Letters from Alcatraz

by Esslinger, Michael

  I consider myself a myth that has been created by the media and hungry reporters. These reporters would write stories that sounded like I had been tried and convicted of murder the way they reported some of the crimes. On a slow news day, blame “Whitey,” and write anything that sells. I was a criminal, sure, but some of these crimes they pinned on me? I didn’t rob the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and take those paintings (a Vermeer, five Degas, and three Rembrandts). Good story for a slow news day.

  But all in all, this is my world now and going to shut down all of my feelings that I can. There is something to the expression “Dead Man Walking.” If I could choose my epitaph on my tombstone, it would be “I’d rather be in Alcatraz...1428-AZ.” All that remains on Alcatraz today are our ghosts.

  While James Bugler was rising in power in the Boston crime syndicate, his brother William (seen here with Senator Ted Kennedy) was a prolific politician. William Bulger became President of the Massachusetts Senate and later the president of the University of Massachusetts. He was forced to resign from office after it was revealed that he had communicated with his fugitive brother while he was on the lam. William was considered a brilliant and powerful political force during his political career. During the 1960s, he led efforts to write the first child abuse reporting laws in the state. He was supportive of environmental protection legislation, and was among the first advocates of charter schools and public school choice. During the 1980s, he advocated the funding of public libraries, the expansion of childhood nutrition services and fuel assistance programs. As Senate president, Bulger led the debate on welfare reform in the early 1990s, with the resulting legislation becoming the model for a national law. The two brothers remained close throughout their lives.

  George “Machine Gun” Kelly, 117-AZ

  George “Machine Gun” Kelly

  George “Machine Gun” Kelly was one of the most famous inmates to ever reside on Alcatraz and one of the most iconic gangsters from the Prohibition Era. In July 1933, Kelly and his wife Kathryn plotted to kidnap wealthy oil tycoon and businessman Charles Urschel. Kelly, carrying his trademark Tommy Gun, and two other men carrying pistols entered the Urschel’s mansion in Oklahoma City. The Urschels were playing a game of bridge with friends when Kelly stormed in and took Urschel as hostage. Urschel was taken into hiding on a rural ranch in Texas and the Kelly Gang made demands for $200,000.

  The Urschel’s family friend E.E. Kirkpatrick made drop arrangements and delivered the ransom in denominations of $20 bills. The money was delivered near the LaSalle Hotel in Kansas City on July 30th, with Urschel being released the following day near Norman, Oklahoma, ending a lengthy eight-day ordeal.

  After splitting the ransom money with their accomplices, Kathryn and “Machine Gun” started state hopping trying to stay two steps ahead of law officials. From the several clues that Urschel was able to provide, the FBI raided the ranch where he had been held captive, and made an arrest of one of the other conspirators. The bills that had been used for payment in the ransom had traceable serial records and the Center Bureau of Investigation (now the FBI) started a nationwide search for their prime suspect, George R. Kelly.

  George “Machine Gun” Kelly on October 15, 1933. He is shown being led to USP Leavenworth following his sentencing to life in prison for kidnapping.

  Kelly and his wife were finally captured on the morning of September 26, 1933, and ultimately received a life sentence for their act. Kelly was transferred to USP Leavenworth and Kathryn was transferred to a federal prison in Cincinnati. Kelly was arrogant towards prison officials and bragged to the press that he would escape, break out his wife, and that they would spend Christmas together. It was decided that these threats should be taken seriously and in August 1934, Kelly, along with his accomplices Albert Bates and Harvey Bailey, were transferred from USP Leavenworth to Alcatraz by train. Arriving on September 4, 1934, they would be among the first groups of prisoners. Kelly became AZ-117.

  He was incarcerated at Alcatraz from 1934 until 1951, totaling seventeen years served on the Rock. Kelly would spend the remainder of his life in prison and ultimately die of a heart attack on July 18, 1954 at USP Leavenworth. Ironically, it was his 59th birthday.

