Many criminals ended up at Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco, California. But some were much more infamous than others. Here’s my list of the most known outlaws to live inside the “Rock”.
by Ghost Guide Daniel
Alcatraz | Infamous Inmates
Some say Alcatraz was dedicated to the incarceration of the worst criminals in the United States of America. This may be true for some.
Especially those deemed an escape risk! As shown in my two other articles dedicated to the escapes/ghosts & the insane 1946 Battle of Alcatraz. Click to read those at …
However, it’s not the only reason the most infamous inmates were sent to Alcatraz. Here’s a few names you’ll recognize. And why they ended up at “The Rock”!
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MACHINE GUN | DOC BARKER | AL CAPONE | BIRDMAN
George “Machine-Gun” Kelly
The nickname “Machine-Gun” had nothing to do with Kelly’s criminal activities.
It was given to him by … his second wife! A woman named Kathryn Thorne, after she bought him a Thompson Submachine Gun (great gift idea for your wives out there).
Turns out, Kelly didn’t like machine guns. He feared the noise.
A criminal. Kelly was most known as a Bootlegger during Prohibition, and sometimes bank robber. This escalated in 1933 when he kidnapped an Oil Magnate named Charles Urschel.
Alongside his supportive wife, Kathryn, and a small gang. They nabbed Urschel from his home and held him hostage for a ransom of $200,000 (about $5 million today).
J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI got involved, turning Kelly into “Public Enemy #1”. Kelly and his wife were ultimately arrested, and Urschel safely rejoined his family.
One year later, in 1934, he was sent to the newly opened Alcatraz Prison.
And the inmates didn’t like him. Or take him seriously. Nicknaming him, “Pop-Gun Kelly”. Kelly was known for telling crazy stories turning out to be lies.
However, the Guards loved him. He was a model prisoner.
Stayed until 1951. Then transferred to Leavenworth in Kansas. This is where he died three years later (1954) from a heart attack at 59 years old.
Arthur “Doc” Barker
Arthur was the son of the infamous Ma Barker. And a prominent member of the family’s gang.
The Barker-Karpis Gang was considered the most successful criminal gang of the Depression Era.
And Arthur was its most violent member. Did killings whenever needed.
One victim was Thomas Sherill in 1921. A hospital construction site guard in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The gang was found by Sherill while staging a robbery of the grounds. A gunfight led to his death.
They arrested Barker. Then sentenced to life in Oklahoma. Only 10 years later they paroled him in 1932.
Barker returned to his family.
One year later he showed up in Minneapolis to rob a bank. This led to the death of a two Police Officers and a civilian. A second robbery led to the death of another Police Officer.
After that he helped kidnap two wealthy men from the city of St. Paul.
Then a mistake by Arthur brought down the entire gang.
Barker is Brought Down
While stopping for gas, he used a pump. They pulled his fingerprint.
The entire gang fled to Cuba, then Florida. Out of boredom, Arthur split off. They captured him in Chicago.
And not long after that, the FBI killed his mother (Ma Barker) in a shootout.
The depressed Arthur was sent to Alcatraz. Leading to 1939, when he tried to escape!
Alongside three other inmates and on a foggy night. They sawed off prison bars and broke through, climbing over the walls to the beach below.
Barker went off with another inmate named Stamphill. Together they jumped into the waters. The plan … swim to San Francisco! Dumb idea.
The waves pushed them back. On the beach again, they tried making a raft from pieces of driftwood. But then the fog cleared.
Tower Guards saw them and yelled down, but they didn’t hear. However, they did feel the bullets.
Hitting their legs as Barker yelled, “Don’t move. They’re going to kill us!”
Barker died because of this escape attempt. However, there is some confusion around it.
Inmate Stamphill’s account stated Barker was still alive when the Guards came upon them. That the ranking Guard told the others to shoot if the inmates moved.
But Barker was in great pain. Causing him to reach, to rub his leg. A Guard saw the movement … and shot Arthur “Doc” Barker in the head.
Al Capone
What can be said about this man that hasn’t been covered in history, TV and movies?
