Letters from Alcatraz
Page 9
I don’t believe you know the dangers as Al cannot go out in the yard; it is now going on for the past year and that he is in real danger with his life. This information is known by all the guard and officials of the Island. It seems that with all this Al is afraid to eat the food and his health is failing him. These facts are the Almighty and God’s truth and all because Al refuses to be a party to these escape plans and upon it all trying to be a model prisoner. He has made more enemies by not being in with these plans and strikes. It seems and I know and fear things will get worse when some of these same men get out of solitary confinement; there are numerous other things such as burning his clothes week after week from the laundry. It seems that most of these men threaten Al’s life for not sending money to different people, such as this man Jack Baker who works in the blacksmith shop, and said unless he receives $500 he will knife or poison Al or get even some dirty way. He wants $500 sent to Mrs. Grant Morrison, 127 North Edgement, Los Angeles, Calif.
These facts I happen to know as I was the music teacher for Al for 1-½ yrs. and knew every move and attempts that have failed towards his life and constant tortures that he is going through daily. After spending half my life in various prisons there is none so corrupt as Alcatraz. I am sure and feel that Atty. General would not stand to see Al killed in cold blood when he has proven himself a model prisoner and helped to better himself in music. I know and take solemn oath to the above facts to be truthful, and it is more serious than I can explain in writing.
(Signed) Chas. Mangiere #97
Charles Mangiere
Frank Del Bono was Capone’s most trusted associate on Alcatraz. They were always seen together both during work and recreation periods, and also shared adjacent cells (Capone in B-181 and Del Bono in B-182). A migrant from Italy, he was serving 42 years for postal robbery.
Del Bono’s transfer request to the Shower Room so that he could work alongside Capone.
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James Lucas
MEMORANDUM
June 23, 1936
To: J. A. Johnston, Warden
From: C.J. Shuttleworth, Deputy Warden
RE: Attack upon Capone #85-AZ 06-23-36
About 9:30 AM this date I received a call from Mr. Hansen at the west end of the cell house stating there was a cutting scrape that just happened in the basement. I rushed back there to find out from Mr. Hanson that Lucas #224 had stabbed Capone #85 and that both of them were up in the hospital.
I immediately went to the hospital. Waiting outside in the hallway of the hospital was Lucas with Junior Custodial Officer Lapsley. I asked Lucas what happened. He said that he had struck Capone with a half scissor. Asked him why he had done it and he said because Capone “snitched to you and had me removed from the barbershop.” I told him Capone had nothing to do with his removal from the barbershop and went on into the hospital to see the condition of Capone.
He was on the table in the outpatient office, lying on his stomach, upper part of his body stripped. The doctor with Guard Attendant Ping was attending to stopping the heavy flow of blood from a small wound on the left side of his back and about halfway down his back, near the side.
At this time he was conscious, smiling, and I asked him what had happened and he said that Lucas had come up from behind him, struck him in the back while he was standing looking at a mandolin which was lying on the counter in the clothing room. Upon being attacked he grabbed the mandolin and swung it around, hitting Lucas in the head. Lucas continued to attempt to attack him and in the attempt to disarm Lucas, he got a few minor cuts on his hands.
Asked him what the cause of the attack was in he said it was the same old story, because he would not furnish money requested by Lucas. Guard Sanders who was on duty in the clothing room at the time reports that a few minutes before he had gone in the clothing room and went over to a small desk with #107-Best. They were drawing a design for some additional pigeonholes for inmates clothing. Mr. Sanders’ back was towards the door. He noticed Capone into the clothing room and saw him looking at mandolin but did not notice Lucas come in. The first he noticed was when he heard a scuffle and yelling.