  * * *

  Feb. 3rd – 1936

  Mr. Homer Cummings;

  Attorney General;

  Dear Sir:-

  I am writing you regarding a plan I have had in mind for several months. I realize it is unusual and that no precedent has ever been set for such issue but I understand that as Attorney General it is within your power to designate the place a Federal prisoner must serve his sentence.

  As you know I am serving a life sentence for kidnapping, without any possible chance of ever being paroled.

  The United States Government has uninhabited Islands in the Pacific, smaller than Wake or Midway. There is Admiral Byrd’s abandoned camp at the South Pole, also extremely isolated outposts in Alaska. I feel certain there is at least one of these or some other place where the Government would like the atmospheric conditions studied over a long period of time. I know with the proper instruments and books I could make a meteorology survey of such place that would be of benefit to science and the government.

  My idea is, that such a place that has never been thoroughly studied, would be too lonesome and desolate for any free man to care to stay there longer than a few months, even if he had company.

  I could be taken from here secretly, placed on a boat in the Bay and transported with what supplies I would need. This could be managed in such a way that the crew need never know who I was or even that I was a prisoner from Alcatraz. Some kind of arrangements could be made for a boat to stop say every year or two, leave supplies and take back what data I had accumulated.

  By this method I would be doing some useful work, serving my sentence and I believe by the time I was eligible for parole I would be shown some consideration.

  With the rapid strides that aviation is making, wind conditions and air currents will have to be studied all over the world. Two years ago the Islands the China Clipper is using on its flights to Manila were practically useless, but today they are the stepping stones to the Orient, and Meteorology conditions must be known at such places, and lots of time and money would be saved by knowing these conditions in advance.

  This may seem like a hair brained proposition to you, but I think it altogether feasible.

  Hoping something can be done along these lines. I remain yours truly,

  Geo. R. Kelly - #117

  This letter was written to Charles Urschel (his kidnapping victim) on April 11, 1940. It was later reprinted by the Bureau of Prisons and is considered as one of the most profound observations ever written about time served on Alcatraz.

  Mr. Urschel,

  I feel at times you wonder how I’m standing up under my penal servitude, and what is my attitude of mind. It is natural that you should be infinitely curious. Incidentally, let me say that you have missed something in not having had the experience for yourself. No letters, no amount of talk, and still more, no literary description in second-rate books, and books on crime cannot but be second-rate – could ever give you the faintest idea of the reality.

  No one can know what it’s like to suffer from the sort of intellectual atrophy, the pernicious mental scurvy, that come of long privation of all the things that make life real; because even the analogy of thirst can’t possibly give you an inkling of what it’s like to be tortured by the absence of everything that makes life worth living.

  Maybe you have asked yourself, “How can a man of even ordinary intelligence put up with this kind of life, day in, day out, week after week, month after month, year after year.” To put it more mildly still, what is this life of mine like, you might wonder, and whence do I draw sufficient courage to endure it.

  To begin with, these five words seem written in fire on the walls of my cell: “Nothing can be worth this.” This – kind of life I’m leading. That is the final word of
wisdom so far as crime is concerned. Everything else is mere fine writing...

  Very Truly Yours,

  Geo. R. Kelly #117

  * * *

  Kathryn Kelly being led from court by United States Marshals in 1933.

  George and Kathryn Kelly during their sentencing.

  September 11, 1940

  From: Mrs. George R. Kelly

  PMB F85 Terminal Is. Calif.

  To: George R. Kelly PMB 117 Alcatraz, Calif.