Simply put, he was a Prohibition Mobster from the city of Chicago. Taking advantage of the banning of alcohol in the United States. People wanted their vice!
Goes down as the most famous Bootlegger in history.
At least in the USA. In Canada, there’s no one more famous than Rocco Perri, King of the Bootleggers!
Join us on a Hamilton’s Dark History Tour!
Capone was never arrested for his crimes. But instead, was brought down after Prohibition. For, get this … tax evasion! How dare he not pay taxes for criminal sales.
Was found liable for $215,000 from 1925 to 1929. About $4 million today.
Sentenced to 11 years in prison. A joke of a charge for Al Capone. Everyone knew it was just a way to get him punishment.
And also a way to get fame and finance for the newly built mega-prison called Alcatraz.
Capone showed up at Alcatraz in August of 1934. That’s the same month it opened! And this worked, because I’m still talking about it today.
Capone is a Model Inmate
Went from the infamous Al Capone to “Prisoner 85”. And turned from a boisterous and prideful criminal, into a quiet and easy inmate.
He was known for reading books. And music. Specifically… the Banjo.
Was heard by inmates and guards alike. While learning how to play from inside Cell # 181 (9’ x 5’ cell where he spent much of his time).
Fun fact … Al Capone was the first to suggest an Alcatraz Prison Band. Lobbying the Warden successfully. This featured Al Capone on the banjo, and the previously mentioned “Machine-Gun” Kelly on drums. They’d be called, “The Rock Islanders”.
He remained at Alcatraz until 1939. Was moved for a few months before being released on parole due to his sickness.
Capone had Syphilitic Paresis. Leading to the slow decay of his brain.
Only legend of this disease. Some believe he contracted Syphilis early in his career. While working as a bouncer in a Chicago Brothel. And partaking in the events … so to speak.
Al Capone was one of the first patients ever to be treated with Penicillin.
But it was too late. He died in Florida in 1947.
His body moved back to Chicago and buried. Later he was dug up and moved to Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.
Birdman of Alcatraz, Robert Stroud
Everyone (at least from my generation) has heard of The Birdman of Alcatraz. Stroud was made famous by a 1962 Hollywood movie starring Burt Lancaster.
Even though the movie was mostly fiction, it was based on a real man named Robert Stroud.
The very calm and quiet man was known at Alcatraz for his love of birds. This started while serving time in Leavenworth.
Legend has it … this once extremely violent man ended up in Solitary Confinement. It’s there he found a nest of injured Sparrows.
Caring for them and nursing the birds back to health.
This changed his ways.
Stroud was known for raising and selling birds from his prison cell. Which is shocking! Considering how violent he once was.
At only 18 years old, Robert Stroud became a pimp in Alaska. And when a ‘client’ didn’t pay … he shot and killed the man.
This got Stroud twelve years in prison. Where he became one of the most violent inmates ever. Known for fighting and stabbing other inmates.
And even a Guard! In 1916, he stabbed and killed a young Guard named Andrew Turner. The reason … the prison denied Stroud a visit from his brother.
Murdering a Guard got him a new sentence of death! Which was changed to life in prison thanks to an appeal by his mother.
Robert Stroud Turns it Around
Bird’s changed Robert Stroud’s life. Calming him for the remainder of his sentence.
He arrived at Alcatraz Prison in 1942. Yes, that means he never met Al Capone (if anyone was wondering).
Stroud stayed until 1959. During which time he raised many birds.
And, in 1946, became a hero during the Battle of Alcatraz.
Actor Burt Lancaster visited Stroud. The actor had just won an Oscar for the movie, Elmer Gantry.
This led him to playing a fictionalized version of Stroud in 1962’s Birdman of Alcatraz.
Strangely, the real Robert Stroud died only one year after the release of the movie. In 1963, due to failing health at the age of 73.
Most Known Inmates of Alcatraz
In my view, these are the most known inmates in Alcatraz’s long history. Some may agree or disagree. However, nobody can disagree these men led infamous lives.
Now made part of history through the stories around the world most famous prison.
This has been the infamous inmates of Alcatraz Prison. Please check out the companion articles …