At that time Capone was trying to protect himself against the attack of Lucas. Mr. Sanders was only about 10 feet away, pulled out his club and jumped over to them, pushed Capone behind him and with Lucas in front of him ordered Lucas to surrender the half of scissors he was holding in his hand, which Lucas did without any resistance. Mr. Sanders took Lucas then up the stairs to the cell house and turned him over to Mr. Lapsley. At the same time he blew a whistle to attract attention of the cell house guard. #107-Best went with Capone up the stairs through the kitchen to the mess hall gate. Through this gate Best took Capone up to the hospital while Mr. Sanders cleared the basement of all inmates. Mr. Lapsley took Lucas to the hospital and stayed with him.
Albert Best
This is all the information I’ve been able to obtain up to the present time (3:00 p.m.) accepting that as soon as Lucas had a slight cut on his head dressed I ordered him placed in solitary confinement “D” cell block, about 10 AM.
CJ Shuttleworth
Deputy Warden
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June 25, 1936
Hon. Sanford Bates,
Director,
Bureau of Prisons,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Bates:
Referring to our conference this morning relative to our appeal for the transfer of my brother Al from Alcatraz, and confirming my verbal statement to you, I respectfully state that on behalf of myself, Al’s wife, and our mother, that we will gladly assume all responsibility for his safety and welfare if you transfer him to one of our other prisons.
Further, in the event of Al being transferred to some other institution, I will personally assume all responsibility and guilt for any bribes of officials or guards, also other prisoners, seeking any special privileges, favors, etc., and, in fact, anything of any nature whatsoever in violation of your prison rules, all of which, I repeat, I will assume full responsibility and the guilt thereof.
The family feels that an immediate transfer is vitally necessary, not only because his life is in danger, but his health is impaired due to his lack of fresh air, exercise, extreme nervous condition, mental worries, because of existing conditions and he cannot enjoy the yard privileges, being at times fearful of criminal attack.
Thanking you for kind consideration and trusting that you will transfer him at the earliest possible moment, I beg to remain
Respectfully yours,
Ralph Capone
* * *
93 Palm Island
Miami Beach, Florida
June 25, 1936
Mr. Bates
Superintendent of Prisons
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Bates:
I am taking the liberty of writing you and hope that you will understand and realize how I feel towards my husband. You must realize how much she means to my son and I, and how much I worry and get nervous and upset when I read and hear things happening to him. This last one has been a bad blow and could have been much worse; that man that harmed him could just as well taken a hold of a razor in preference to a scissors.
I am pleading to you to transfer my husband; you know that he is not safe; how can he be, with things going like they are. I am sure he tries to go along and mind his own business, but you know just as well as I do that if anybody is going to try to harm him he has to take care of himself. Mr. Bates, he is in danger; why must we be left in constant worry and fear? It is bad enough to have the poor man where he is without, having him in constant fear for his life?
Mr. Bates, when I spoke to you on the phone the other day, I tried my best to impress on you how necessary it is to move my husband. You realize he only has two and a half years to go, which will mean a new life to my son and I. Please don’t delay us this happiness.
I hope you’ll find time to investigate this whole matter, and trusting that it will be in my husban
d’s favor, as I feel something must be done at once.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) Mrs. A. Capone
7244 Prairie Ave.
Chicago, Illinois,
* * *
June 25, 1936
Superintendent of prisons
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Bates:
I am having my daughter write to you concerning my son Alphonse Capone, as I am sick in bed from the shock of hearing how he was stabbed while in jail the other day. I can’t begin to tell you how I feel that such a thing should happen. I certainly feel that he is not safe in such a place as Alcatraz, and have wondered where the guards were for such a thing to happen.
This is not the first attempt on his life there. How do you think he feels working with such men and to be around them all day, when they are forever threatening him. You will never realize what my son means to me. But if you have a son of your own, you may, if you had to go through what I have. At night I cannot sleep, thinking if he will see the next day or not.
I feel as long as he has over two years to serve that something ought to be done at once. Mr. Bates, I want you to please for my sake consider transferring him. I cannot see how he will ever be safe in such a place and environment. After all, he is with men that life means nothing to, and they perhaps have no mother or family to worry about or even expectation of happiness again. So what does a pair of scissors or a razor mean to such men? After all, my son comes from a good family; I have always been a good mother and we all miss him so at home. We would be so happy to have him home with us again. I feel his sentence was long enough for income tax. He is deprived of all his liberties. We can’t see him for months at a time. Still he is willing to go along and take it all. But being in constant fear of his life is one terrible thing.