  Mr. Dearest, Bear:

  I have thought in vain, of how to work a reply to you that would express exactly how I feel about “us”. And I find that it is most difficult to do. Your letter touched my heart. In fact I cried when I read it, as I expected quite a different wording: I shrink, from hurting you. That is the farthest desire of my heart. Naturally I did not think that you would be very hurt, as long as you had cancelled your correspondence to me. I suppose the best thing I can do is to simply speak plainly and exactly how I feel. First, please understand that I’m not “cracking up”, neither is prison getting me down, and in dismissing the love angle, which I admit is hard to do I feel like this: that to help you in any manner I would gladly give my life, but I can’t feel that I have added to you, in any manner by consistently trying to encourage you, by writing you the long cheerful letters that I have, these years. I tried my level best to help you in doing your time; but it seems I failed miserably. Don’t think that I even considered you less strong than myself. I haven’t—but I always feel that if either of us needed encouragement, I should attempt to give it to you, because my surroundings have no doubt been more pleasing than yours.

  I longed for you to avoid trouble, to stand on your own feet for what you know is right and minutely be the man you really are. Well it seems you fell down on the job. I know you have acted up in some manner, so I feel that if maintaining your position as a prison politician—big shot—or something comes first in your thoughts then why should I hang on to a dream that could never come true. Unless you have changed a lot darling, even if we two were free tomorrow we should be forced to say goodbye. WHY? Well, because I’m happy to say that I know I shall never place myself nor permit myself to be placed in a position to ever re-enter prison. I shall be just a “little fish” so speaking if I am fortunate enough to get that one chance and like it. No more “big dough” for me in any place. In other words I find that I am completely cured of any craving for un-legitimate luxuries and my sincere hopes and plans for the future are of a sane, balanced mode in living. I’ll never change on that viewpoint. I have gone through hell and still am plainly speaking, seeing mother as a daily reminder of my own mistake. The mistake was in my love, and marriage to you.

  Not that I censure you, I don’t. I blame myself. However, I’ve “woke up”. I hoped you would but I’m not sure of what goes on in your mind. As you know I like to finish things immediately and I feel if our goodbye is to come, why not now. The hurt will at least be dimmed in the years of incarceration yet ahead of both of us. I’ve never told you that I did not love you and I never shall. I said that “I would be happier even in prison” and I would. For I do worry about you and wonder. Love isn’t everything in life. A content, peaceful existence, free from worry is most essential and I can dismiss love from my heart when my brain informs me it’s best. The reason you gave for canceling your correspondence was a small rebellious boys reason. Rules are rules in an inst. and necessary. And I know that no mail censor would select your letters to heavily censor. You are just another number, the same as I, and the quicker you grasp that fact the better off you’ll be. Personally, in general I have been utterly surprised at the considerate kindness I have known from the officials these seven years. I expected far different treatment.

  I know you thoroughly honey, so don’t think I’m harsh. What you need to do is to forget “Machine Gun” Kelly and what he stood for and interest yourself in being plain, kind George, who is just another “con” like me. I have shared all of the lead with you. I intend to. We are not kids, we’re quite aged and if it’s impossible for you to make yourself into a man who “thinks straight”—who will go straight when the opportunity presents itself, then I don’t want you for a companion. “They all leave prison eventually” we shall too. I will be ready for a new life, fashioned on a far different scale. I don’t know about you.

  So that’s why I asked you for a divorce. I haven’t heard from Mr. Bennett yet. When I do I’ll let you know. And I wouldn’t dream of demanding my pictures from you, so forget that. You may certainly keep them with all of my good wishes and much love. Mother doesn’t have any inkling of this. She did not know of me writing you, of my request from Mr. Bennett, nor of your reply to me, so don’t think I am being advised or “ribbed”. You know me far better than that. I worried a lot, when you had the food riot there and I’m fed up with worries, and God knows I have plenty of my own, so I do think I’d be perhaps a little happier, in placing you in the background and coasting along with just my own problems. You don’t pay any attention or me or my advice anyway. You don’t seem to consider that any “acting up” you feel obliged to do reflects on me too, as for some reason we are more or less judged equally by the Dept. YOU’LL no doubt be angry at this letter, and if I have been wrongfully steered in somethings, I will eventually know. Take care of yourself and think a few things over, and tell me, whether you are nourishing any hair brained schemes, in that brain of yours to further spoil our peaceful old age together, or not? You should have found your true honest self by now, you were never bad, we both simply “thought wrong” and if this doesn’t give you any idea of WHY I asked you to release me, then I can’t explain. I will write you on the 1st, so keep smiling, and try to see our problem as I see it, and don’t feel badly—I am, Devotedly, Kathryn

  Mrs. George R. Kelly F 85 Terminal Is. Calif.

