Letters From Alcatraz - Michael Esslinger [154]
Leaving place to which he was assigned in laundry, dropping from walk-way to get out of sight of road tower guard, carrying wire cutter and soldier clothing stolen from laundry, climbing over two wire fences, then hiding out at water’s edge in attempt to escape: All of the above occurred at about 2:15 P.M. to 3:45 P.M., on Saturday, August 7, 1943.
The board met at approximately 10:40 a.m., Tuesday, August 17, 1943, and consisted of the following members:
E.J. Miller, Associate Warden Chairman
Isaac B. Faulk, Lieutenant Member
Neal W. Mcrisson, Lieutenant Member
Dr. Romney M. Ritchey, Chief Medical Officer Consultant
The following transcript of the testimony, questions by E.J. Miller, Associate Warden and Chairman, except, where noted:
Huron Ted Walters, Register No. 536-Az, you are called before the GOOD TIME BOARD to try you for the credits for the things done by you on August 7, 1943. (Mr. Miller then read the charges above.)
Q: You heard the charges. How do you plead?
A: Guilty.
Q: Have you anything to say?
A: No, sir.
Q: Did you get the soldier’s clothing out of the laundry?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Where did you get the wire cutters?
A: I picked them up down there.
Q: Did you try to cut the wire with them?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Wouldn’t they work?
A: No, sir.
Q: You then climbed over both fences?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Where did you get the one-gallon buckets?
A: Out of the laundry.
Q: Did you have any money on you?
A: No, sir.
Q: Did anyone give you money?
A: No, sir.
Q: Did you use any boxes?
A: There was a couple of packing cases that I used to climb over the first fence.
Q: What did you use on the second fence?
A: I climbed up the wire by the gate.
Q: When you got over the fences where did you go?
A: Down the steps to the bank.
Q: Did you try the water?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: What was the reason you didn’t go in?
A: I hurt my back and figured I couldn’t make it.
Q: How did you hurt your back?
A: I fell off the fence.
Q: How long did you plan the escape?
A: Two or three days previous.
Q: Do you wish to say anything for yourself?
A: No, sir.
Mr. Miller: After question you, Walters, I recommend that you forfeit 3100 days Statutory Good Time.
Walter was immediately brought to D Block and placed into the strip-cell, where he remained until August 28, 1943, when he was placed in segregation. He would again be placed in an isolation cell in May of 1944, after officers found a six-inch hacksaw blade hidden beneath the linoleum flooring of his D-Block cell (#23). He would ultimately remain in segregation until May 10, 1945, and then as surprising as it may seem, he was released back into the general population and given a work assignment back in the prison laundry.
Despite his years in segregation, little had changed in Walters’ attitude toward the administration. He continued to receive write-ups, which described him as making threats against officers, claiming that they made too much noise when opening the cells of the kitchen workers in the early morning. He also was reported for being intoxicated on homemade brew. In what could probably be considered one of the more unusual write-ups for possession of contraband on Alcatraz, Walters was also sent to isolation for having a toy rubber duck hidden in his cell in April of 1949.
Walter was released from Alcatraz and returned to Leavenworth on August 23, 1952. His admission record at Leavenworth certainly offered a profile of an inmate who had failed to make a positive adjustment on the Rock. It read:
At Alcatraz, he was reported for fighting, refusing to work, insolence, possession of a contraband knife, assaulting another inmate with a knife, attempting to smuggle food form the dining room, wasting food, attempting to escape, creating a disturbance and using profanity, fighting and having part of a band saw in his cell, refusing to do work directed, inciting a riot, interfering with the count and intoxication.
At Leavenworth Walters would