I am sure something can be done before the situation grows worse. You will never be sorry, and you will cause a new life for me, as well as for him. So please, please I plead with you to do something for him at once, as soon as possible.
Yours truly,
(Signed) Theresa Capone
Capone and his mother relax on the pier of his Palm Island, Miami Beach, Florida estate (circa 1943).
* * *
Feb.
Mrs. Mae Capone
93 Palm Island
Miami Beach
Florida
To My Dear Wife,
Well Sweet, here I am with a few lines to you, the dearest in all the world to me. And have prayed these last few days of my sickness to our dear God above to make me so well, which she has, and I sure thanked her for making me well and sure am in perfect health again, as you and Mafalada will see on your visiting days this month. I also received all of your letters Sweet, and more than happy that you and our dear Son, are in perfect health, I also heard from my dear Sister and also brother Ralph, please give them my love, and also tell Ralph not to worry about me, as I am in good health, and intend to be home, when my time is up unless I have to go to the County Jail in Cook County, Sweet I received this month two letters dated Feb. 3r – 5th, and sure enjoyed them and happy that you and Sonny and all the rest of our dear families are in good health, give them all of my love and kisses to the kids and please don’t worry about me, as you will see for yourself how I look when you get here on visit with Mafalda, so keep that lovely chin, up and remember Sweet, it isn’t much longer before I will be home, and into your loving arms forever, so Sweet don’t worry about me as am O.K. and will be on routine working in the yard A.M. and Music afternoon in no less than two more days.
So you see Sweet, nothing to keep you worried, as when you visit me, you will see yourself Sweet, that your dear Dad is in good health. Give my love to Mother and glad in Mafalda’s letter she told me Mother is in perfect health and also the rest of our families are the same, I thank God and pray night and mornings to keep up her good work. In the meantime tell Ralph not to worry about me, as all is going to be in perfect shape, in regards to my doing the rest of time, and come in perfect health and don’t intend to make any moves of any kind, outside of obeying my officers and respecting them, and doing my work, so you see my dearest, there is nothing for any of you to worry, smile and keep that smile until your dear dad comes home, and then Sweet, watch me strut my stuff, and all my love and I mean Sweet for you alone, and with heart and soul, and forever and ever.
Sweet here is my word to you, from a couple of days from now, I will be in perfect health and intend to be in perfect health when I come home which in time is getting shorter and shorter, until I see you and my dear sister, please do not worry, then you will be satisfied that I’m not in bad shape, as what you have heard. So chin up Sweet, and remember, we are going to have plenty happiness ahead for us and our future, and the rest of our lives, and Sweet remember this promise, nothing in this world is ever going to interfere with our future happiness, Sweet I mean this, and all I can add to this promise is for you and dear Son and families all keep in perfect health, and not to worry about your dear dad, as nothing is going to get your dear dad down, in the meantime tell Sonny to up the way he is doing at College and (write) me as often as he can, and kiss as often as you can for me and God Bless all of you.
Your dear dad,
Alphonse Capone #85
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One of Capone’s visitation records showing the frequent visits he received from family members.
A press photographer snapped this photo of Al Capone’s wife, Mae, in March 1938, as she made her way off the Alcatraz prison launch.
Al, with his wife Mae and her sister Muriel, in Florida, 1945.
Al Capone at his Palm Island estate, 1945.
