During his years on The Rock, Capone did receive discipline for misconduct on occasion. On February 20, 1935, Capone was placed in solitary confinement for starting a fight with inmate William Colyer, and it was noted by other inmates that he had been trying to “bully” several of them. Warden Johnston wrote about the event, stating in part:
A page from Al Capone’s conduct report at Alcatraz.
Alphonse Capone, #85-AZ, and William Colyer, #185-AZ, were working in the laundry on opposite sides of a mangle. Capone was feeding towels in the mangle; Colyer was taking them out the other side.
Colyer became angered because, according to his claims, Capone was not feeding the mangle properly, with the result the towels were coming through partially wet, but Capone’s claim was that he was feeding them correctly but faster than Colyer could handle them. At any rate, Colyer, receiving some towels on his side that did not suit him, threw them back at Capone, whereupon Capone went around the mangle to Colyer’s side and punched him in the eye.
Colyer sought to get a tool to resist Capone but Capone picked up a wooden bench and either struck Colyer in the wrist or Colyer, endeavoring to strike him, hit his wrist against the bench, at any rate the result was a sprained wrist. It all happened very quickly and the guard on-duty separated them and brought them both immediately to the Deputy, who heard their stories and locked them both in solitary.
Capone’s various offenses at Alcatraz would range from fighting with other inmates, to spitting, to destroying and throwing his clothing from his cell tier onto the aisle floor. It is documented that Capone attempted to manage the affairs of several other inmates, with little success. He was unable to establish any underground networks at Alcatraz, and his communications to the outside world were strictly censored. Gifts sent to Capone were never accepted and visits from family members were limited to the same number as for other inmates.
There were also rumors that Al’s life was threatened by his fellow prisoners. It is suggested in several documents that other inmates schemed to take advantage of Capone’s financial status, in order to secure outside assistance and collaboration in potential escapes. In a letter written to Al’s brother Ralph by fellow Alcatraz inmate and music teacher Charles Mangiere on May 18, 1936, it is alleged that some inmates plotted to kill Al if he refused to front the money to hire a gun boat for one such escape attempt. Mangiere stated that inmates Charles Berta and Bert McDonald had told him that unless Al provided them with $5,000, they would never let him leave Alcatraz alive. He further alleged that several others were plotting to frame Capone under a similar pretense.
Capone himself was aware of these threats, at least one of which would have near fatal consequences. On June 23, 1936, Capone was assaulted by a violent Texan inmate, Jimmy C. Lucas. Lucas was serving time for bank robbery, and he also boasted a previous murder conviction, as well as several reported escape attempts from other institutions.
Jimmy C. Lucas
The following reports chronicle the attack:
Re: ATTACK UPON CAPONE #85-AZ 6-23-36
About 9:30 A.M. this date I received a call from Mr. Hansen at the west end of the cell house stating there was a cutting scrape just happened in the basement. I rushed back there to find out from Mr. Hansen that Lucas #224 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 pair of scissors. 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 that 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 Out Patient Office, lying on his side stomach, upper 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 half way 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, stuck him in the back while he was standing looking at a mandolin which was laying 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 cut on his hands.
Asked him what the cause of the attack was and 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. Sander’s back was towards the door. He noticed Capone enter the Clothing Room and saw him looking at the 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 ten 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 cellhouse and turned him over to Mr. Lapsley. At the same time he blew a whistle to attract attention of the cellhouse guard.
#107-Best went with Capone up the stairs through the kitchen to the mess hall gate. Through this gate Best took Capone on up to the Hospital while Mr. Sanders cleared the basement of all inmates. Mr. Lapsley took Lucas to the Hospital and stayed with him.
This is all the information I have been able to obtain up to the present time (3:00 P.M., excepting that as soon as Lucas had a slight cut on his head dressed I order him placed in Solitary Confinement “D” Cell Block, about 10 A.M.
The second memorandum included with this text was written to Warden Johnston by the Chief Medical Officer, George Hess. The memo provides a detailed summary of Capone’s injuries:
On June 23, 1936 the above inmate was brought to the hospital with multiple stab wounds and with a history as follows;
About 9:30 A.M. while engaged at work in the clothing room he was attacked by another inmate with a pair of clothing scissors. He gave the name Lucas, number 224, as the man who stabbed him. His condition at the time he was brought to the hospital was that of semi-shock. He was given the usual circulatory stimulants and then first aid measures and an examination.
