Rufus Roy McCain (July 7, 1903 – December 3, 1940) was a prisoner at
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island () is a small island in San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military pri ...
who attempted escape with
Henri Young and
Arthur Barker
Arthur R. "Doc" Barker (June 4, 1899 – January 13, 1939) was an American criminal, the son of Ma Barker and a member of the Barker-Karpis gang, founded by his brother Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis. Barker was typically called on for violent ...
in 1939.
Attempt
On the night of January 13, 1939, McCain, with Young, Barker, and two other men, attempted escape from
the Rock. The guards started to fire shots at Arthur Barker. Barker eventually died and the others were recaptured. McCain and Young were sentenced to almost 22 months each in
solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a form of imprisonment in which the inmate lives in a single cell with little or no meaningful contact with other people. A prison may enforce stricter measures to control contraband on a solitary prisoner and use addit ...
.
After Young and McCain returned to the normal prison population, McCain was assigned to the tailoring shop and Young to the furniture shop located directly upstairs.
Death
On December 3, 1940, Young waited until just after the count to run downstairs and stab McCain with a sharpened spoon. McCain fell quickly into shock and died five hours later. Young refused to disclose his motive for the murder.
References
External links
Alcatraz: Rigid and Unusual Punishment
1903 births
1940 deaths
American escapees
Escapees from United States federal government detention
Inmates of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
American people who died in prison custody
Deaths by stabbing in California
Prisoners who died in United States federal government detention
Prisoners murdered in custody
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