stark reminder that behind the facade of power and terror, there lay a vulnerable human soul.

Mugshot of Henri Young. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

4. Henri Young: The Tragic Survivor

In the darkest corners of Alcatraz's history, the story of Henri Young emerges as a chilling reminder of the toll exacted by the prison's oppressive regime. Young, convicted of bank robbery, found himself trapped within the unforgiving confines of Alcatraz in 1934.

Young's journey within the prison walls was marred by brutality and tragedy. A victim of constant abuse at the hands of his fellow inmates and the prison guards, he became a living testament to the cruelty that pervaded Alcatraz.

It was during his time on the Rock that Young's story took a tragic turn. In a desperate act of vengeance, he brutally murdered a fellow inmate, resulting in a trial that would expose the horrors of Alcatraz to the world. Young's defense attorney argued that the years of abuse and psychological torment had pushed him to the edge, driving him to commit the unthinkable.

The trial that followed brought the harsh realities of Alcatraz into the public eye, shedding light on the rampant violence and inhumane conditions endured by the prisoners. While Young's actions were condemned, the trial sparked a national conversation about the treatment of inmates within the prison system.

"Its size was approximately that of a regular cell—9 feet by 5 feet by about 7 feet high. I could just touch the ceiling by stretching out my arm ... You are stripped nude and pushed into the cell. Guards take your clothes and go over them minutely for what few grains of tobacco may have fallen into the cuffs or pockets.

There is no soap. No tobacco. No toothbrush, The smell—well you can describe it only by the word 'stink.' It is like stepping into a sewer. It is nauseating. After they have searched your clothing, they throw it at you. For bedding, you get two blankets, around 5 in the evening. You have no shoes, no bed, no mattress—nothing but the four damp walls and two blankets.

The walls are painted black. Once a day I got three slices of bread—no—that is an error. Some days I got four slices. I got one meal in five days, and nothing but bread in between. In the entire thirteen days I was there, I got two meals ... I have seen but one man get a bath in solitary confinement, in all the time that I have been there. That man had a bucket of cold water thrown over him".

 Henri Young testifying to his experiences in "The Hole" at Alcatraz, during his 1941 trial.

After his trial, Young was transferred to a psychiatric facility, where he spent the remaining years of his life. His tragic story became a symbol of the human cost of Alcatraz's oppressive environment. Henri Young's name became synonymous with the inherent flaws of the prison system, igniting debates and reforms that would shape the future of corrections.

Mugshot of Alvin Karpis, member of the Barker-Karpis gang and responsible for bank robberies, kidnapping, burglary, auto theft. Arrested in New Orleans on May 1, 1936 by Director Hoover and FBI agents. He was sent to Alcatraz and served 26 years. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

5. Alvin "Creepy" Karpis: The Mastermind of Crime

The cunning mastermind behind the infamous Barker-Karpis Gang, was a criminal whose name struck fear into the hearts of law enforcement during the 1930s. Known for a string of high-profile kidnappings and bank robberies, Karpis was captured in 1936 and soon found himself confined within the unforgiving walls of Alcatraz.

Karpis, with his calculating mind and ability to evade capture, was considered one of the most dangerous criminals of his time. The transition to Alcatraz posed a significant challenge for him, as he had to adapt to a higher level of security and an environment designed to break the spirit of even the most hardened felons.

Inside the prison, Karpis's sharp intellect and criminal expertise did not go unnoticed. Although confined to his cell, he became a valuable source of information for the prison authorities, aiding in the development of strategies to combat organized crime. This peculiar collaboration between prisoner and captor served as a testament to the complexity of the human psyche, even within the confines of Alcatraz.

After spending over 25 years in various prisons, including Alcatraz, Karpis was eventually released in 1969. His time on the Rock had transformed him from a notorious criminal into an elder statesman of sorts, with firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of the criminal underworld. Despite his release, Karpis's name would forever be intertwined with the legacy of Alcatraz, a symbol of the iron grip of crime and the unyielding pursuit of justice.

