Alcatraz_ A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years - Michael Esslinger [104]
Respectfully,
Romney M. Ritchey, Surgeon (R),
Chief Medical Officer
United States Public Health Service
U. S. Penitentiary, Alcatraz, California
November 4, 1940
Memorandum to the Warden:
Re: 267-Az., Mc Cain, Rufus (Deceased)
The following statement is made to include the several verbal and written reports we made to you yesterday regarding the above captioned Inmate.
At about 10:00 a.m. yesterday the above captioned former Inmate was brought to the Hospital on a stretcher. He was pale and his skin was moist and his shirt was bloody and he was holding with both hands a mass which was protruding from a large opening in the abdomen. He was placed on the table and a hypodermic was given for the pain. The wound was cleansed and inspected and he appeared to be in severe shock from the exposure of the abdominal contents. Bleeding points in the omentum were tied off and active shock treatment instituted. His general condition did not greatly improve but it was imperative that further investigation of the possible injury to intestines be undertaken. This was done by Passed Assistant Surgeon G. H. Hunt, USPHS, of U. S. Marine Hospital, San Francisco.
No penetrating wound or any viscus was found by considerable oozing of blood from the posterior surface of Omentum. The abdominal wound was then closed with drains into the sheath of the rectus muscle. During this procedure he was given intravenous glucose solution and when returned from the Operating Room his condition was considered fair considering everything, but the pulse was slow and weak. He continued to receive shock treatment and stimulation and some sedative to combat the pain, but by 2:00 P.M. his pulse was only 40 and very thready. He then appeared to rally a little and his pulse returned to 78 but still very small and weak. At about 3:00 P.M. he began to fail again with labored respiration and beginning cyanosis and in spite of continued efforts to relieve him of these symptoms, he died at 3:30 P.M. December 3, 1940, approximately six hours after the injury was received. The cause of death was surgical shock caused by a penetrating wound of the abdomen with internal injuries to the Omentum.
The Associate Warden and myself were both present at the time of death.
Alcatraz on Trial
Federal Judge Michael Roche.
Word of the murder spread fast, and newspapers quickly latched onto the story of McCain’s vicious act. In February of 1941, under heavy guard, Young was transferred to the Federal Court Building in San Francisco for his arraignment. Federal Judge Michael Roche was to preside over the case, and the acclaimed Federal Prosecutor, Frank Hennessy, stated from the beginning that he would seek the death penalty for Young. When Judge Roche asked Young if he wished the court to appoint an attorney for him, a soft-spoken Henri approached the bench and requested two young attorneys with no previous record of contributing to unfavorable convictions. Young stated: “I should like to have the court appoint two youthful attorneys of no established reputation for verdicts or hung juries.” Henri seemed to be contemplating his fate in an inappropriately lighthearted fashion. He joked that although the attorneys probably would not have a positive influence on his trial outcome, the case would at least provide them with some professional experience.
Attorney Sol Abrams
Attorney James MacInnis
Henri Young seen in court, strategizing with attorneys James MacInnis (left) and Sol Abrams (right).
Henri Young during his famous murder trial.
Senior Correctional Officer Frank Mach is seen holding the murder weapons used by Young to kill Rufus McCain. Young used the thin-bladed knife to inflict the fatal wound.
Roche conceded to Young’s request and appointed two youthful attorneys, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sol A. Abrams, and James M. MacInnis,