The primary examination and treatment was given by Doctor Greenberg. He found several wounds as follows; a small punctured wound in the left chest posteriorly about 2 cm Deep which did not penetrate the chest cavity, a puncture wound on the medial aspect of the left thumb about 11/2 cm In length and extending to the bone, several superficial wounds – two on the right arm and one on the right hand. Under the fluoroscope there was seen a foreign body embedded in the first phalanx of the left thumb. This was removed by operation in the operating room under local anesthesia, it was the point of the scissors blade and was about ½ inch in length. The piece of blade was strongly embedded in the bone and much difficulty was experienced in removing the object. He was given 1500 units of tetanus antitoxin.
The patient is recovering from the injuries in a satisfactory manner. The prognosis is considered good at this time. He will probably be confined to the hospital for at least three more days.
* * *
Alcatraz California
June 26, 1936
Pursuant to orders of Warden James A. Johnston issued this date, the Board comprising Deputy Warden C. J. Shuttleworth, Chairman, Chief Medical Officer Dr. George Hess and Lieutenant E. J. Miller is now convened for the purpose of providing a hearing for inmate James C. Lucas, Number 224-Az, having been charged that on the twenty-third day of June, 1936, he did attack inmate Number
85-Az, Capone, with a dangerous weapon, inflicting several wounds on the body of this inmate.
The board is now in session and the prisoner will be brought before the board for hearing. (Prisoner summoned).
(By Deputy Warden C. J. Shuttleworth, Chairman)
Lucas, you are called before this Board on instructions of the Warden to try you for an assault on Tuesday morning of this week, June 23, 1936, about 9:30 A.M. on the body of #85-Az, Capone, with a dangerous weapon inflicting several injuries on his body with a part of a pair of scissors, is that correct?
A. (no audible response)
Q. What excuse have you got to offer for this attack?
A. Well, when I was working there, I was minding my own business, getting along and he got a bunch of crazy ideas in his head and messed around—
Q. What do you mean crazy ideas?
A. He went to you and told you that I was going to bump him off and some other stuff and I had no such idea in my head, nothing like that, it was not in my mind.
Q. You state that he went to me about it. Did you see him go to me?
A. No, but I—
Q. Did anyone see him go to me with any such stories or hear him?
A. Well, I couldn’t prove that. I don’t want to try to prove that, but I know it is so.
Q. How did you come in possession of these scissors?
A. Just lay there and I went and got them.
Q. Just lay where?
A. In the Barber Shop.
Q. Where about in the Barber Shop?
A. On the stand where they always stay.
Q. Did you break them apart or take the screws out of them?
A. Unscrewed them.
Q. Why did you unscrew them instead of using the entire scissors?
A. One half is better than all of it.
Q. One half is better—
A. Sharper.
Q. Then what did you do after you unscrewed them?
A. What did I do?
Q. Yes, how did you know that Capone was in the Clothing Room?
A. Well, I just knew he was in there, looked and seen him.
Q. Looked and saw what?
A. Went on in, knew that he was in there.
Q. Knew that he was in the Clothing Room. Did you warn him at all before you made the attack on him or just come in without any warning?
A. What do you mean by that?
Q. Speak to him?
A. No.
Q. You didn’t warn him. What was your intention to do to him?
A. How? What do you mean?
Q. Well, did you just intend to go in there as a threat or what did you go in there for with them?
A. Well, I don’t know.
Q. What was you first idea when you got the scissors?
A. Well—
Q. Was it to go in there and kill him if you could, was that what your intention was or just to go in there and have a fight?
A. Well, to just show him no to stool on me and let me well enough alone.
Q. Did you know that when you did this, Lucas, that you might have killed him, that you could have killed him with this?
A. No, I did not think.... not with them.
Q. Did you hold the scissors in your hands, these bare scissors, or did you wrap a handkerchief around them to act as a holder?
A. Well, I wrapped a handkerchief around them.
Q. Wrapped a handkerchief— your handkerchief?
A. Mine.
Q. Have you anything to say in your defense?
A. Well he threatened to kill me.
Q. When?
A. Lots of people around knew—
Q. When?
A. Several occasions. He tried to get guys to kill me. He tried to offer-
Q. Name one.
A. I would rather not name them now.
Q. That type of evidence is immaterial if you cannot name—
A. I can name him all right. Well, I am not—
Q. What?
A. I don’t want... He offered money to get me.
Q. He offered money to get you?
A. But I refuse to name who at the present time for several reasons, and he threatened my life up there. You might have heard that (turning to Junior Custodial Officer Sanders) when I was going up there to the hospital
Q. That was after the facts.
A. That was Tuesday, but before this
Q. Afterwards many things might be said after you had executed this unprovoked attack upon him.
A. He offered money to get me done for or he would do it and the other fellow would take the rap.
Q. Who did he offer that?
A. I would rather not say now, at the present time.
Q. That is insufficient evidence. Mr. Sanders what do you know about this case, what did you see on your end of it?
A. (By Junior Custodial Officer Thomas J. Sanders)
Why, the first I knew is that I saw this man attacking Capone and they were tangled up and fighting and I jumped over and told this man to surrender the weapon, which he did without any resistance to me. I turned the weapon over to you.