December 18th
To My Dear Wife:
Well dear of mine, here is your dear husband, who loves you, with all of my heart and soul. First thanks to all of your lovely letters this month. Sure glad to read the good news that you and our dear love, are in perfect health. I just came back from church, Father Clark had another priest here, who just came back from Italy, and he gave us a good sermon all about Italy and Germany. In the mean time dear heart of mine please do worry about me, as I am improving every day. I get two treatments a week and they do not hurt me at all. I work out in the recreation yard five days a week, and Saturday and Sunday. I catch up on my music and read a number a Monthly and Weekly Magazines, and a hot bath every day, and three good meals each day. I hope to see you and Sonny again before I leave here next January the 18th. I have quite a number of songs written for him to sing to them to you, and I will play them on the piano or Mandola.
Yes dear I had a nice letter from Sonny dated Dec. 3rd, and he told me that the 20th of this month he will be 20 years old. Yes Sweet, he is sure a son to be proud of, and from the day I come home, he, you, and I will sure go to town in regards to our happiness. I intend to spend the rest of my life, right there in Palm Island, and you and Son and I will get plenty of happiness in our future. We seen a lovely picture on Thanksgiving day, and we will have another one next Christmas. Yes Dear, next Saturday I go to Confession and the following day we will get Communion, and my prayers will be all for you two. In the meantime thank all of my family for all their lovely letters and give them all of my love. Get in touch with my dear brother Ralph, and for him to arrange to pay that $37,000 fine and costs I have to pay here, And then I go to the County Jail I will have to pay another fine there of $10,000. But when I come there I can see you, and hon, all of our dear family every week and I’m through with that Sentence, never again, will I do anything that will keep me away from you, and Son, tell him to continue his golf playing, as I intend to play with him every day and nights, the three of us will either see a Movie or a show or go to one of our own night clubs and dance all of our troubles away. I now weigh 204, and fell fine and dandy, and when you come here on the next visit, bring me a picture of Sonny, you, and his Sweetheart. Tell Ralph not to worry about me, as I’m satisfied with everything here and hope to see him as soon as I come to Chicago. Lo
ve and Kisses to you and Sonny,
Year Dear Husband Alphonse Capone #85
* * *
Alcatraz, California
February 17, 1938
Mr. A. Capone, Jr.
Notre Dame College
Norte Dame, Indiana
To my dear son:
Well, Junior, here is your dear Dad, with your monthly letter, and all of my heart’s wishes, that it will find you in the best of good health, and getting along so wonderful with your studies. Yes Son, I sure am proud of you, and pray night and day and mornings that our God above will always take good care of you, and lead you on to your future, to be a healthy and happy and successful one. Yes my dear Son, you sure are leading on the road, that will make your future a happy one and successful and with the fact how your dear Mother and I feel about you and our prayers and the fact that it won’t be long before I’m home, and into your arms and your dear Mother’s arms, who has been so good to you and me, and sure taking it on her chin with a smile and acting the part of both Mother and Wife, in an honest and respectful way. God keep her and you in the best of good health and without a doubt in my mind Son from the day I come home, we three will be the happiest in all God’s creation and with a doubt, so Son of mine, keep healthy and keep up all of your good work in regards to your studies and making friends and respecting your teachers and superiors, and any time you’ve got something on your mind that you want to keep between you us two, not to hurt your dearest mother, as she will understand and not hurt at all. Son, I don’t mean there is unpleasant as I love you both with all my heart and soul, and that means forever and ever. What I’m trying to get at is this, maybe you’ve got something on your mind about your future. Son all I want you to do is not hold it back as your Mother and your dear dad will go to the limit for your health and future. In the meantime, Sonny, just go along on your law course and I’ll give you my word, if you still want to be a doctor just wait until I come home, so you, your dear Mother and your dear dad will get together and talk everything about your future. I’m sure when I get through, you and “Maggie” dear and I, will be happy, because it will be all of our desire’s, cause at times we three will always be together, So Son, keep on going as you are in regards to Law, and about that Doctor course, we will talk it over when I come home. So chin up Junior, keep up the good work and please write me as often as you can, as it sure improves my heart and soul, when I read how wonderful you are improving, rest assured, Son, from the first day I come home, there never again will be any grief or sorrows or hardships, because conditions will be so, that the three of us will be together forever.