  P.S. Honey, I have just read a letter from your Father Clark. Will you kindly thank him, and tell him that I appreciate his advice and interest in the two of us. And if you will really be happier as things are, just forget that I ever mentioned the word divorce. And behave yourself and try to be what I want you to be; and I shall endeavor to be all to you that I have been in the past, as long as you play the game square. I do want you to keep your mind strictly upon a legitimate basis for our future together. Because the time will eventually come when we shall begin a new life and I do want it to be normal, happy and honest. Now don’t worry, and be sweet; and let’s do this bit of time with the best of grace and cheerfully. We can you know, and if you really love me as you say, you should be able to keep smiling with me, and keep your mind free to a degree of prison non-essentials, and small annoyances, and instead look forward to at some future date, creating with me, the life together that I desire. I do love you, you know Mr.; so shall we forget, and will you be honest with me and tell me exactly how you feel? Whether your aim is honesty in the future, that will sometime re-unite us, or whether you might feel that “the world owed you a living” and mess our lives all up again in our old age. I am feeling fine. I sho’ did want that early transfer to Texas though, to see the folks. But, it will come later I hope. I must say bye. Wish I could see you, I do, I do. Now, settle down and be happy. “heart of heart” and let me hear from you soon. Devotedly, your Katrinka

  * * *

  Mrs. George R. Kelly F-85 Terminal Island. Calif.

  September 26, 1941.

  Mr. Jas A. Johnston, Warden

  Dear Sir:

  I should like to talk to you about my being transferred to one of the other institutions. I have never broached the subject to you before because I thought that I didn’t have adequate time served here; now I feel that I have. I will not say that my record here has been exemplary, but I think, on the whole, that it is far from being what one would consider bad.

  The first thing I would like to call your attention to is the fact that I was not sent here for any violation of the rules in Leavenworth, but because of my record outside. On arriv
al, I was put in isolation and held there until Sept. 4, 1934 when the first shipment was made to Alcatraz. I might mention that previous to 1933 I served three years in Leavenworth—one year a trusty, driving the city truck—without a single report.

  As you know the discipline of Alcatraz is not rigorous but it is strict, and the facilities for recreation and diversion are practically non-existent. I have served a little more than seven years in Alcatraz and, while not meaning to be flippant, I would say that seven years in this climate could not be considered a bagatelle judged by either the Gregorian or by the Julian calendar.

  I do not want you to take this letter as an attitude of complaint, far from it, I am merely trying to explain my side of the question.

  To be frank, I want to be transferred for reasons almost too numerous to enumerate. I should like to be in a place where I can go on the yard in the summer afternoons and enjoy the sunshine for a few months of the year. It is true that we have our yard periods here, but I know that you are fair enough to admit that with the high winds, the lack of sunshine, and for want of space, the yard is more of an aggravation than a diversion. I should also like to be where I can earn a few dollars each month in one of the industries. I am not what is known as a work horse, but I do apply myself and am not a shirker. My wife rarely has any money for the few trifles that she needs, such as newspapers, rouge, lipstick and her occasional cigarette. That applies to her mother also. If I were able to earn enough to take care of that one item I would feel that I was being of some help to my wife and making things a little more pleasant for her. My wife and I still own a little property in Texas, but the rentals just barely pay the taxes and take care of the repairs. We are trying our best to hold on to the property so that Kathryn will not be destitute when she does get out. What cash I had at the time of my arrest has been expended in educating and taking care of my daughter during the six years that she was alone previous to her marriage. So, you can readily see why I should like to be where I could earn a little something.