Q. What was it?
A. (J.C.O. Sanders) One piece of scissors.
Q. One half of a scissors?
A. (J.C.O. Sanders) One half of scissors.
Q. Did you find the other half of the scissors?
A. (J.C.O. Sanders) No... Oh, yes, the other half, I found it.
Q. Where did you find it?
A. (J.C.O. Sanders) In the Barber Shop on the stand.
Q. Did you find the screw?
A. (J.C.O. Sanders) Yes, sir.
Q. Where was it?
A. (J.C.O. Sanders) It was laying with the other part of the scissors.
Q. Where was it?
A. (J.C.O. Sanders) In the Barber Shop.
Q. This inmate has 3600 days good time, earned or to be earned under a sentence of thirty-years. I recommend that he forfeit the entire 3600 days. What is your recommendation (to Doctor Hess)?
Q. (By Dr. Hess) If you don’t mind, I would like to ask him some questions. Where are you working, Lucas?
A. In the Laundry.
Q. (Dr. Hess) What were you doing down there?
A. Supposed to get a haircut.
Q. Down to get a haircut?
A. Yes, to get a haircut.
Q. (Dr. Hess) Are you sure that you did this because of some threat that Capone made to you or in conjunction with some grievances of others?
A. Well, he knows (indicating Deputy) what Capone said about me to him and not only to...
Q. Where there any words passed before you struck him?
A. No.
Q. None whatever? How long after you went down stairs to get a hair cut before you struck him?
A. Oh, I would say twenty minutes, I don’t know just the exact time.
Q. What did you use to loosen the scissors with?
A. They were loose, just a set screw.
Q. I see. Suppose there is any change of anyone unloosening those scissors purposely.
A. Nobody knew anything about it.
Q. What barber’s scissors did you take, do you know?
A. I looked them both over. I don’t know what one.
Q. Why did you look them both over?
A. Just looking them over to see which one was the best.
Q. (By Deputy Shuttleworth to Lieutenant Miller). Anything to ask him?
A. Lieutenant Miller). No.
Q. (By Deputy Shuttleworth to Dr. Hess). What is your recommendation?
A. (By Dr. Hess) I would rather defer my opinion until I can talk to Capone.
Q. (By Deputy Shuttleworth to Lieutenant Miller). Your recommendation?
A. I recommend he lose all his good time.
Q. (By Deputy Shuttleworth to J.C.O. Sanders). That is all, put him away.
A. Dr. Hess requested that #85 be brought before the Board for the purpose of asking him some questions which might aid in finding the cause of the attack. Capone was brought b
efore the board and asked a few questions, which satisfied the Doctor and he “recommended the loss of all his good time.”
* * *
By late 1937, Capone started to withdraw further and further from prison society, spending the majority of his time withdrawn and secluded in his cell. As his health deteriorated, he would pass on visits to the recreation yard and instead spend time with close associates in the basement shower and band room areas where he worked providing janitorial services. He was witnessed on occasion talking to himself and acting bizarre, and on February 5, 1938 it became apparent that Al was seriously ill.
Documents relating to Capone’s treatment for syphilis while he was an inmate at Alcatraz.
During Capone’s tenure at Alcatraz, his family visited as often as permissible by prison regulations. His inmate case file shows his family’s commitment to travel across the country year round.
A press photographer snapped this photo of Al Capone’s wife (Mae Capone) off boarding from the prison launch during her visit in March of 1938.
Al Capone's wife, Mae, tries to avoid photographers after a visit to see her racketeer husband in December, 1937. The original caption read: Morgan Hill, California: Mrs. Capone Glares At Cameraman. Mrs. Mae Capone, wife of Al Capone, former Chicago racket leader, glares at the cameramen who "stole" this picture while she and her driver, believed to be Ralph Capone, brother of Al, stopped at a gasoline station here after a 100 mile chase from San Francisco by cameramen and reporters. The chase started when they left San Francisco after visiting Capone on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. The photo was taken at a gasoline station on the Monterey Highway in Morgan Hill, California.
Associate Warden E.J. Miller described the episode:
When we opened cells for mess this morning at breakfast time, Capone #AZ-85 came out of his with his blue clothes on. On being sent back to his cell to put on his coveralls, he returned, put them on and got in line and came in and drank some coffee.
Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years Page 18
