Alcatraz_ A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years - Michael Esslinger [101]
McCain was committed to the Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth on July 11, 1935. He was subsequently transferred to Alcatraz on October 26, 1935, as a result of his violent outbursts and classification as a high escape risk. McCain had lived a normal life into his thirties, but he had since developed into a violent prisoner. In May of 1938 he attacked inmate Ralph Sullivan with a knife fashioned out of brass. The knife was seven inches long, with edges resembling “a razor’s edge filed to a sharp point,” and the handles were wrapped with electrical tape. McCain was quickly spotted with the knife by correctional officer J.J. Lapsey, and he was stopped before he could inflict any injuries. He continued to build a record of violent acts and rebellion against his guards, and therefore he was no stranger to the solitary confinement cells in A and D Blocks. His conduct report would eventually begin to show similarities to Henri Young’s. The two reports show several identical date entries for offenses and misbehavior.
There is no official documentation indicating a reason for the enmity that developed between Young and McCain. Rumors and subsequent trial testimony from other inmates would indicate that McCain had been making death threats toward Young following the failed escape. There were also the tales of McCain panicking during their escape attempt while in the water with Young, and begging to return to shore to reinforce their raft. Many would later state that Young directly blamed McCain for their capture and the death of Barker. Whatever the case may be, their animosity would result in a violent confrontation on August 29, 1939.
McCain had earned back work privileges, and had been given a job assignment as an orderly in D Block. On that day, as McCain passed Henri during his noontime lunch break, Young pulled out a dagger and lunged at McCain. Officer Joe Steere witnessed the altercation, and quickly slammed the cell door closed before Young was able to inflict any serious injury on McCain. Young was placed in isolation in D Block, and then transferred to an isolation cell in A Block on September 15, 1939. Less than two months later, Young was written up for violating the silence rule. Associate Warden E.J. Miller revoked his yard privileges for one week after Officer Richard Dennison reported that there had been “continued talking even when I was known in the vicinity.” On December 15, 1939, prison officers conducted a search of Henri’s cell, and their findings would again place Henri into isolation. Officer M.A. Amende wrote in Young’s conduct report:
CONTRABAND IN CELL. While searching this inmate’s cell at 2 P.M. this date, I found a brass dagger hidden in the mattress. This weapon was fashioned from a brass plunger used to flush toilet. Report #1898 by M.A. Amende, Jr. Officer. ACTION: Denied any knowledge of the weapon. To be placed in solitary confinement on restricted diet and to forfeit all privileges until further orders. E.J. Miller, Associate Warden.
On September 15, 1939, Young was transferred to A Block with a small group of other inmates, and here he was moved into improvised isolation quarters. Fourteen months later, Henri Young was released back into the general population and given an immediate work assignment as a janitor in the furniture factory, which was then located on the top floor of the Model Shop building.
On December 3, 1940, the feud that had been smoldering between Henri and Rufus McCain finally turned deadly. Henri, now twenty-nine years of age, fatally stabbed McCain on the second floor of the Model Shop Building.
Young later provided his own account of the slaying in trial testimony. He stated in part:
That morning I went into breakfast. McCain was sitting