Alcatraz Prisoner Clarence Anglin's Wanted Poster. (Source: Picryl).

6. Frank Morris, Clarence Anglin, and John Anglin: The Great Escape

In the annals of Alcatraz's history, few events captivate the imagination as much as the infamous escape attempt in 1962. Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin, known as the Anglin brothers, devised a plan that would push the boundaries of human determination and expose the vulnerabilities of the seemingly impenetrable fortress.

The escape plan, meticulously crafted over months of clandestine preparation, involved the creation of makeshift tools, intricate tunnels, and life vests made from raincoats.

Side view of dummy head found in Frank Morris’ cell, 1962. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

On the night of June 11, 1962, the trio executed their audacious plan, disappearing into the frigid waters of the San Francisco Bay, leaving behind a web of unanswered questions.

The escape of Morris and the Anglin brothers continues to fuel speculation and intrigue. Did they survive the treacherous currents and make it to freedom? Or did the unforgiving waters claim their lives? To this day, their fate remains a mystery, shrouded in the foggy depths of the bay.

John Paul Scott, Federal Prison Record, 1959. Includes criminal history, federal prison history, personal information, and mugshot. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

7. John Paul Scott: The Escape Artist

In the pantheon of escape attempts from Alcatraz, one name stands out: John Paul Scott, a skilled illusionist and master escape artist. Scott's cunning and knack for deception made him a thorn in the side of prison authorities, as he constantly tested the limits of the seemingly impenetrable fortress.

Scott's repertoire of tricks and illusions proved instrumental in his attempts to elude capture. From crafting lifelike papier-mâché heads to staging elaborate distractions, he orchestrated daring escapes that left prison guards baffled and the public enthralled.

Though Scott's attempts at freedom were short-lived, his audacious spirit and relentless pursuit of liberty left an indelible mark on the legacy of Alcatraz. His creative methods and unwavering determination serve as a testament to the human drive for freedom, even in the face of insurmountable odds. When all of that is said, reading his criminal history above, this is hardly a man whose escape you would glorify or wish for.

Boston Police mugshot of 17-year-old James Joseph 'Whitey' Bulger. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

8. James "Whitey" Bulger: The Ruthless Kingpin

James "Whitey" Bulger, the ruthless leader of the Winter Hill Gang, became one of the most notorious criminals in American history. Known for his involvement in organized crime and the brutal reign of terror he imposed upon Boston, Bulger's capture in 2011 marked the end of a decades-long cat-and-mouse game with law enforcement.

After his capture, Bulger was transferred to Alcatraz in 2012, a fitting destination for a man who had long eluded justice. Behind the forbidding walls of the prison, he was stripped of his power and influence, reduced to a frail and aging figure who had finally met his match. Bulger's time on Alcatraz was marked by the harsh realities of his past catching up to him. The ghosts of his victims and the weight of his crimes loomed large within the confines of his cell. It was a stark reminder that no matter how powerful or cunning one may be, the reckoning of justice eventually arrives.

In 2018, Bulger's life came to a tragic end when he was found dead in his cell, a victim of a violent act of retribution. His demise marked the final chapter in the saga of a man who had lived his life on the edge of darkness, and his name would forever be etched in the annals of Alcatraz's notorious inmates.

As we come to the end of our exploration into the lives and legends of Alcatraz's infamous inmates, we are left with a profound sense of the human spirit's complexity. From the audacious escape attempts of John Paul Scott to the ruthless reign of James "Whitey" Bulger, Alcatraz's story is one that intertwines crime, punishment, and the lingering echoes of the past.

The imposing walls of Alcatraz, with their layers of stories and mysteries, continue to stand as a solemn testament to the triumphs and tragedies of human existence. It is a place where hardened criminals met their match, where resilience and redemption danced on the precipice of despair, and where the spirits of the past refuse to be forgotten.

Two men standing in the newly completed Alcatraz cell block D, March 20, 1911. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

As we bid farewell to the haunting shores of Alcatraz, may we carry with us the lessons learned from its formidable history—a reminder that even within the darkest corners of human experience, there is always the potential for transformation.